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AAPG Bulletin

Abstract

(Begin page 295)

AAPG Bulletin, V. 85, No. 2 (February 2001), P. 295-308.

Copyright ©2001. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

Use of spectral gamma-ray signature to interpret stratigraphic surfaces in carbonate strata: An example from the Finnmark carbonate platform (Carboniferous-Permian), Barents Sea

S. N. Ehrenberg,1 T. A. Svånå2

1Statoil, N-4035 Stavanger, Norway; email: [email protected]
2Statoil, Postboks 40, N-9401 Harstad, Norway; email: [email protected]

AUTHORS

Steve Ehrenberg has a Ph.D. from University of California-Los Angeles. He joined Statoil in 1985, where he does technical service projects in clastic and carbonate petrology. In between there is time for the occasional scientific article.

Tore Svånå received his Candidatus Scientiarium degree in geology (sedimentology) at the University of Oslo in 1984. He began his professional career as well site/operations geologist, first at Norsk Hydro and thereafter at Statoil. He has worked mainly on Barents Sea exploration, with particular emphasis on Upper Paleozoic carbonates. He has also been involved in the evaluation of Mideast opportunities, was the leader for Statoil's former carbonate research program, and has co-authored several publications.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Helpful suggestions on the manuscript were contributed by L. Stemmerik, E. G. Purdy, and AAPG referees J. H. Doveton, S. C. Ruppel, and T. Elliott.

ABSTRACT

Spectral gamma-ray (GR) profiles were examined in well 7128/6-1, the stratigraphic reference section of the entirely subsurface Finnmark carbonate platform. Detailed bulk-chemical profiling of selected GR peaks shows that potassium (K) and thorium (Th) are mutually correlated and are a direct index of siliciclastic (aluminosilicate) content, whereas uranium (U) is uncorrelated with K, Th, and all other chemical components measured. Uranium tends to be enriched in thin shale and argillaceous carbonate layers within otherwise carbonate-dominated intervals. Uranium is thus associated with aluminosilicate minerals and is not particularly concentrated in dolomite. Two types of GR peaks are observed. Potassium-thorium-dominated peaks are suggested to indicate relatively major transgressions during which aluminosilicate detritus was derived from sources interior to the Fennoscandian shield. Uranium-dominated peaks correspond with relatively minor transgressions within intervals of cyclic shallow-water carbonate deposits. Uranium-enriched aluminosilicate detritus is suggested to be the product of extended subaerial exposure of the platform, during which U was concentrated by groundwater movement. These results can be useful as a basis for applying spectral GR signature as a tool for stratigraphic interpretation in uncored or incipiently understood carbonate sections.

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