--> Stratigraphic Model for Lower and Upper Cretaceous Strata of the East Texas Basin – Constraints From Core, Wireline-Log, and 2-D Seismic Data

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Stratigraphic Model for Lower and Upper Cretaceous Strata of the East Texas Basin – Constraints From Core, Wireline-Log, and 2-D Seismic Data

Abstract

The Lower and Upper Cretaceous strata of the East Texas Basin represents a highly complex history of siliciclastic and carbonate deposition. The hydrocarbon plays in the Lower Cretaceous in this basin are generally considered as “stacked plays” ranging from conventional to unconventional reservoirs. These stacked plays are in formations such as the Rodessa, Upper Glen Rose, Paluxy, Kiamichi, Edwards, and Georgetown. While the presence of these reservoirs is well documented (e.g., Pollard 1989, Bowman 2015), distribution of these reservoirs and their associated depositional setting and processes are not very well understood in some areas. In order to obtain more insight into these ancient depositional environments, a large scale stratigraphic section was constructed to reveal the unique combination of tectonic, eustatic, and climatic conditions specific to the East Texas intrashelf basin that produced the various stratigraphic and lithofacies assemblages present in the subsurface. Results from this investigation provides a predictive stratigraphic model that will help understand the complex stratigraphic architecture of the Lower and Upper Cretaceous of the East Texas Basin and improve our understanding of how to explore specific formations. This preliminary stratigraphic model of the Lower and Upper East Texas Basin stratigraphy reveals large-scale shifts in depositional environments that are impacted by change in stratigraphic position, shelf margin architecture, and subsidence. This stratigraphic model helps lay the framework for future reservoir studies throughout the East Texas Basin for both industry and academia. Understanding this regional architecture is critical when looking to expand on predictive stratigraphic models within the Albian and creating high-resolution reservoir models for both conventional and unconventional prospects.