Pennsylvanian-Early Permian depositional systems and shelf-margin evolution, Palo Duro Basin, Texas

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6874768

Handford, C R; Dutton, S P

The Palo Duro basin of the Texas Panhandle is filled primarily with Pennsylvanian, Permian, and Triassic strata that record the depositional history of a shallow cratonic basin. Regional deformation during Early Pennsylvanian time across a belt encompassing the southern Oklahoma and Delaware aulacogens resulted in the formation of the basin. Rapid basin subsidence and marine transgression dominated Pennsylvanian and marine transgression dominated Pennsylvanian depositional history but was followed by marine regression and rapid filling of deeper parts of the basin during Early Permian (Wolfcampain) time. Pennsylvanian and Lower Permian strata consist of four major facies assemblages or depositional systems. An extensive fan-delta system is composed of arkosic sandstones eroded from Precambrian highlands flanking the basin and deposited by braided streams along the margins of the basin. In the southeastern part of the Palo Duro basin, westward prograding, high-constructive deltas dispersed sediment across a shelf environment and into basin and slope environments. A thick, massive sequence of limestone accumulated seaward of the deltas in a carbonate-shelf and shelf-margin system that encircled most of the basin. Rapid Pennsylvanian subsidence combined with invasion and deposition of terrigenous clastics across carbonate-bank environments caused parts of the northwestern shelf margin to retreat westward toward shallow, clear water. During Early Permian time subsidence rates slowed and sedimentologic controls dominated basin evolution. Thick slope wedges, which were formed by deltas that prograded to shelf edges and debouched sediment into the slope environment, created shallow foundations for subsequent carbonate-bank development and progradation. Porous shelf-margin dolomites, delta-front sandstones, and fan-delta arkoses are considered potential reservoirs for oil and gas. 19 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Austin
• OSTI ID: 6874768
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 64:1; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020100* -- Petroleum-- Reserves-- (-1989)
03 NATURAL GAS
030100 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves-- (-1989)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
BIOLOGY
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DEPOSITION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
PENNSYLVANIAN PERIOD
PERMIAN PERIOD
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOUTHWEST REGION
TEXAS
TRIASSIC PERIOD
USA