1
Stratigraphic Principles
• Types of Stratigraphy
• Focus on Modern Stratigraphy is Sequence-based
• History of Sequence Stratigraphy
• Terminology of Sequence Stratigraphy
• Examples from Permian Basin
2
Steno’s Laws
• It was recognized in the 1600's that in a sedimentary sequence, the older
beds are on the bottom, and the younger beds are on the top. This has
come to be called the Principle of Superposition. You can visualize how
this occurs if you imagine a stack of newspapers in the corner of a room.
Every day you put another newspaper on the pile. After several weeks
have passed, you have a considerable stack of newspapers, and the oldest
ones will be on the bottom of the pile and the most recent ones will be on
the top. This fairly obvious, but very important fact about layering was
first noted by Nicholaus Steno, and is the first of three principles which
have come to be known as Steno's Laws.
• Steno's second law is the Principle of Original Horizontality, which
states that sediments are deposited in flat, horizontal layers. We can
recognize this easily if we consider a sedimentary environment such as the
sea floor or the bottom of a lake. Any storm or flood bringing sediment to
these environments will deposit it in a flat layer on the bottom because of
the sedimentary particles settling under the influence of gravity. As a
result, a flat, horizontal layer of sediment will be deposited.
• Steno's third law is the Principle of Original Lateral Continuity. If we
consider again the sediment being deposited on the seafloor, the sediment
will not only be deposited in a flat layer, it will be a layer that extends for
a considerable distance in all directions. In other words, the layer is
laterally continuous.
3
Types of Stratigraphy
Classical branches
• Lithostratigraphy
• Chronostratigraphy
• Biostratigraphy
Newer subdisciplines
• Seismic stratigraphy
• Cyclostratigraphy
• Magnetostratigraphy
• Chemostratigraphy
• Integration of disciplines in Sequence Stratigraphy
4
Terminology of Lithostratigraphic Units
• Supergroup
– Group
• Formation
– Member
» Bedset
» Bed
• Types of unconformities
– Angular unconformity
– Disconformity
– Paraconformity
– Nonconformity
– hiatus
5
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Unconformities
• James Hutton (1726-
1797): Father of Modern
Geology
• First described
unconformity at Siccar
Point in northern Scotland
• In a paper entitled
“Theory of The Earth”
(1785) Hutton recognized
the importance of
unconformities
• Also recognized
stratigraphic nature of
igneous rocks and believed
came from molten material
within Earth
6
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Uniformitarianism
Principles of Geology (1833)
7
History of Sequence Stratigraphy
William Smith measured and
described outcrop stratigraphy
during excavation of transport
canals in England beginning in 1791
8
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Facies
Johannes Walther (1892)
proposed what is now
known as “Walther’s Law
of Facies Succession”
"Facies adjacent to one another in a
continuous vertical sequence also
accumulated adjacent to one another
laterally".
9
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Time-significant
surfaces
1909: Eliot Blackwelder published use
of unconformities as time markers;
introduced concept of time
represented by surfaces (erosional
removal and sedimentary hiatus)
10
1916: Amadeus Grabau proposed
the pulsation theory.
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Cyclicity
11
1917: Joseph Barrell stated the
most fundamental events in
geologic history--the time-space
distribution of deposition and non-
deposition: the alternating rise
and fall of Base-level.
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Base Level
12
What Really Happened: New Concepts from New
Technology
1951 John L. Rich proposes the
concept of clinoforms…
…recognition of seismic
reflection geometries
13
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Time Stratigraphy
1958 Harry Wheeler produced first chronostratigraphic chart
14
History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Time Stratigraphy
1963 Lawrence Sloss recognized 6 major sequences in
North America controlled by eustatic sea level changes
15
1977 Peter Vail and Robert Mitchum co-
ordinated the publishing of AAPG Memoir
#26 based on the assumption that a
seismic relection surface represents a time
line
Official Birth of Sequence Stratigraphy
16
•A framework of genetically related stratigraphic facies
geometries and their bounding surfaces used to determine
depositional setting
•Subdivision & interpretation of sedimentary record using a
framework surfaces seen in outcrops, well logs, & 2-D and
3-D seismic.
