--> Abstract: Aneth Oil Field, Giant Carbonate Stratigraphic Trap, Paradox Basin, Utah, U.S.A., by J. A. Peterson; #91004 (1991)

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Aneth Oil Field, Giant Carbonate Stratigraphic Trap, Paradox Basin, Utah, U.S.A.

PETERSON, JAMES A., U.S. Geological Survey, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

The Aneth oil field (approximately 400 million bbl original primary reserves) occurs within an isolated southeast-northwest-trending Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) algal carbonate bank buildup located approximately 25 mi (40 km) basinward of the main carbonate shelf of the Paradox basin in Utah. Desmoinesian deposition was strongly cyclic, with as many as 30 main evaporite-carbonate cycles recognized. The Aneth algal bank is part of the Desert Creek cycle, which is the first cycle above that of the most widespread salt-bearing cycle. The Desert Creek carbonate facies grades basinward to increasingly prevalent evaporite facies, dominated by thick salt beds in the basin center. Within the isolated algal-mound facies, the Desert Creek cycle is characterized by a vertical succession that in ludes (1) basal black, organic-rich, dolomitic, silty shale, (2) overlying dark chalky, finely crystalline dolomite, which grades upward into (3) the main carbonate mound facies, dominated by accumulations of calcareous, leafy green algae with associated brachiopods, fusulinids, small foraminifera, ostracodes, and rare corals. Mound buildups are overlain by a relatively thin, black, organic-rich shale unit, the basal bed of the succeeding mound-bearing Ismay cycle. This shale unit thickens markedly on the flanks of the Desert Creek and other mounds, whereas the basal black shale thickens beneath the mound buildup. Interrelated depositional processes of these various sedimentary facies have resulted in a close association between source rock, large reservoir, and seal at Aneth, and contri uted significantly toward the large size of the Aneth accumulation. Broad scale factors that influenced development of the Aneth and other Paradox basin carbonate mounds include (1) global paleolatitudinal position of the Pennsylvanian Paradox basin; (2) paleogeographic-paleotectonic framework of the basin region; (3) climatic, prevailing-wind, and ocean-current patterns, strongly influenced by the above factors; (4) eustatic changes in sea level; and (5) position of the Aneth mudbank-mound area with respect to the Paradox basin marine accessway.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91004 © 1991 AAPG Annual Convention Dallas, Texas, April 7-10, 1991 (2009)