Research Prospectus 08 - University of HoustonPhD Candidates Weiguo Li – Incised Valleys in the...

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Proprietary Research Proposal, Bhattacharya, 2008 1 Research Prospectus: Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Dr. Janok P. Bhattacharya Robert E. Sheriff Professor of Sequence Stratigraphy Geosciences Department SR1 Rm 312, University of Houston 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, Texas 77204-5007 e-mail: [email protected] Wk: (713)743-4720 Introduction The quantitative sedimentology research program at the University of Houston is focused on investigating the sequence stratigraphy and 3D facies architecture of shallow marine, paralic, and fluvial depositional systems. Although much industry exploration effort is currently focused on deepwater depositional systems, about 50% of global oil production is currently from shallow marine, paralic and fluvial strata. Despite the continued importance of these reservoir types, ours is one of the only research programs devoted to this important area. I am also investigating the interrelationships between structure and stratigraphy as a paired process. Specific projects are aimed at examining the effects of meso-scale tectonic structure on high-frequency sequence stratigraphic architecture in foreland basins and the relationship between sedimentation processes and formation of growth faults associated with deltaic depositional systems. This memo lists the results of our ongoing research program as well as listing some of the projects that we would like to complete using additional consortium funds. Consortium members are also free to suggest possible additional research topics and we encourage collaboration, especially in applying our analog studies to actual subsurface reservoirs. Through your sponsorship of our research programs, we will be in a position to continue to provide you with a new generation of keen and well-trained integrative petroleum geoscientists, who will be required to satisfy your future hiring needs. General research interests My general research areas include: Clastic facies models with an emphasis on 3D facies architecture. Sequence stratigraphy of shallow marine to non-marine systems. The effects of structure and tectonics on facies architecture and stratigraphy. Depositional processes and formation of growth faults in deltas. Quantitative description and modeling of modern and ancient deltas Seismic Geomorphology of shelf margin deltas. Origin of shelf mud belts.

Transcript of Research Prospectus 08 - University of HoustonPhD Candidates Weiguo Li – Incised Valleys in the...

Page 1: Research Prospectus 08 - University of HoustonPhD Candidates Weiguo Li – Incised Valleys in the Cretaceous Ferron Notom Delta, Utah. Felipe Lozano – Sesimic geomorphology of shelf

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Research Prospectus:

Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium

Dr. Janok P. BhattacharyaRobert E. Sheriff Professor of Sequence Stratigraphy

Geosciences DepartmentSR1 Rm 312, University of Houston

4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, Texas 77204-5007e-mail: [email protected]

Wk: (713)743-4720

IntroductionThe quantitative sedimentology research program at the University of Houston is

focused on investigating the sequence stratigraphy and 3D facies architecture of shallowmarine, paralic, and fluvial depositional systems. Although much industry explorationeffort is currently focused on deepwater depositional systems, about 50% of global oilproduction is currently from shallow marine, paralic and fluvial strata. Despite thecontinued importance of these reservoir types, ours is one of the only research programsdevoted to this important area.

I am also investigating the interrelationships between structure and stratigraphy as apaired process. Specific projects are aimed at examining the effects of meso-scaletectonic structure on high-frequency sequence stratigraphic architecture in forelandbasins and the relationship between sedimentation processes and formation of growthfaults associated with deltaic depositional systems.

This memo lists the results of our ongoing research program as well as listing some ofthe projects that we would like to complete using additional consortium funds.Consortium members are also free to suggest possible additional research topics and weencourage collaboration, especially in applying our analog studies to actual subsurfacereservoirs.

Through your sponsorship of our research programs, we will be in a position tocontinue to provide you with a new generation of keen and well-trained integrativepetroleum geoscientists, who will be required to satisfy your future hiring needs.

General research interestsMy general research areas include:

♦ Clastic facies models with an emphasis on 3D facies architecture.♦ Sequence stratigraphy of shallow marine to non-marine systems.♦ The effects of structure and tectonics on facies architecture and stratigraphy.♦ Depositional processes and formation of growth faults in deltas.♦ Quantitative description and modeling of modern and ancient deltas♦ Seismic Geomorphology of shelf margin deltas.♦ Origin of shelf mud belts.

