Stratigraphic Framework and New Exploration Concepts for the Lower Cretaceous Shelf Margin

Carbonates of Texas*
By
Paul M. (Mitch) Harris1

Search and Discovery Article #40303 (2008)

Posted September 3, 2008

*Adapted from 2000-2001 AAPG International Distinguished Lecture

1
Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, Houston, TX; currently ETC, Chevron, San Ramon, CA, USA (MitchHarris@chevron.com)

Abstract

Stratigraphic studies, focusing on the Lower Cretaceous Edwards and Sligo margins in East-central Texas, suggest new exploration
opportunities. One is based on an extension of the favorable stratigraphy of the Edwards beyond the commonly recognized shelf
margin; and another on recognizing that the Sligo margin underwent a major period of exposure resulting in deposition of downslope
debris wedges. These examples show how new exploration ideas can be developed in mature areas when new tools and approaches are
utilized.

The Edwards - An Underdrilled Opportunity

Analysis of well cuttings and core, coupled with detailed seismic correlation, confirms that the Edwards margin consists of both
grainstone and reef facies and shows that both sets of facies repeat themselves several times within the Edwards as the margin
prograded. The Edwards margin prograded southeastward >5 km beyond the Sligo margin placing prospective backreef and reef
grainstones far seaward of the commonly recognized margin. In essence, there are equivalent facies to those of the Word field
complex, a mature Edwards gas field producing at a depth of approximately 3962 m, downdip of the field but the facies lack the
underpinning of the Sligo margin for structural drape. The extent of this “opportunity fairway” within Lavaca County alone is over 4.8
km in width and 40 km in length.

3-D seismic and a corresponding geologic cross section show the progradational nature of the Edwards in detail. Three Edwards
sequences defined by four key reflectors on the 3-D data occur within one sequence on the 2-D seismic. Reflector 1, which is a high-
amplitude event downdip that diminishes in strength updip, occurs at the top of an interval of deeper water argillaceous wackestones
(Upper Tamaulipas). Reflector 1 is immediately overlain by a prograding reef/bank complex and distal slope wackestones of the
Edwards margin as seen in cores and cuttings. Reflector 2 is a weak event that ties lagoonal packstone/grainstones to a reef and bank
complex and eventually forereef and slope deposits. Reflectors 3 and 4 tie backreef wackestone/packstones to reef and backreef
grainstones. It seems clear that the "top Edwards" interval between reflectors 3 and 4 represents a progradational package whose
ultimate culmination is even seaward of the study area.

The Sligo Forereef – An Untested Opportunity

A 3-D seismic line illustrates a major sequence boundary in the Sligo margin and several events on the seaward side of the margin that
display onlap and downlap reflector terminations. These events exhibit the proper architecture to comprise part of a downslope debris
wedge in excess of 300 m thick. Although this Sligo forereef and slope play is regional in extent throughout the northern rim of the
Gulf of Mexico, the opportunity has yet to be tested.

The existence of a Sligo downslope wedge between the sequence boundary and the overlying Pearsall shale does not guarantee the
presence of coarse grained material. It is likely the lowstand created a period of instability, resulting in coarse breccia and grainstone
transported further downslope in the form of debris flows and sediment gravity flows. During the subsequent transgression and
relative highstand, the Sligo shelf margin initially kept up with sea level rise and continued to contribute grainstone debris downslope.
Rapid deposition of the downslope carbonates may have helped to preserve primary porosity by limiting the amount of marine
cementation. Data from reservoir analogs confirm that such downslope carbonates can retain reservoir-quality porosity; e.g., Poza
Rica field from east-central Mexico. Facies variation and slump faulting on the foreslope creates the potential for trapping and
juxtaposition to deep-water carbonates sets up the source and migration pathway. Eventually, the Sligo shelf margin was flooded by a
major transgression represented by the Pearsall, which would provide a top seal.

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to the following coworkers for their collaboration: Terry W. Belsher, James M. Medlin (retired), John L. Stubbs, and
Robert P. Wright, Chevron U.S.A. Production Company, Houston, TX; Dale A. Fritz, Devon Energy, Oklahoma City, OK. 2D seismic
data were provided by Seismic Exchange Inc, and 3D seismic data were provided by CGG Americas Inc.
 STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK AND
NEW EXPLORATION CONCEPTS
LOWER CRETACEOUS SHELF MARGIN
CARBONATES OF TEXAS

AAPG International Distinguished Lecture Tour

Paul M. (Mitch) Harris

Chevron Petroleum Technology Company
Houston, Texas U.S.A.
 EXPLORATION CONCEPTS
LOWER CRETACEOUS SHELF MARGIN
CARBONATES OF TEXAS

