MAHMOUD, SALAH E., EMILE A. PESSAGNO, Jr., and JANOK P. BHATTACHARYA, Geosciences Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Abstract: Sequence Stratigraphic Analyses of the Upper Cretaceous Deposits, Rio Grande Embayment, Using Well Logs, Cores and Outcrops
The present study is an attempt to solve problems of stratigraphic correlation in the Upper Cretaceous strata, Rio Grande Embayment, using sequence stratigraphic principles applied to cores, outcrops and wireline log information.
Well-defined log signatures, supplemented by core
and outcrop data, were observed and correlated between boreholes. Chronostratigraphically
significant surfaces, especially transgressive surfaces, were correlated.
Upward - coarsening sand units within the three Upper Cretaceous progradational
wedges, San Miguel, Olmos and Escondido formations, encased in prodelta
and shelf mudstones were laterally correlated through the study area. Observations
indicate the basinward decrease in number of sand units and net sandstone
thickness. Outcrop studies in Maverick County indicate the deposition of
the coal-bearing Olmos Formation in the lower deltaic plain whose upper
part is eroded and unconformably overlain by transgressive units of the
Escondido Formation. Cored intervals through reservoir-quality clean and
mature sandstones through San Miguel Formation confirm long reworking history
by wave action and longshore currents forming strand plain deposits within
a wave dominated deltaic setting. Cores sampled updip indicate more tight
and argillaceous sandstones with more fluvial influence and low reservoir
potential. Downdip Olmos and Escondido formations were interpreted to belong
to a transgressive systems tract. Updip Olmos, a coal-bearing sandstone
and shale sequence of coastal-plain and deltaic origin, is of more argillaceous
content and less reservoir quality and belongs to a highstand systems tract.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90924©1999 GCAGS Annual Meeting Lafayette, Louisiana