Abstract
The objective of our research is to reconcile the differences, in both age and relative stratigraphic position, between the Woodbine and Eagle Ford Groups in the outcrop and subsurface of the East Texas Basin. In the outcrop belt, organic- and carbonate-rich Middle Cenomanian mudstones are mapped within the Eagle Ford Group, where they overlie, and are separated by a regional unconformity from Early Cenomanian, organic-poor, and clay-rich mudstones of the Woodbine Group (Pepper Shale). In southern portions of the East Texas Basin, however, these same organic- and carbonate-rich Middle Cenomanian mudstones are mapped within the Maness Shale, which in turn, is overlain by Late Cenomanian to Turonian-aged mudstones (Pepper Shale) and sandstones (Dexter Formation) mapped as the Woodbine Group. Our approach to reconcile the lithostratigraphic juxtaposition between the two regions was to use chemo-stratigraphic and petrophysical data collected from the outcrops, as well as an adjacent shallow research borehole, in order to define key sequence stratigraphic units/surfaces, and then correlate the key units/surfaces from the outcrop belt into the subsurface.
Our research indicates that the Woodbine Group, is an older unconformity-bounded depositional sequence which is Early Cenomanian, whereas the Eagle Ford Group, is an overlying (younger) unconformity-bounded depositional sequence, which is Middle Cenomanian to Late Turonian. The unconformities that bound these units can be mapped from the outcrop belt into the subsurface of the East Texas Basin, to define coeval depositional sequences. As defined in this study, marine mudstones of the Woodbine Group, are clay- & silica-rich, TOC-poor, and characterized by low resistivity on geophysical logs. In general, the Woodbine Group thins, as well as transitions to more mudstone-prone facies, from northeast to southwest within the basin. While beyond the scope of this study, the Woodbine Group contains numerous higher-frequency sequences, which are stacked in an overall progradational (highstand) sequence set. The depositional profile of the unconformity which forms the top of this progradational succession sets up the relict physiographic (depositional shelf/slope/basin) profile for the overlying Eagle Ford Group.
Within the Lower Eagle Ford Formation, two high-frequency sequences, defined as the Lower and Upper Members, were defined. Within the Upper Eagle Ford Formation, three high-frequency sequences, defined as the Lower, Middle, and Upper Members, were defined. The Lower and Upper Members of the Lower Eagle Ford Formation, as well as the Lower Member of the Upper Eagle Ford Formation range from Middle Cenomanian to Early Turonian. These three high-frequency sequences contain marine mudstones that are carbonate- & TOC-rich, as well as clay- and quartz-poor, and are characterized by high resistivity values on geophysical logs. Furthermore, they are interpreted as a transgressive sequence set, with sequences that sequentially onlap, from older to younger, the inherited relict physiographic (depositional shelf/slope/basin) profile of the underlying Woodbine Group. In stark contrast, mudstones within the Middle and Upper Members of the Upper Eagle Ford Formation, which are Middle to Late Turonian, are clay-rich, TOC-poor, and characterized by low resistivity on geophysical logs. These two sequences, which are interpreted as a highstand sequence set, are sandstone-prone, and contain petroleum reservoirs that previously were incorrectly included within the Woodbine Group. Based on these correlations, updated sequence-based paleogeographic maps can be constructed for the first time across the East Texas Basin. These maps can in turn be used to define a robust portfolio of conventional, as well as unconventional tight-rock and source-rock, plays and play fairways, which are now based on a modern sequence stratigraphic, versus the traditional archaic lithostratigraphic framework.