•Include: Surfaces of erosion & non-deposition (sequence
boundaries), systems tracts
•Flooding (trangressive surfaces [TS] &/or maximum
flooding surfaces [mfs]); require that relative sea-level is
known
•This framework used to predict the extent of sedimentary
facies geometry, lithologic character, grain size, sorting &
reservoir quality
A Definition of Sequence Stratigraphy
17
A Simpler, More Useful Definition of Sequence
Stratigraphy
A method to impose the dimension of time on the
relationships of rock units in space (area and depth)
To do this we first describe
facies…
…Then we observe the
geometric relationships
among facies
By understanding how rock units are related
in time and space, we can better interpret how they are
connected as oil and gas reservoirs
18
• Facies: the total textural,
compositional and structural
characteristics of a
sedimentary deposit resulting
from accumulation and
modification in a particular
environment:
– Grain size, sorting,
rounding
– Lithology
– Sedimentary structures
– Bedding type
• In other words, the simplest
description of the genetically
related vertical and lateral
succession
How is “Facies” Used In Sequence Stratigraphy
19
The Problem of Preservation Potential
Sedimentary facies models are useful to explain spatial
relationships of co-eval facies in the modern
But what will be preserved in the stratigraphic record?
20
Original Sequence
Stratigraphic Approach
(seismic stratigraphy) was
based on recognition of
unconformity-bound
sequences using geometry and
termination patterns of seismic
reflectors.
21
A critical assumption of the
seismic stratigraphic approach,
illustrated in this diagram
from Vail et al (1977), is that
seismic reflectors follow time
surfaces rather than facies
impedance boundaries.
Note the regional scale of this
illustration.
22
The Classic Slug Exxon Model
SB – sequence boundary
LST – lowstand systems tract
TST – transgressive systems tract
HST – highstand systems tract
SMW – shelf-margin wedge
Mfs – maximum flooding surface
Lsw – lowstand wedge
Sf – slope fan
Bf – basin-floor fan
23
Sequence Boundary
• The unconformity or correlative conformity
that bounds a sequence
• Not always a major physical feature
• Not ever exposure surface is a sequence
boundary!
• Commonly (but not always) represents a
significant change in stratal arrangements
and therefore reservoir properites
24
Maximum Flooding Surface
• Surface that marks the turn-around from
landward-stepping to seaward stepping strata
• Farther out on platform coincides with the
downlap surface (depending on the degree of
condensation of clinoform toes)
• Recognition of the MFS is important for
separating TST and HST, which in turn is
important for other stratigraphic analysis, but on
the platform top (where 99% of carbonate
reservoir facies occur) this can be difficult to pin
down precisely. Don’t get hung up on this. Try to
pick it as closely as possible, knowing that your
colleague will disagree in order to appear
enlightened.
25
Transgressive Systems Tracts
• Bounded below by underlying sequence
boundary and above by maximum flooding
surface
• Generally more mounded in geometry
• Sets of high-frequency cycles show upward
thickening and upward deepening trends
• Typically less grainstone prone, more
diverse skeletal assemblages
26
Highstand Systems Tracts
• Bounded below by maximum flooding surface and
above by overlying sequence boundary
• Generally shingled or offlapping (clinoformal)
stratal geometry
• Sets of high-frequency cycles show upward
thinning and upward shallowing trends
• Typically grainstone prone, less diverse skeletal
assemblages
27
28
29
Terminology of Stratigraphic Hierarchies
Composite sequence
High-frequency
sequence
High-frequency cycle
30
Transgressive sequence set = retrogradational sequence set
Highstand sequence set = progradational sequence set
Lowstand sequence set
31
Can we do sequence
stratigraphy in carbonates
with just logs?
Does anyone here work for
Schlumberger?
32
Indicator facies analysis
Walther’s Law Model
development
33
34
35
36

vdocument.in_pptintroduction-to-sequence-stratigraphy-jackson-viewstratigraphic-principles.ppt

  • 1.