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Previous consortium studies have been directly applicable to reservoircharacterization and fluid-flow modeling of shallow-marine and fluvial-deltaicdepositional systems. The work on structural control on facies distribution has value inpredicting reservoir distribution as a consequence of underlying or synsedimentarytectonics and structure. The growth fault work has been used to address reservoircompartmentalization in analog reservoirs.

Specific Projects:1. Sequence stratigraphy across the marine to non-marine transition of the

Cretaceous Notom Delta complex, Ferron Sandstone, Utah.2. Facies architecture of wide valley systems, Cretaceous Notom Delta complex,

Ferron Sandstone, Utah.3. Facies architecture of storm-flood dominated delta-fronts Cretaceous Notom

Delta complex, Ferron Sandstone, Utah4. Chemo-stratigraphy of asymmetric deltas and associated shelf mudstone

deposits, Cretaceous Notom Delta complex, Ferron Sandstone, Utah.5. Facies architecture of asymmetric, wave-influenced deltas, Gallup Sandstone,

New Mexico.6. Facies architecture and clay distribution of asymmetric, wave-influenced

deltas, Modern Brazos Delta, Texas Gulf Coast.7. Facies architecture, structural style and fault properties of non-salt related

synsedimentary growth faults in deltas.8. Seismic geomorphology of shelf margin deltas and mass transport complexes

in GOM mini-basins.

More details of these projects can be found on the following website:

http://www.qsc.uh

Project summaries of these new projects are provided below.

Costs and benefitsThe consortium funding fee of $35,000K is structured to cover all of the costs

associated with supporting one graduate student for a year. Consortium funding is alsoused to provide summer salary for PI's and other infrastructure needs. In return for yoursupport, I will send a yearly report of activities to the sponsoring company. Moreextensive reports (pre-prints), oral presentations (Powerpoint) and Posters are allprovided via a proprietary web-based format (primarily as pdf files) that can be printed orused internally at your own convenience and discretion. Membership immediately allowsyou access to the already built websites. These proprietary websites are passwordprotected for the sole use of consortium members. We also run a yearly field trip toillustrate the outcrop examples that we are conducting research on. These field trips aremarvelous training opportunities for your staff, and also provide an intimate view of thelatest research that we are conducting. Many of our outcrop studies have re-examinedclassic outcrops used in industry training, and have included the Ferron sandstone,

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Blackhawk-Castlegate sandstones and Panther Tongue sandstone in central Utah, as wellas the Frontier sandstones in Wyoming.

Also, I would be interested to discuss the opportunities of specific projects, cores, ordata sets that you have that I could have a student work on as part of their MS or Ph.D.research project. Such ”gifts in kind” would also be encouraged and would give studentsvaluable interaction with industry.

Your funds may be leveraged against significant sums from the various fundingagencies that have supported my work in the past (e.g. PRF/ACS; DOE). You haveaccess to new ideas and concepts, research breakthroughs, data, powerpoint visuals, andposters, as they are completed, versus the larger community that only has access to thefinal published papers, which routinely appear several years after work has beencompleted. You also have access to myself and students via in house visits and the annualfield trip.

Current Research Team: Theses and Dissertation Topics

PhD CandidatesWeiguo Li – Incised Valleys in the Cretaceous Ferron Notom Delta, Utah.Felipe Lozano – Sesimic geomorphology of shelf edge deltas, GOM.Yijie Zhu - Sequence stratigraphy of the Cretaceous Notom delta, Utah.Tianguang Xu – Detrital Zircon analyses and provenance of the sediments within theCretaceous Notom delta, Utah.Oluwaseyi Fatoke – Sequence stratigraphy and structural control on shelf margin deltas,Niger Delta.Donald Barker – Sequence stratigraphy and sea-level history of Mars.

MS Candidates:Milly Wright – Chemostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Ferron Notom delta, Utah.Chris Campbell – Facies architecture of incised valley fills, Ferron Notom delta, Utah.Eric Blankenship – Sedimentology and structure of Growth Faults in the the CretaceousFerron Notom Delta, Utah.Gregori Perov – Mass transport complexes versus Growth Faults in shelf margin deltas ofthe Gulf of Mexico.Daniel Garza – Facies architecture of delta front sandstones, Cretaceous Ferron NotomDelta, Utah.Michael Loparco – Sequence stratigraphy of an asymmetric delta, Cretaceous Gallupsandstone, Ship Rock New MexicoRyan Krueger – Reconstruction of wave field in an ancient asymmetric, wave-influenceddelta, Gallup Sandstone, New Mexico.Derek Rice – Origin and distribution of clay minerals in the Modern Brazos Delta, anasymmetric wave-influenced delta on the Texas Gulf Coast.

