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Aneth oil field carbonate mound reservoir - Organic-rich mudbank origin

Conference · · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)
OSTI ID:5570314
 [1]
  1. Geological Survey, Missoula, MT (USA)

The Aneth oil field (approximately 400 million bbl ultimate recovery) occurs within an isolated southeast-northwest-trending Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) algal carbonate bank buildup located approximately 25 mi (40 km) basinward of the main carbonate shelf of the Paradox basin in Utah. Desmoinesian deposition was strongly cyclic, with as many as 30 main evaporite-carbonate cycles recognized. The Aneth algal bank is part of the Desert Creek cycle, which is the first cycle above that of the most widespread salt-bearing cycle. The Desert Creek carbonate facies grades basinward to increasingly prevalent evaporite facies, dominated by thick salt beds in the basin center. Within the isolated algal-mound facies, the Desert Creek cycle is characterized by a vertical succession that includes (1) basal black, organic-rich, dolomitic, silty shale, and (2) overlying dark chalky, finely crystalline dolomite which grades upward into (3) the main carbonate mound facies dominated by accumulations of calcareous, leafy green algae with associated brachiopods, fusulinids, small foraminifera, ostracods, and, rarely, corals. Mound buildups are overlain by a relatively thin, black, organic-rich shale unit, the basal bed of the succeeding mound-bearing Ismay cycle. This upper shale unit thickens markedly on the flanks of the Desert Creek and other mounds.

OSTI ID:
5570314
Report Number(s):
CONF-8910195--
Journal Information:
AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 73:9; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English