Abstract

This contribution integrates lithologic, mineralogical, geochemical, and geomechanical data from cores and outcrops, and emphasizes where and how sedimentology may help the exploration of self-sourced unconventional reservoirs. In fact, the activity in the unconventional plays has boosted the research on the sedimentology of mudstones to better define the sweet spots and the landing zones sought by industry. This chapter describes the stratigraphic architecture of the Vaca Muerta-Quintuco system (prograding clinoforms ∼150 km long and 300 m high), the lithology per sector (e.g., carbonate in the topsets, marlstone in the foresets, mudstone in the bottomsets), and reconstruct genetically-related facies defining a depositional model where sediment arrives from topset and currents move it basinward into a suboxic environment of deposition. The stratigraphic framework created is then populated with rock characteristics to create a play concept and define sweet spots and landing zones.