Abstract

ABSTRACT Statistical measurements of organic and inorganic parameters in thin sections reveal that the Swan Hills Member of the Beaverhill Lake Formation in the Shell Swan Hills 10-17 well is made up by the rhythmical alternation of eight carbonate microfacies. These rock-types are closely related and interpreted as a continuous sequence representing fore-reef, reef and back-reef conditions. The fore-reef environment shows dark-colored calcarenites whereas the reef itself consists of dark-colored bio-constructed limestones made up by cabbage-type stromatoporoids followed in shallower water by branching colonies of Amphipora. With these two organically constructed deposits are associated several types of biocalcarenites. The back-reef environment is represented by light-colored calciluti es containing scattered colonies of Amphipora and of mat-type stromatoporoids. The vertical superposition of these microfacies displays seven rhythms of sedimentation during which an Amphipora-stromatoporoid reef community was established over a carbonate platform, developed and eventually disappeared. The rhythms seem to correspond to tectonically controlled phases of depth decrease.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.