2005-2008 PublicationsRefereed papers submitted or in press:Bhattacharya J.P., in review (Invited contribution), Deltas, in, Facies Models 4th Edition, R.G.

Dalrymple and N.P. James (eds). Geological Association of Canada.

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Barker, D.C., Bhattacharya J.P., and Clifford, S., submitted, Mars Northern Lowland SequenceStratigraphy. submitted to Geology

Olariu, C., Bhattacharya, J.P., Stern, R.J., Leybourne, M, and Boss, S., submitted, Interplay betweenriver discharge and topography of the basin floor in a hyperpycnal lacustrine delta, RedRiver, Lake Texoma, Texas/ Oklahoma, USA, submitted to Sedimentology.

Thompson, K.E., Willson, C.S., White, C.D., Nyman, S., Bhattacharya, J.P., Reed, A.H., in press.Application of a New Grain-Based Reconstruction Algorithm to MicrotomographyImages for Quantitative Characterization and Flow Modeling, SPE Journal.

Vakarelov, B.K ., Bhattacharya, J.P., in revision, Effect of Local Tectonic Control on ParasequenceArchitecture: Second Frontier Sandstone, Powder River Basin, Wyoming. AAPG Bulletin.

Vakarelov, B.K ., Bhattacharya, J.P., Winker, C.D., in revision, The importance of mud-dominatedclinoforming sets (mud belts) in the sedimentary record. Submitted to Journal ofSedimentary Research.

Recent Published Articles in Refereed Books and Journals:Gani, M.R., Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., 2008, Using ichnology to determine relative

influence of waves, storms, tides, and rivers in deltaic deposits: examples fromCretaceous Western Interior Seaway, U.S.A., in MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Gingras,M.K., and Pemberton, S.G., eds., Applied Ichnology, SEPM Short Course Notes, p. 209-225.

Sadeque, J., Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., And Howell, C.D. III, 2008, DifferentiatingAmalgamated Parasequences In Deltaic Settings With The Aid Of Ichnology: AnExample From The Upper Turonian Wall Creek Member Of Frontier Formation,Wyoming., in MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Gingras, M.K., and Pemberton, S.G., eds.,Applied Ichnology, SEPM Short Course Notes, p. 343-361.

Coker, M.O., Bhattacharya, J.P., and Marfurt, K., 2007, Fracture Patterns within Mudstones on theFlanks of a Salt Dome: Syneresis or Slumping? Gulf Coast Associations of GeologicalSocieties Transactions, v. 57, p. 125-138.

Lee, K., McMechan, G., Gani, M.R., Bhattacharya, J.P., Zeng, X., and Howell, C.D. Jr., 2007, 3-DArchitecture and Sequence Stratigraphic Evolution of a Forced Regressive Top-TruncatedMixed-Influenced Delta, Cretaceous Wall Creek Sandstone, Wyoming, Journal ofSedimentary Research, v. 77: p. 303-323

Gani, M.R., and Bhattacharya, J.P. , 2007, Basic Building Blocks and Process Variability of aCretaceous Delta: Internal Facies Architecture Reveals a More Dynamic Interaction ofRiver, Wave, and Tidal Processes Than Is Indicated by External Shape, Journal ofSedimentary Research 2007 v. 77, p.284-302.

Lee, K., Gani, M.D., McMechan, G.A., Bhattacharya, J.P., Nyman, S., Zeng, X., 2007, 3-D FaciesArchitecture and 3-D Calcite Concretion Distributions in a Tide-Influenced Delta Front,Wall Creek Member, Frontier Formation, Wyoming, AAPG Bulletin, V. 91, P. 191-214.

Vakarelov, B., Bhattacharya, J.P., and Nebrigic, D., 2006, The Importance of High-FrequencyTectonic Sequences during Greenhouse Times of Earth History, Geology, v. 34; p.797–800; doi: 10.1130/G22348.1

Olariu, C., and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Terminal Distributary Channels and Delta FrontArchitecture of River-dominated delta systems. Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 76,p.212-233, Perspectives, DOI: 10.2110/jsr.2006.026

Adams, M.M., and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005, No Change in Fluvial Style Across a SequenceBoundary, Cretaceous Blackhawk and Castlegate Formations Of Central Utah, U.S.A.,Journal of Sedimentary Research, 2005, v. 75, 1040–1053 , DOI: 10.2110/jsr.2005.080

Bhattacharya, J. P., Payenberg, T.H.D., Lang, S.C. and Bourke, M., 2005, Dynamic river channelssuggest a long-lived Noachian crater lake on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, .V. 32,L10201, doi:10.1029/2005GL022747.

Lee, K., Zeng, X, McMechan, G.A., Howell Jr., C.D., Bhattacharya, J.P., Marcy, F., Olariu, C., 2005,A GPR survey of a delta-front reservoir analog in the Wall Creek Member, FrontierFormation, Wyoming. AAPG Bulletin, V. 89, No. 9 P. 1139-1155,DOI:10.1306/042705040106.

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Chapters or Papers in Books:Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Deltas, In: Walker, R.G., and Posamentier, H., (eds.) Facies Models

revisited, SEPM Special Publication, v. 84, p. 237-292.Gani, M.R. and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005, Bedding correlation vs, facies correlation in deltas:

Lessons for Quaternary stratigraphy, In: Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). RiverDeltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM Special Publication v. 83, p. 31-48.

Giosan, L, Donnelly J.P., Vespremeanu, E., Bhattacharya, J.P., Olariu, C., Buonaiuto, F.S., 2005,River delta morphodynamics: Examples from Danube delta. In: Giosan, L., andBhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM SpecialPublication, v. 83, p. 393-411.

Giosan, L. and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005, New Directions in Delta Research. In: Giosan, L., andBhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM SpecialPublication, v. 83, p. 3-10.

MacEachern, J., Bann, K., Bhattacharya, J.P., and Howell, C.D., 2005, Ichnology of Deltas. In:Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). River Deltas: Concepts, Models and Examples,SEPM Special Publication, v. 83, p. 49-85.

Olariu, C., Bhattacharya, J.P., Xu, X., Aiken, C.L.V., Zeng, X., McMechan, G.A., 2005, Study ofCretaceous delta front deposits, integrating outcrop, GPR and 3-d photorealistic data,Panther Tongue sandstone, Utah. In: Giosan, L., and Bhattacharya, J.P., (eds.). RiverDeltas: Concepts, Models and Examples, SEPM Special Publication, v. 83, p. 155-177.

Field Guides, Unpublished Reports and Short Course Notes:Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., Garrison Jr., J.R., Ryer, T.A., Pemberton,S.G., 2007,

Integrated Sedimentology and Ichnology of Fluvial-Dominated and Wave-InfluencedDeltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Ferron Sandstone and Panther Tongue, Utah. Field TripGuidebook, SEPM Research Conference: Ichnological Applications to Sedimentologicaland Sequence Stratigraphic Problems, Price, Utah, May 20-26th, 2007 115p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., Blankenship, E., Campbell, C., Weiguo Li, W.,. Wright, A., Zhu, Y., 2007,Valleys, Channels and Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface.University of Houston Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip,Sunday August 12th – Friday August 17th. 128p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Sequence Stratigraphy: History, theory and applications, AAPG SWSection Short Course Notes, Abilene/Ft. Worth, Dec. 3rd and 7th, 402p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, BP SummerShort Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June 2007, 223p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Facies Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphy of Delta Systems FromExploration to Reservoir Performance, BP Short Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June2007, 285p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., Campbell, C., Li, W., and Zhu. Y., 2006, Ancient Rivers and Deltas in theCretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface, University of Houston QuantitativeSedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip, Sunday August 13th – Friday August18th, 2006. 109 p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, SouthwestSection of AAPG, Short Course, Abilene, Texas, January 30th, 2006, 206 p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., Vakarelov, B., Howell, C.D., Jr., Sadeque, J., Tang, H., 2005, Facies Variability,Stratigraphic Compartmentalization, and Tectonic Controls in Mixed-influenced DeltaFronts, Frontier Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A., UTD QuantitativeSedimentology Consortium Field Trip, July 29th-August 3rd, 2005, 134p.

