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Facies analysis
The meaning of the term facies
(1) Observational facies (2) Interpretive facies
Walthers Law The importance of vertical profiles Depositional processes from wireline logs The principle of the FACIES MODEL
Biofacies: Lithofacies:
Characterized by sedimentary attributes, such as grain-size, sedimentary structures, bedding Characterized by fossil content (body fossils or trace fossils)
Ichnofacies:
The assemblage of trace fossils
Seismic facies:
Characterized by seismic reflection amplitude and continuity. (Interpreted in terms of large-scale lithologic characteristics)
Descriptive
Stromatoporoid limestone
Interpretive
Reef limestone
Cairns Fm., a major Devonian reservoir in Alberta
Facies criteria
All facies: - bedding - sedimentary structures - trace and body fossils - types of vertical profile (cycle) - facies contacts (erosional, gradational) - colour (with care - this may be a diagenetic product) - map distribution (isopach patterns) PLUS: Siliciclastic facies: - grain size and texture (sorting) - vertical grain-size trends Carbonate facies: - mud/allochem ratio - allochem type
Well defined trough crossbedded facies (B): This facies is composed of well-defined sets of trough crossbedding..., with trough depths averaging 15 to 20 cm (range 10 to 45 cm). The troughs are regularly stacked on top of each other, but in some individual occurrences of the facies, trough depths decrease upward... The sets are composed of well-sorted medium sand... A few of the coarser sets have granules and pebbles concentrated at their bases. Rippled sandstone and mudstone Facies (F): This facies includes cross-laminated sandstones..., and alternating cross-laminated sandstones and mudstones. [An example of the latter] is 1.5 m thick and consists of three coarsening-upward sequences, which grade from basal mudstones into trough cross-laminated fine sandstone and finally into granule sandstone. The sandstones capping each coarsening-upward sequence have sharp, bioturbated tops. See application of these standard facies in next slide
Advantages and disadvantages of a standardized facies scheme Advantages: -simplifies and standardizes observations -permits rapid logging of field sections and drill core Disadvantages -discourages observations of the rare or unusual -may lead to inappropriate simplifications
If an outcrop is large enough, larger-scale depositional features may be mapped (outcrop of Cretaceous fluvial channels and bars, Book Cliffs, Utah)
Environments and processes found side-by-side in nature are represented in the same order in vertical profile
1. Vertical profiles are the main form of data obtained from drilling into the subsurface. 2. They may readily be documented from wireline logs 3. Their analysis can make use of Walthers Law to interpret depositional processes and environments.
Depositional controls
Autogenic processes: - those arising from natural redistribution of energy and sediment within a depositional system. - e.g., channel migration and switching, beach regression, delta and slope progradation. Allogenic processes: - those imposed on a depositional system from outside the basin. - e.g., sea-level change, tectonic movement, climate change
Examples of deltaic processes illustrated by wireline log shapes (from Tertiary of Texas Gulf Coast)
Mapping ribbon sand bodies in the Mannville Group, Alberta. Circle indicates location of log at left. Arrow above points to scoured base of channel
G B C
SS
Facies model for sandy braided river. Letters correspond to locations where the standardized lithofacies are forming
Distilling away the variability to extract the pure essence (or common features) of an environment
These outcrops of glacial outwash (near Banff) were deposited in gravel-bed rivers, but the facies characteristics do not indicate channel size or organization.
Classification of major facies types Distribution of facies types within the fan Major depositional processes
1000 km
Bengal fan
10 km
100 km
100 km
Mississippi fan
Amazon fan
Final thoughts
Facies schemes and facies models - serve to systematize and simplify observation and classification - BUT can also serve to suppress innovation Facies models are not available for all existing sedimentary environments (e.g., very little study of rivers in rain-forest environments). Some ancient environments are not fully replicated by conditions anywhere on Earth today - e.g., large Paleozoic carbonate platforms - huge shelf seas of the Late Cretaceous - Precambrian vegetation-free tropics - large evaporite basins