Abstract: Depositional, Diagenetic, and Sequence Stratigraphic Facies Analysis of Phylloid Algal Mound Complexes within the Upper Pennsylvanian, Lower Holder Formation, Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

The goal of this project is to provide a detailed three-dimensional, reservoir facies model of phylloid algal mound complexes within the Holder Formation. This model may serve as an outcrop analog to aid in predicting subsurface reservoir facies geometries within similar oil producing fields.

The Holder Formation exposed along the western front of the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, consists of a series of phylloid algal mounds set in a 60 - 150 m succession of cyclic carbonate and siliciclastic strata. The lower Holder phylloid algal mounds and associated cycles have yet to be put into a high resolution, three-dimensional, sequence stratigraphic framework that is required in order to generate predictive petroleum reservoir facies models. This research will document the distribution of depositional and diagenetic facies of phylloid algal mound complexes and determine their sequence stratigraphic framework.

A petroleum reservoir facies model will be generated by the following: 1) Measuring 20 - 30 stratigraphic sections to determine both thicknesses and vertical stacking patterns, 2) petrographically analyzing all field samples in order to determine the appropriate lithologic classifications and diagenetic effects, and 3) correlating the measured stratigraphic sections by three dimensional mapping of stratal surfaces using high resolution photo mosaic panels tied to the measured sections in order to generate a stratal geometric fence diagram. 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90940©1997 AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid