Sequence Stratigraphic Controls on Lower to Middle Carboniferous Siliciclastic Deposition in STACK, North-Central, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Abstract

The STACK play in North-Central, Oklahoma is one of the most prolific hydrocarbon producing plays in North America. Recent production is concentrated within the Lower to Middle Carboniferous strata, which is a mixed siliciclastic and carbonate depositional system. The global transition from the Visean carbonate dominated world to the Serpukhovian siliciclastic dominated world can be identified within multiple cored wells in the STACK play. A sequence stratigraphic model based on these cored wells exemplifies harmonic progression of 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th order sea level cycles along with their impact on carbonate vs siliciclastic deposition. The Kaskaskia 2^nd order transgressive systems tract progresses through the Devonian into the Carboniferous Tournasian, which results in the widespread deposition of organic rich fine-grained siliciclastics during this maximum flooding interval. This is followed by a transition to a stable high stand systems tract in the Carboniferous Upper Tournaisian through Upper Visean, which allowed for re-establishment of a carbonate depositional system. Later, this carbonate system is choked out by the influx of siliciclastics during the low stand systems tract in the Carboniferous Serpukhovian. From here reservoir compartmentalization occurs within STACK due to superimposition of higher frequency 3^rd and 4^th order cycles on the Kaskaskia 2^nd order cycle. Harmonic coupling occurs in the late Visean where a 3^rd order low stand coincides with the 2^nd order high stand. This is the last progradational push of the carbonate system and marks the onset of the siliciclastic influx. Serpukhovian deposition is dominated by the 2^nd order low stand systems tract, and exhibits higher frequency 3^rd and 4^th order cycles that are dominated by siliciclastic deposition instead of carbonate deposition. This has significant implications because the reservoir quality within the STACK play will be driven by different variables and parameters depending on where the targeted interval is located within this sequence stratigraphic framework.

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