Abstract

The Frontier Formation in the Green River Basin of southwestern Wyoming consists of Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) marine and non-marine sandstones, siltstones, mudstones and coals deposited on the western margin of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway. Tight gas reservoirs exist in subsurface fluviodeltaic sandstones in the upper Frontier Formation (Dry Hollow Member) on the north-south trending Moxa Arch within the basin. These strata crop out in hogback ridges of the Utah-Idaho-Wyoming Thrust Belt approximately 40 km west of the crest of the Moxa Arch. Detailed, quantitative outcrop descriptions were constructed using emerging photogrammetric techniques along with field observations and measured sections at five key outcrop localities along the thrust belt. Understanding the architectural style of this low net-to-gross fluvial system allows for improved reservoir prediction in this and other comparable basins. The architectural style of the Dry Hollow Member fluvial deposits varies vertically as the result of a relative shoreline transgression during Dry Hollow deposition. Amalgamated conglomerates and associated fine to coarse sandstones near the base of the section and much thinner, isolated sandstones near the top of the Dry Hollow occur in laterally extensive units that can be identified over tens of kilometers. These units also provide means to relate outcrop and subsurface stratigraphic architecture. Combined with available subsurface data, fully-realized 3D static reservoir models for use as analogs in subsurface reservoir characterization may be constructed. Grain size, reservoir thickness and connectivity of fluvial sandstones is generally greatest near the base of this member and decreases upward overall. Despite relative isolation of some channel bodies, geocellular facies modeling indicates good lateral and vertical connectivity of most channel sandstones. The Kemmerer Coal Zone, with little sandstone, divides lower and upper well-connected sandy units.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Geological Sciences

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2017-08-01

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd9472

Keywords

Cretaceous Interior Seaway, digital outcrop model, Dry Hollow, fluvial, fluviodeltaic, Frontier Formation, geocellular model, facies model, Green River Basin, low net-to-gross, photogrammetry, tight gas, Utah-Idaho-Wyoming Thrust Belt, Wyoming

Language

english

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