--> Regional Correlation of Facies Within the Haynesville Formation From Onshore Alabama: Analysis and Implications for Provenance and Paleo-Structure

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Regional Correlation of Facies Within the Haynesville Formation From Onshore Alabama: Analysis and Implications for Provenance and Paleo-Structure

Abstract

Although the Upper Jurassic Haynesville Formation is a proven hydrocarbon reservoir in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the unit remains understudied because of the older and more productive Norphlet and Smackover Formations. In this study, Haynesville Formation cores were logged, and the electronic signature of each facies was correlated using gamma and SP logs through more than 100 wells in southern Alabama. Sandstone compositions were analyzed using standard point counting techniques for 18 samples from seven cores, and six sandstone samples from four of those cores were analyzed for detrital zircon provenance. Core and well log analyses indicate that the Haynesville Formation can be subdivided into five facies: sandstone, limestone, dolomite, anhydrite, and halite facies. The thickness and distribution of these facies suggests that relict basement topography related to the opening of the eastern Gulf of Mexico during Late Triassic-Early Jurassic time is the primary influence on Upper Jurassic sediment distribution. Framework grain compositions indicate that the sandstone facies was primarily derived from a recycled orogenic provenance, indicating a primarily Laurentian terrane source with some mixing from Gondwanan Suwannee terranes. Detrital zircon age distributions from Haynesville Formation sandstones contain major age populations that correspond with derivation from both Laurentian Grenville Province and Appalachian Mountain source rocks, with some mixing from the Gondwanan Suwanee terrane. Haynesville Formation detrital zircon ages and sandstone compositions are similar to that of the underlying Norphlet Formation, indicating that the provenance and sediment transport pathways remained similar through deposition of the Upper Jurassic units.