Sequence stratigraphy of deep-basinal source rocks: Monterey and associated formations, southwest California

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5875439

Bohacs, K M ^[1]

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1. Exxon Production Research Co., Houston, TX (United States)

The ultimate form of deep-basinal depositional sequences results from the interaction of eustatic sea-level change and the tectonic evolution of the basin. Even deep-basinal environments are subjected to the effects of changing sea level through changes in the circulation patterns and intensities, nutrient budgets and dispersal patterns, and the location and intensity of the oceanic oxygen-minimum zone. The Monterey and associated formations from the Tertiary of southwestern California show evidence of systematic lateral and vertical changes in depositional environments and facies related to eustatic sea-level changes and basin evolution. Observations of characteristic stacking patterns of the facies helped establish criteria for constructing a sequence-stratigraphic framework in these deep-marine mudrocks. Especially in these environments, no single feature is completely diagnostic of a sequence boundary or downlap surface. The criteria used to pick these surfaces rely on an association of rock properties, stratal stacking pattern of the lithofacies on either side of the surface, systematic changes in lamina and bed geometries, and the local expression of the surface. The sequence-stratigraphic framework was constructed based on the physical expression of the outcrop strata and confirmed by tying the outcrop gamma-ray-spectral profiles. The genetically related packages of rocks in the Monterey and associated formations have characteristic physical and chemical properties. The detailed sequence-stratigraphic framework makes it possible to tie rock properties to genetic processes for construction of predictive models of source, reservoir, and seal properties.

• OSTI ID: 5875439
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
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03 NATURAL GAS
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CALIFORNIA
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
LEVELS
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NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RESOURCES
SEA LEVEL
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SOURCE ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
SURVEYS
TERTIARY PERIOD
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VARIATIONS
WELL LOGGING