Paul M. (Mitch) Harris

Chevron Petroleum Technology Company
Houston, Texas U.S.A.
 OUTLINE OF TALK

• Regional and Stratigraphic Setting

• Edwards Play

• Sligo Analog and Play

• Summary
 OUTLINE OF TALK

• REGIONAL AND STRATIGRAPHIC SETTING

• EDWARDS PLAY

• SLIGO ANALOG AND PLAY

• SUMMARY
 REGIONAL MAP
EAST TEX AS
BAS IN MISSIS SIPPI
SALT B ASIN
SAN MARCOS
ARCH

MAVERICK
BAS IN

EDWARDS MARGIN
SLIGO MARGIN

G u l f o f M ex i c o

LOWER CRETACEOUS
VALL ES
SAN LUIS P OTOSI
GOLDEN L ANE MARGIN
PLATF ORM
PLATFORM

POZA RICA T REND

 SLIGO MARGIN
PLAY TYPES
PUBLISHED
EDWARDS ACTUAL
MARGIN WORD FIELD EDWARDS
MARGIN

TAYLOR
AUSTIN
EDWARDS
PEARSALL

SLIGO TA
YL
OR

HO SST ON AUS
TIN

GOLDEN LANE EDW

A RDS
TYPE MARGIN SALT PEARSAL
L

POZA RICA TYPE WEDGES

1 MILE
DETAILED STUDY AREA

STUDY AREA

Gulf of Mexico

EDWARDS SHELF TREND

SLIGO SHELF TREND
 GULF COAST STRATIGRAPHY
Composite 2nd-Order
Curve Shelfward Basinward Super
Sequence
60
SL Midway
Rise Fall

70 Navarro

Taylor
80

Austin Chalk
84 SANTONIAN
90 (MFS)
CONIACIAN
Eagle Ford
TST
TURONIAN
Woodbine
Georgetown Buda CENOMANIAN
98
EDWARDS 100 Fredericksburg
Upper
Atascosa HST ALBIAN
Glen Rose
(MFS)
PROGRADING 110
Lower
Glen Rose
Pearsall
James
TST
SMW
Upper Sligo
112 APTIAN
SHELF MARGIN Sligo HST
(MFS)
BARREMIAN
HAUTERIVIAN
PLAY 120 Hosston Fm TST
SMW VALANGINIAN
130
Knowles 128.5
BERRIASIAN
Cotton Valley HST
Gp Bossier
Shale
TITHONIAN
140 Haynesville TST
Fm
Buckner 144
KIMMERIDGAN
Smackover HST
Fm
TST
OXFORDIAN
150
Louann
LST CALLOVIAN
158.5
160
 TOP EDWARDS STRUCTURE

LAVACA COUNTY
TEXAS

PUBLISHED
EDWARDS / SLIGO
MARGIN
 2D SEISMIC FRAMEWORK

TOP CRET ACEOUS

I

G LEN ROS E
EDWARDS

SLIGO PEARSALL
S

COT TON V ALLEY

DATA BY SEISMIC EXCHANGE INC.

 2D SEISMIC FRAMEWORK

EDWARDS

SLIGO
SEISMIC INTERPRETATION
 EDWARDS 3D SEISMIC
NW SE

2000 2000

2500 2500

EDWARDS
3000 3000

3500 3500

4000 4000
Seismic Provided by CGG AMERICAS INC. 3382'
WORD FIELD DEPOSITIONAL MODEL
 EDWARDS
REEF FACIES

RUDISTS
 EDWARDS
REEF FACIES

RUDISTS
 EDWARDS
GRAINSTONE
FACIES
RUDIST DEBRIS
 3D SEISMIC LOCATION
PUBLISHED
EDWARDS N
MARGIN

#1 ZARUBA
EDWS -14,063'

#1 COBY
EDWS -13,927'

0' 4000' 8000'

Seismic Provided by CGG AMERICAS INC.

 KEY EDWARDS WELL

AUSTIN CHALK
FACIES FROM
EAGLE FORD
14000 CUTTINGS DESCRIPTION
BUDA
EDWARDS

BACK REEF GRAINSTONE

14500

REEF GRAINSTONE
PROGRADATIONAL
MOTIF 15000

FORE REEF PACKSTONE

PROXIMAL SLOPE WACKESTONE

15500
DISTAL SLOPE WACKESTONE

DEEP SHELF
ARGILLACEOUS WACKESTONE
16000
 EDWARDS STRATAL GEOMETRIES
MOBIL
KAHANEK #1 CHEVRO N EXX ON
(PRO JECTED 13 MILES ALONG S TRI KE) CO BY #1 ZARUBA #1

2.5

TOP EDWARDS

TS T 4
3.0 HST 3 14, 000'
HST 2 HST
HST Reef TS T

TS T
1

16,000'

3.5

SLIGO DEBRIS

Seismic Provided by CGG AMERICAS INC.

