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Principles of Elemental Chemostratigraphy pp 85–129Cite as

Production of Chemostratigraphic Correlation Schemes

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Abstract

Producing a chemostratigraphic correlation scheme is probably the most challenging stage of any chemostratigraphy project. In order to avoid making interpretations based entirely on changes in grain size/lithology, it is recommended that separate schemes are proposed for sandstone and mudrock samples in studies of clastic sediments. In carbonates, no such differentiation is necessary and the data are treated as a whole. After making some final checks on data quality, profiles are plotted for each element, and then for Al-normalised data and geochemical ratios. Most chemostratigraphy projects involve the analysis of 40–55 elements (so profiles are plotted for more than 250 elements and ratios), but the majority of correlation schemes relate to variations in 4–12 key elements or ratios. Hierarchical schemes are developed, based on the recognition of correlative zones, subzones, divisions and subdivisions. In addition to being identified on element/ratio profiles, the geochemical characteristics of these chemozones can also be visualised on binary and ternary diagrams. Using histograms and DFA (Discriminant Function Analysis), it is possible to assign levels of statistical confidence to each chemozone. In recent years, chemostratigraphy has been used very often in conjunction with lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, sedimentology and seismic data. By employing such a multidisciplinary approach to reservoir correlation, it is possible to propose more robust correlations of higher resolution.

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  1. Exploration Department, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

    Neil Craigie

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Craigie, N. (2018). Production of Chemostratigraphic Correlation Schemes. In: Principles of Elemental Chemostratigraphy. Advances in Oil and Gas Exploration & Production. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71216-1_4

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