[PDF] U Pb Geochronology Of The Late Cretaceous Eagle Ford Shale Texas eBook

Author : John Donald Pierce
Publisher :
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 26,95 MB
Release : 2014
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ISBN :

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The Eagle Ford Shale and equivalent Boquillas Formation (Late Cretaceous) contain abundant volcanic ash beds of varying thickness. These ash beds represent a unique facies that displays a range of sedimentary structures, bed continuity, and diagenetic alteration. They are prominent not only in West Texas outcrops, but also in the subsurface of South Texas where hydrocarbon production is actively occurring. The ash beds have the potential to be used for stratigraphic correlation for understanding early diagenesis and -- most importantly -- for obtaining high-resolution geochronology, which can then be used for defining depositional rates and chronostratigraphy. Study of the ash beds was conducted at outcrops along U.S. 90, west of Comstock, Texas, the subsurface in Atascosa and Karnes County, and at a construction site in South Austin. Bed thicknesses range from 0.1-33 cm and were collected throughout the entirety of the Eagle Ford succession. Mineral separation yielded abundant non-detrital zircons for U-Pb dating. Dating was conducted using LA-ICP-MS at The University of Texas at Austin, to attain a base level understanding of the age range for the Eagle Ford. High-resolution ages for the base and top of the Eagle Ford were obtained, in addition to radioisotopically defining the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary within the section. U-Pb ages for the Eagle Ford Shale range from Early Cenomanian to Late-Coniacian near Comstock, Mid-Cenomanian to the Turonian-Coniacian boundary in the subsurface, and Early Cenomanian to Late Turonian in Austin area. These findings contrast with many of the regional biostratigraphic studies across the Eagle Ford and indicate a more prolonged period of Eagle Ford deposition than previously observed.

Author : Michael Anthony Nieto
Publisher :
Page : 366 pages
File Size : 26,57 MB
Release : 2016
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ISBN :

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The Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas is an organic-rich, calcareous mudrock succession which was deposited on the Comanche Platform during the earliest Late Cretaceous. Many academic and industry sponsored Eagle Ford studies over the past 10 years have concentrated their efforts on trying to understand the rock fabrics, facies architecture and heterogeneities present in the succession. However, despite heavy economic and academic interest in the system, few studies focus on trying to understand timing and source of the many bentonite ash beds present in the Eagle Ford; which serve as regional chronostratigraphic markers across South Texas. One of the primary goals of the study is the determination of U-Pb age dates in bentonite-rich ash beds from a group of subsurface cores that penetrate the Eagle Ford Formation in Atascosa County, Texas. Absolute age dates provide a chronostratigraphic framework that is used to estimate the depositional timing of variable Eagle Ford facies, as well as define the timing, duration and magnitude of isotopic events in the region. Secondly, age estimates are utilized to determine and calculate Eagle Ford accumulation rates across South Texas. Absolute age dates are incorporated with lithofacies definitions to better 1) understand the cyclic relationship between dominant Eagle Ford lithologies, 2) identify the controls responsible for the cyclic mode of deposition, and 3) determine the lateral continuity of key lithofacies and lithologic units. Lastly, elemental (XRF) data are utilized to describe the subtle paleoceanographic and sediment source conditions that persisted across the entire Eagle Ford section. These findings are integrated with stable carbon ([delta]13C) isotopic data, which allow for the accurate definition of Ocean Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2) in the study area and provide a basis for regional correlation with previous studies. Recent studies have suggested that anoxic conditions experienced within the Western Interior Seaway during this time were asynchronous with the well-documented global OAE 2 event. The present study compares local U-Pb age dates, isotopic and elemental results with regional studies to better define the onset timing and paleoceanograpic conditions associated with Eagle Ford Shale deposition.

Author : Bruce S. Hart
Publisher :
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 34,85 MB
Release : 2020
Category : Geology
ISBN : 9781565763722

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SEPM Field Trip Guidebook 16 is perhaps best thought of as an exercise in applied stratigraphy and structural geology. The technical goal is to make inter-disciplinary links, to demonstrate how stratigraphic and structural features affect exploration and development activities for unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs.The outcrops described in this guidebook should help to stimulate discussion on a series of interrelated topics such as: lithology, stratigraphic controls on hydrocarbons, horizontal drilling target, and geosteering challenges.

Author : Brian Butler Hunt
Publisher : Geological Society of America
Page : 64 pages
File Size : 47,26 MB
Release : 2013-04-01
Category : Nature
ISBN : 0813700302

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"The four field trips in this volume focus on sedimentology and paleontology in Texas. All the trips can directly trace their roots to the work of early geologic explorers"--Provided by publisher.

Author : Robert Francis Nikirk
Publisher :
Page : 60 pages
File Size : 32,90 MB
Release : 2014
Category :
ISBN :

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Strata of the Eagle Ford Group of South Texas, deposited during the Cenomanian and Turonian of the Late Cretaceous, are largely characterized as mixed siliciclastic and carbonate mudrocks rich in organic carbon. The Eagle Ford Group records deposition within the Maverick Basin, along the Comanche Shelf, at the southern margin of the Western Interior Seaway in present-day South Texas. In recent years, the Eagle Ford has emerged as one of the premiere petroleum plays, as it has been proven to be capable of producing significant volumes of dry gas, wet gas/condensates, and oil. It is believed the Eagle Ford represents deposition during the globally correlative Ocean Anoxic Event #2, characterized by the accumulation and preservation of vast amounts of organic carbon due to the expansion of large deep-water oxygen minimum zones. This study integrates geochemical analyses of six drill cores from Gonzales, Guadalupe, La Salle and Wilson counties of South Texas. These cores were studied to determine bulk geochemistry, redox conditions, and degree of basin restriction and deepwater renewal times in order to provide a detailed assessment of the chemostratigraphy and paleoceanography of the Eagle Ford Group. Each core was scanned at one foot intervals with a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer to obtain quantitative measurements of major elements, such as Ca, Al and Si, as well as redox sensitive trace metals, such as V, Zn, Ni and Mo. In addition, some cores were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), total inorganic carbon (TIC), and stable isotope ([delta]13C and [delta]18O) signatures of the inorganic, carbonate component. The elevated levels of redox sensitive trace metals of the Lower Eagle Ford, represented here by the Lake Waco and Pepper Shale Formations, reveals deposition during a time of anoxic or euxinic conditions leading to the preservation of large amounts of organic carbon (~5% TOC). The South Bosque Formation, representing the Upper Eagle Ford, displays reduced levels of these trace metals, suggesting a return to a more oxygenated environment prior to the deposition of the overlying, fully oxygenated and heavily bioturbated Austin Chalk. The physical paleoceanography of the Eagle Ford is revealed to be restricted at times and more open at others with lower deep-water renewal times, yet remained mainly within an anoxic or euxinic state. In regard to the inorganic stable isotopic data, the [delta]13C carb values, which other studies have shown to display a positive excursion at the time of OAE2, suggest this event is not preserved within the cores analyzed.