    1 Stratigraphic Principles • Typesof Stratigraphy • Focus on Modern Stratigraphy is Sequence-based • History of Sequence Stratigraphy • Terminology of Sequence Stratigraphy • Examples from Permian Basin
  • 2.
    2 Steno’s Laws • Itwas recognized in the 1600's that in a sedimentary sequence, the older beds are on the bottom, and the younger beds are on the top. This has come to be called the Principle of Superposition. You can visualize how this occurs if you imagine a stack of newspapers in the corner of a room. Every day you put another newspaper on the pile. After several weeks have passed, you have a considerable stack of newspapers, and the oldest ones will be on the bottom of the pile and the most recent ones will be on the top. This fairly obvious, but very important fact about layering was first noted by Nicholaus Steno, and is the first of three principles which have come to be known as Steno's Laws. • Steno's second law is the Principle of Original Horizontality, which states that sediments are deposited in flat, horizontal layers. We can recognize this easily if we consider a sedimentary environment such as the sea floor or the bottom of a lake. Any storm or flood bringing sediment to these environments will deposit it in a flat layer on the bottom because of the sedimentary particles settling under the influence of gravity. As a result, a flat, horizontal layer of sediment will be deposited. • Steno's third law is the Principle of Original Lateral Continuity. If we consider again the sediment being deposited on the seafloor, the sediment will not only be deposited in a flat layer, it will be a layer that extends for a considerable distance in all directions. In other words, the layer is laterally continuous.
  • 3.
    3 Types of Stratigraphy Classicalbranches • Lithostratigraphy • Chronostratigraphy • Biostratigraphy Newer subdisciplines • Seismic stratigraphy • Cyclostratigraphy • Magnetostratigraphy • Chemostratigraphy • Integration of disciplines in Sequence Stratigraphy
  • 4.
    4 Terminology of LithostratigraphicUnits • Supergroup – Group • Formation – Member » Bedset » Bed • Types of unconformities – Angular unconformity – Disconformity – Paraconformity – Nonconformity – hiatus
  • 5.
    5 History of SequenceStratigraphy: Unconformities • James Hutton (1726- 1797): Father of Modern Geology • First described unconformity at Siccar Point in northern Scotland • In a paper entitled “Theory of The Earth” (1785) Hutton recognized the importance of unconformities • Also recognized stratigraphic nature of igneous rocks and believed came from molten material within Earth
  • 6.
    6 History of SequenceStratigraphy: Uniformitarianism Principles of Geology (1833)
  • 7.
    7 History of SequenceStratigraphy William Smith measured and described outcrop stratigraphy during excavation of transport canals in England beginning in 1791
  • 8.
    8 History of SequenceStratigraphy: Facies Johannes Walther (1892) proposed what is now known as “Walther’s Law of Facies Succession” "Facies adjacent to one another in a continuous vertical sequence also accumulated adjacent to one another laterally".
  • 9.
    9 History of SequenceStratigraphy: Time-significant surfaces 1909: Eliot Blackwelder published use of unconformities as time markers; introduced concept of time represented by surfaces (erosional removal and sedimentary hiatus)
  • 10.
    10 1916: Amadeus Grabauproposed the pulsation theory. History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Cyclicity
  • 11.
    11 1917: Joseph Barrellstated the most fundamental events in geologic history--the time-space distribution of deposition and non- deposition: the alternating rise and fall of Base-level. History of Sequence Stratigraphy: Base Level
  • 12.
    12 What Really Happened:New Concepts from New Technology 1951 John L. Rich proposes the concept of clinoforms… …recognition of seismic reflection geometries
  • 13.
    13 History of SequenceStratigraphy: Time Stratigraphy 1958 Harry Wheeler produced first chronostratigraphic chart
  • 14.
    14 History of SequenceStratigraphy: Time Stratigraphy 1963 Lawrence Sloss recognized 6 major sequences in North America controlled by eustatic sea level changes
  • 15.
    15 1977 Peter Vailand Robert Mitchum co- ordinated the publishing of AAPG Memoir #26 based on the assumption that a seismic relection surface represents a time line Official Birth of Sequence Stratigraphy
  • 16.
