The Bakken Formation—understanding the sequence stratigraphic record of low-gradient sedimentary systems, shale depositional environments, and sea-level changes in an icehouse world

Abstract

The Bakken Formation is a major petroleum producer in the continental US. However, its deposition in an intracratonic, low-gradient setting has often been mistakenly described as “layer-cake”. This contribution is designed to highlight the time-transgressive nature of its main petroleum-producer, the middle Bakken member. Correlation of individual parasequences reveal the subtle nature of otherwise invisible low-angle stratigraphic geometries. Sequence stratigraphically-relevant surfaces occur throughout the unit and subdivide the entire Bakken into 5 third-order sequences; one of them is a hidden sequence at the base of the petroleum-producing middle Bakken indicating both a lowstand and a subsequent transgression. The organic-rich shales above and below the middle Bakken were deposited in an oxygen-deficient environment and show several burrow/fecal string types and indications of active currents during deposition. The Bakken records high amplitude sea-level changes during sequences compared to relative low amplitude sea-level changes of parasequences. This, coupled with a likely mismatch in timing of Bakken deposition relative to world-wide ice-age-induced cyclicity makes it unlikely that the Bakken sea-level fluctuations were dominated by glaciation.