Field Guides, Unpublished Reports and Short Course Notes:Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., Garrison Jr., J.R., Ryer, T.A., Pemberton,S.G., 2007,

Integrated Sedimentology and Ichnology of Fluvial-Dominated and Wave-InfluencedDeltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Ferron Sandstone and Panther Tongue, Utah. Field TripGuidebook, SEPM Research Conference: Ichnological Applications to Sedimentologicaland Sequence Stratigraphic Problems, Price, Utah, May 20-26th, 2007 115p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., Blankenship, E., Campbell, C., Weiguo Li, W.,. Wright, A., Zhu, Y., 2007,Valleys, Channels and Deltas in the Cretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface.

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University of Houston Quantitative Sedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip,Sunday August 12th – Friday August 17th. 128p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Sequence Stratigraphy: History, theory and applications, AAPG SWSection Short Course Notes, Abilene/Ft. Worth, Dec. 3rd and 7th, 402p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, BP SummerShort Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June 2007, 223p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2007, Facies Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphy of Delta Systems FromExploration to Reservoir Performance, BP Short Course, Baku, Cairo, Aberdeen, June2007, 285p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., Campbell, C., Li, W., and Zhu. Y., 2006, Ancient Rivers and Deltas in theCretaceous Seaway: Analogs to the subsurface, University of Houston QuantitativeSedimentology Research Consortium Field Trip, Sunday August 13th – Friday August18th, 2006. 109 p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006, Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Fluvial Reservoirs, SouthwestSection of AAPG, Short Course, Abilene, Texas, January 30th, 2006, 206 p.

Bhattacharya, J.P., Vakarelov, B., Howell, C.D., Jr., Sadeque, J., Tang, H., 2005, Facies Variability,Stratigraphic Compartmentalization, and Tectonic Controls in Mixed-influenced DeltaFronts, Frontier Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A., UTD QuantitativeSedimentology Consortium Field Trip, July 29th-August 3rd, 2005, 134p.

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Examples of Individual Projects:

Project 1. Sequence Stratigraphy and Facies Architecture of the Cretaceous NotomDelta Complex, Ferron Sandstone, Hanksville, Utah

The Last Chance delta complex of the Cretaceous Ferron sandstone in centralUtah has been extensively studied both from the facies architectural and sequencestratigraphic perspective, and is widely used as a field training ground by industry. TheNotom delta complex, superbly exposed farther to the south and east along the Burr Trail,and around Hanksville, Utah, has received far less attention. This area of Utah is evenmore arid than the classic Ferron exposures around the San Rafael Swell resulting in evenbetter continuous cliff exposures, which are perfectly suited to 3D reservoircharacterization studies (Fig. 1 and 2).

Figure 1. General view of Ferron sandstone exposures near Hanksville Utah. Notethe almost complete lack of vegetation and the extensive and continuous quality ofthe outcrops.

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8Figure 2. Base map showing outcrop belt, measured sections and location ofpreliminary cross-section shown in Fig. 5, below.

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Preliminary scouting, conducted in the Summer of 2004 and data collected in thesummer of 2005, shows a wide variety of complex facies and syndepositional features,including fluvial, wave- and storm-dominated delta fronts overlain by possible incisedvalley feeder systems to the delta. We propose an initial field study to begin a detailedsequence stratigraphic analysis of this unit.

Outcrops just west of Hanksville show upward-coarsening delta fronts thatinternally consist of a complex series of lens-shapes, scoured HCS storm bedsinterbedded with lightly burrowed mudstones, suggesting a strong storm-fluvial influence(Fig. 3). The relationship of these fluvial-storm influenced facies to adjacent wave-dominated and more homogenous shorefaces will be tested using the recently developedasymmetric model for wave- influence deltas.

These storm-dominated delta fronts show striking similarities to Tertiary-agestorm-dominated delta fronts in places such as offshore Trinidad, and these may representexcellent outcrop analogs.

Incised channelized systems overlying these delta fronts and shorefaces showcomplex internal geometry, associated with overlapping channel bars (Fig. 4). We areparticularly interested in determining the relationship between storm-flood-dominateddelta fronts and the associated feeder systems.

