Distribution of Mississippian oolites and associated hydrocarbon production in the United States

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:5113670

Keith, B D; Zuppann, C W ^[1]

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1. Indiana Geological Survey, Bloomington (USA)

Mississippian oolites (oolitic limestones) are widely distributed across the continental US, and are economically important as hydrocarbon reservoirs. Initial understanding of Mississippian oolitic reservoirs comes from an overview of the Mississippian depositional framework and a review of published literature on depositional models for Mississippian oolites and associated facies. The Mississippian was divided into four intervals corresponding approximately to the following stages: Kinderhookian (interval A), early Valmeyeran or Osagian (interval B), late Valmeyeran or Meramercian (interval C), and Chesterian (interval D). These intervals, which are not unique to this study, provide a convenient method of subdividing Mississippian rocks for more detailed regional mapping. Paleogeographic and gross lithofacies maps were prepared for each interval to relate oolite occurrences to their regional settings. Interval A was characterized by two broad, shallow seas separated by the Transcontinental lowlands. Marine deposition was dominantly carbonate toward the west and shale to the east. Areas of extensive oolite deposition were adjacent to either side of the Transcontinental lowlands. Interval B was a time of extensive marine transgression with small land areas isolated in a broad, generally shallow sea. Shale deposition continued in the Michigan, Illinois, and northern Appalachian basin, and cherty carbonates accumulated elsewhere. Oolite deposition was limited to the western US in the Williston basin, and to other areas along the slightly submerged Transcontinental arch. During interval C, land areas became more emergent and the Transcontinental lowlands once again separated the eastern and western seas.

• OSTI ID: 5113670
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 73:12; ISSN 0149-1423; ISSN AABUD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
APPALACHIAN BASIN
CARBONATE ROCKS
DEPOSITION
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
WILLISTON BASIN