    16 •A framework ofgenetically related stratigraphic facies geometries and their bounding surfaces used to determine depositional setting •Subdivision & interpretation of sedimentary record using a framework surfaces seen in outcrops, well logs, & 2-D and 3-D seismic. •Include: Surfaces of erosion & non-deposition (sequence boundaries), systems tracts •Flooding (trangressive surfaces [TS] &/or maximum flooding surfaces [mfs]); require that relative sea-level is known •This framework used to predict the extent of sedimentary facies geometry, lithologic character, grain size, sorting & reservoir quality A Definition of Sequence Stratigraphy
  • 17.
    17 A Simpler, MoreUseful Definition of Sequence Stratigraphy A method to impose the dimension of time on the relationships of rock units in space (area and depth) To do this we first describe facies… …Then we observe the geometric relationships among facies By understanding how rock units are related in time and space, we can better interpret how they are connected as oil and gas reservoirs
  • 18.
    18 • Facies: thetotal textural, compositional and structural characteristics of a sedimentary deposit resulting from accumulation and modification in a particular environment: – Grain size, sorting, rounding – Lithology – Sedimentary structures – Bedding type • In other words, the simplest description of the genetically related vertical and lateral succession How is “Facies” Used In Sequence Stratigraphy
  • 19.
    19 The Problem ofPreservation Potential Sedimentary facies models are useful to explain spatial relationships of co-eval facies in the modern But what will be preserved in the stratigraphic record?
  • 20.
    20 Original Sequence Stratigraphic Approach (seismicstratigraphy) was based on recognition of unconformity-bound sequences using geometry and termination patterns of seismic reflectors.
  • 21.
    21 A critical assumptionof the seismic stratigraphic approach, illustrated in this diagram from Vail et al (1977), is that seismic reflectors follow time surfaces rather than facies impedance boundaries. Note the regional scale of this illustration.
  • 22.
    22 The Classic SlugExxon Model SB – sequence boundary LST – lowstand systems tract TST – transgressive systems tract HST – highstand systems tract SMW – shelf-margin wedge Mfs – maximum flooding surface Lsw – lowstand wedge Sf – slope fan Bf – basin-floor fan
  • 23.
    23 Sequence Boundary • Theunconformity or correlative conformity that bounds a sequence • Not always a major physical feature • Not ever exposure surface is a sequence boundary! • Commonly (but not always) represents a significant change in stratal arrangements and therefore reservoir properites
  • 24.
    24 Maximum Flooding Surface •Surface that marks the turn-around from landward-stepping to seaward stepping strata • Farther out on platform coincides with the downlap surface (depending on the degree of condensation of clinoform toes) • Recognition of the MFS is important for separating TST and HST, which in turn is important for other stratigraphic analysis, but on the platform top (where 99% of carbonate reservoir facies occur) this can be difficult to pin down precisely. Don’t get hung up on this. Try to pick it as closely as possible, knowing that your colleague will disagree in order to appear enlightened.
  • 25.
    25 Transgressive Systems Tracts •Bounded below by underlying sequence boundary and above by maximum flooding surface • Generally more mounded in geometry • Sets of high-frequency cycles show upward thickening and upward deepening trends • Typically less grainstone prone, more diverse skeletal assemblages
  • 26.
    26 Highstand Systems Tracts •Bounded below by maximum flooding surface and above by overlying sequence boundary • Generally shingled or offlapping (clinoformal) stratal geometry • Sets of high-frequency cycles show upward thinning and upward shallowing trends • Typically grainstone prone, less diverse skeletal assemblages
  • 27.
  • 28.
  • 29.
    29 Terminology of StratigraphicHierarchies Composite sequence High-frequency sequence High-frequency cycle
  • 30.
    30 Transgressive sequence set= retrogradational sequence set Highstand sequence set = progradational sequence set Lowstand sequence set
  • 31.
    31 Can we dosequence stratigraphy in carbonates with just logs? Does anyone here work for Schlumberger?
  • 32.
  • 33.
  • 34.
  • 35.
  • 36.