EDWARDS FACIES ARCHITECTURE
 EDWARDS PLAY SUMMARY

Edwards is Largely Stratigraphically Trapped

Porosity Likely Enhanced by Dissolution Along

Fractures
Well and Seismic Control Extend Margin
Seaward
Refined Stratigraphic and Facies Framework
Indicates Exploration Opportunities
 EDWARDS OPPORTUNITIES
OPPORTUNITY
FAIRWAY

LAVACA COUNTY
TEXAS

PUBLISHED ACTUAL
EDWARDS / SLIGO EDWARDS
MARGIN MARGIN
 REGIONAL MAP
EAST TEX AS
BAS IN MISSIS SIPPI
SALT B ASIN
SAN MARCOS
ARCH

MAVERICK
BAS IN

EDWARDS MARGIN
SLIGO MARGIN

G u l f o f M ex i c o

LOWER CRETACEOUS
VALL ES GOLDEN L ANE
SAN LUIS P OTOSI
MARGIN
PLATF ORM
PLATFORM

POZA RICA T REND

 GULF COAST STRATIGRAPHY
Composite 2nd-Order
Curve Shelfward Basinward Super
Sequence
60
SL Midway
Rise Fall

70 Navarro

Taylor
80

Austin Chalk
84 SANTONIAN
90 (MFS)
CONIACIAN
Eagle Ford
TST
TURONIAN
Woodbine
Georgetown Buda CENOMANIAN
98
100 Fredericksburg
Upper
Atascosa HST ALBIAN
Glen Rose
(MFS)
Pearsall TST
SLIGO
Lower
Glen Rose James
110 SMW
Upper Sligo
112 APTIAN
HST BARREMIAN
DOWNSLOPE Sligo
(MFS)
HAUTERIVIAN
120 Hosston Fm TST
DEBRIS SMW VALANGINIAN
PLAY 130
Cotton Valley
Knowles 128.5

HST
BERRIASIAN
Gp Bossier
Shale
TITHONIAN
140 Haynesville TST
Fm
Buckner 144
KIMMERIDGAN
Smackover HST
Fm
TST
OXFORDIAN
150
Louann
LST CALLOVIAN
158.5
160
 POZA RICA CROSS SECTION
WEST EAST

Sierra Madre Oriental

Sierra de El Abra POZA RICA Golden Lane

Platform S.L.
Gulf of Mexico

Cret

After Yurew ic z, 1997 .

 2D SEISMIC FRAMEWORK

EDWARDS

SLIGO
SEISMIC INTERPRETATION
 POZA RICA ANALOG

POZA RICA

POZA RICA
DOWNSLOPE BRECCIA ON OUTCROP

Pelagic
Mudstone

Graded Breccia
 DOWNSLOPE BRECCIA IN CORE

Sutured
Contacts

Pelagic Wackestone
Mudstone Clast
Matrix

Rudist
Grainstone
Clast
GRAINSTONE
DEBRIS
IN CORE

Rudist
Fragments

Interparticle Porosity of 2%
Moldic Porosity of 13.5%
SLIGO SEQUENCE BOUNDARY

SB
HIGHSTAND TRANSGRESSIVE
PLATFORM PLATFORM
SLIGO SEQUENCE BOUNDARY
 SLIGO 3D SEISMIC
NW SE

2000 2000

2500 2500

3000 3000

SLIGO

3500 3500

4000 4000
Seismic Provided by CGG AMERICAS INC. 3382'
 SLIGO PLAY TYPE
SLIGO MARGIN

A A'

TAYLOR
AUSTIN
EDWARDS
PEARSALL

SLIGO TA
YL
OR

HO SST ON AUS
TIN

GOLDEN LANE EDW

A RDS
TYPE MARGIN SALT PEARSAL
L

POZA RICA TYPE WEDGES

1 MILE

.
 SLIGO PLAY SUMMARY

Poza Rica Analog for Sligo Downslope Debris

Play
3d Seismic Essential for Stratigraphic Play
Delineation
High-Resolution Sequence Framework Critical
for Defining Reservoir and Trap
High Risk but Potentially High Reward
SLIGO OPPORTUNITIES

OPPORTUNITY FAIRWAY

Gulf of Mexico

SLIGO SHELF TREND

 SUMMARY POINTS

Although in a Mature Area, the Edwards and Sligo

Carbonates Discussed Here are Far From Fully
Exploited.

3d Seismic, a Sequence Stratigraphic Framework, and

Reservoir Analogs Have Led to New Exploration Play
Concepts and Viable Opportunities.