DEPOSITIONAL MODELING

OF DETRITAL ROCKS

WITH EMPHASIS ON CORED SEQUENCES

OF PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS

BY

Robert J. Weimer

Karen W. Porter
Cooper B. Land

S.E.P.M. Core Workshop No. 8

Golden, Colorado August 10-11, 1985

ISBN-0-918985-47-1
COPYRIGHT BY S.E.P.M., 1985

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0 Copyright, SEPM, 1985. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION

Studies of cores from both field and wildcat wells offer the
opportunity to interpret subsurface rock sequences and relate them
to surface sections, to calibrate mechanical logs with observed
lithologies,
and to use these data
to
enhance both field
development drilling and wildcat exploration.1

The cored sequences of detrital rocks described herein are

organized on the basis of depositional models, and presented
sequentially down the depositional system through the continental
environments to the shoreline zone, and, finally, to the shallow
offshore and deeper water environments (Fig. 1.1).
Each of the depositional models is treated in a separate
section in which diagrams, facies descriptions and terminology are
presented that summarize the principal aspects of the model.

These summary materials provide the framework for examination of

the interpreted cored sequences and corresponding log suites that
follow
in
each
section.
Letter
symbols
of
depositional
environments, as derived from depositional model diagrams for the
section, occur on both the core photographs and the corresponding
logged intervals.

Log suites presented for the wells in this book have been
consistent as far as practical, and include electrical surveys and
gamma ray--sonic or density surveys. Where neutron--density logs
were available through gas-bearing intervals, these have been

included in preference to other porosity logs.

The solid black
vertical bar on the left side of the logs represents the reported
cored

interval

from

completion

card

information.

Discrepancy

between core depths and log depths for a given well, a common
problem, has been calculated using a core gamma curve and log

The gift by petroleum companies and individuals of cores for

the
Colorado School
of
Mines
Core
Library
is
gratefully
acknowledged.
All cores are filed in the repository.
R.
W.
Tillman contributed core photos for the Spearhead Ranch and
Hartzog Draw fields; the photography on these cores was by Fred
Mason.

We thank Barbara Brockman for typing the manuscript.

1

gamma when available, or other appropriate comparison between the

cored and logged intervals.
The correction is shown to the lower

left of the log suite.

Environmental interpretations, indicated

by letter symbols to the right of log suites, have been corrected
for depth discrepancy between the cored and logged intervals of
the well.

Regional location maps are given for the Powder River basin
and Denver basin (in Chapter 3).
From these maps, cores from
fields and wildcat areas can be located with respect to each other
and to a common structure datum.
In addition, within each chapter
cores from producing fields are accompanied by field maps and
other materials related to the distribution of reservoir and
nonreservoir rock within the field.
If available, a reference is
given describing the geology for a field from which the core was
taken.

An excellent discussion of the proper handling of cores at

the drill site and in subsequent analytical work is given by
Siemers and Tillman (1981).

CONTENTS
Chapter

Page

INTRODUCTION

SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS.

REGIONAL SETTING OF CRETACEOUS BASIN.

3
4

INFLUENCE OF SEA LEVEL CHANGES ON DEPOSITIONAL PATTERNS

19

ALLUVIAL VALLEY
Upper Alluvial Valley Braided Channel Deposits
Ericson Sandstone, Rock Springs Uplift Area, Wyoming
Lower Alluvial Valley Meandering Channel
(Point Bar) Deposits
.
Cut Bank Sandstone, Cut Bank Field, Montana.
Deltaic Distributary Channel Deposits.
J Sandstone, Peoria Field, Colorado.
.
.

DELTAIC AND INTERDELTAIC COASTAL PLAIN AND SHORELINE

ENVIRONMENTS.
Deltaic Environments
Blackhawk Formation, Book Cliffs Area, Utah.
Interdeltaic Environments.
Almond Formation, Patrick Draw Field, Wyoming.
.

33
35
39

43
46
57

83
85
88
105

COMBINED DELTAIC AND VALLEY FILL MODELS

J Sandstone, Wattenberg Field and Adjacent Areas, Colorado.

129
142

SHALLOW MARINE SHELF ENVIRONMENTS

Hygiene and Terry Sandstones, Spindle Field, Colorado
Frontier Sandstone, Spearhead Ranch Field, Wyoming
Shannon Sandstone, Hartzog Draw Field, Wyoming.

155
160

.
.

189

SUBMARINE FAN AND CHANNEL ENVIRONMENTS.

Stevens Sandstone, Yowlumne Field, California

EOLIAN ENVIRONMENTS
Lyons Sandstone, Northeastern Colorado.
.

REFERENCES.

207
212
.

232