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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
AAPG Bulletin, V.
David
R. Lemons2 and Marjorie A.
Chan
1Manuscript received October 28, 1996; revised manuscript
received December 11, 1997; final acceptance July 27, 1998.
2Exxon Exploration Company, P.O. Box 4478, Houston, Texas
77210-4478; e-mail: [email protected]
3Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.
ABSTRACT
Limnostasy, tectonics, and sediment yield were similar for all three
fine-grained deltas, implying that the most influential forcing parameter
on sequence stratigraphy is basin physiography. Basin physiography (specifically
ramp length and accommodation) most strongly controlled the external and
internal geometry of the lowstand systems tract of each delta.
Potential hydrocarbon reservoir quality (e.g., grain size and sorting)
is largely a product of drainage basin size and stream gradient. Relative
differences in ramp lengths seemed to determine thickness and lateral continuity
of delta front deposits. Relative differences in accommodation appeared
to determine the internal geometry of the delta front deposits, especially
in the lowstand systems tract. These deltas can serve as analogs for lacustrine
exploration and production where many forcing parameters typically are
unknown.
This study documents the effects of changing lake level (limnostasy),
tectonics, sediment yield, and basin physiography on the facies architecture,
sequence stratigraphy, and reservoir quality of three fine-grained deltas
deposited along the eastern margin of late Pleistocene Lake Bonneville.
Analysis of facies architecture indicates that the Weber and Spanish Fork
deltas were strongly wave-modified because they were situated along openly
exposed portions of the shoreline. The Bear River delta, nestled in a relatively
isolated northeast arm of the lake, records both fluvial and wave processes.
These fine-grained deltas were fed by low-gradient rivers that drained
large regions that were sparsely glaciated, whereas other contemporaneous,
coarse-grained "Gilbert" deltas were fed by steep-gradient rivers that
drained local source areas that were strongly influenced by glaciers.
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