Sequence Stratigraphy of Cretaceous Cycles in the Southern Margin of the Black Warrior Basin, Mississippi: A Potential Reservoir for Geologic Carbon Sequestration

Abstract

The southern end of the Black Warrior Basin has been the site of limited drilling operations, but a critical need now exists to establish a greater understanding of the regional stratigraphy. The objectives of this study are to define a sequence stratigraphic framework for the southernmost Black Warrior Basin, to identify chronostratigraphic timelines within depositional environments, and to identify regional transgressive and highstand systems tracts. This information will be used to assess dimensions of and predict petrophysical properties of formations targeted for future geologic carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage. Methods include correlation of petrophysical well logs in the study area, well log analysis, as well as petrographic and grain size analysis of cuttings and core. Parasequence cycles will be identified in well log cross sections and sequence boundaries will be identified in both cross sections and available vintage 2-D seismic data. Cretaceous sediments are deposited above a regional sequence boundary above the Paleozoic that represents ~180 ma of erosion or non-deposition. The results of this study will contribute to development of a geologic CO₂ storage site in Kemper County, Mississippi. The project, called Project ECO₂S, is supported by the U.S. DOE-NETL CarbonSAFE program and by Mississippi Power Company. The Southern States Energy Board manages this effort.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90323 ©2018 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 20-23, 2018