Figure 3. Heterolithic, storm-influenced, fluvial-dominatedv delta front.

Figure 4. Overlapping bars within Ferron channels showing complex internal architectureof sandstones and mudstones, Ferron Sandstone, Hanksville, Utah.

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Figure 4. A. The undulating erosion surface likely represents a sequence boundary markingthebase of a fluvially-cut valley. The valley is overlain by floodplain mudstones and channel-bar sandstones. B. This photo connects to the right of 4A., and shows the continuation of thebasal erosion surface as well as laterally accreting bar deposits in the oberlying valley fill. C.Close-up of the point bar deposits overlying the floodplain. More details of the bars are shownin figure 3.

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During field work in the summer of 2005 I collected 6 vertical measured sectionsover a 180 square mile area (Figs. 2 and 5). I measured about 1,600 feet of sectionspaced 1.5 to 10 miles apart. The measured sections show that the Ferron is about 100 m(300 feet) thick and consists of up to 7 deltaic to shoreface marine parasequences passingupward into a fluvial succession characterized by sandy to conglomeratic fluvial channelbelts and coaly floodplain mudstones. The proportion of non-marine versus marine faciesincreases to the south and west. Paleocurrents vary from northwest, north and northeast tosouthwest, suggesting the delta was fed by rivers flowing form the southwest.

Major, multistory channel deposits indicate valleys that cut into underlyingshoreface and deltaic sediments. These are candidate sequence boundaries, which shouldallow detailed examination of the transition of sequence boundaries laterally and fromproximal to distal location. There are opportunities for mapping valleys and documentingtheir internal archtecture as well as examining strike variability of a major mixed-influence delta. The delta appears to be storm, wave, and flood influenced, although raretidal cross stratification was observed, suggesting limited tidal influence.

I am supervising 6 students working on various aspects of these projects.

Figure 5. Regional cross section showing decreasing non-marine facies to the east andillustrating basic style of parasequence stacking.

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Project 2. Facies Architecture of the shoreface to delta front transition,Gallup Sandstone, New Mexico

The Cretaceous Gallup sandstone of New Mexico has been interpreted as wave-dominated shorefaces associated with a barrier-island depositional setting. Scouting ofthese outcrops in the summer of 2004, around Rock Ridge, south of Ship Rock, shows asuperb examples of the transition between a fluvial, flood-dominated delta front laterallyinto a wave- dominated shoreface. Earlier work did not recognize the fluvial-nature ofthe parasequences along Rock Ridge (Fig. 6). Our scouting showed poorly-bioturbatedmudstones interbedded with sharp-based, normally graded sandstone beds displayingBouma sequences (Fig. 7). Not exactly the features typically associated with wave-dominated shorefaces.

These heterolithic parasequences pass laterally into homogenous and pervasivelybioturbated to cross bedded sandstones interpreted as “classic” shorefaces (Fig. 8). Theselateral facies relationships suggest a mixed river- and wave- influenced delta. We haverecently developed a model for wave-influenced asymmetric deltas that predict specificrelationships that link shorefaces and delta fronts (Bhattacharya and Giosan, 2003).Essentially, the fluvial-dominated delta fronts are predicted to lie downdrift of the

Figure 6. Heterolithic parasequences, interpreted as fluvial-dominated, in the Gallupsandstone at Rock Ridge, New Mexico. These were previously interpreted as wave-dominated shprefaces.

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sandier, more homogenous and potentially better reservoir quality shoreface systems inthe updrift region.

Our focus in the project will be to map the bedding relationships between theshoreface and delta front. Paleocurrent information and ichnological analysis will becritical to determine the detailed paleogeography and the orientation of the river plumeversus the longshore drift system.

Two MS students will initiate field work on this unit this summer. Additionalinformation on both proposed projects can be found by contacting Professor Bhattacharyaas listed above.

Figure 8. Thick sandy parasequence, about 1 mile east of the outcrops shown aboveshow features more typical of a wave-dominated shoreface.

Figure 7. Unbioturbated heterolithic strata (left) are associated with normally-gradedsandstone beds displaying Bouma sequences (right) and interpreted as possible river-produced, hyperpycnal turbidites. These observation are not compatible with a wave-dominated shoreface interpretation and suggest far more fluvial influence