An ichnological-assemblage approach to reservoir heterogeneity assessment in bioturbated strata: Insights from the Lower Cretaceous Viking Formation,Alberta, Canada

Facies-scale trends in porosity and permeability are commonly mapped for reservoir models and flow simulation; however, these trends are too broad to capture bed and bed-set heterogeneity, and there is a need to up-scale detailed, bed-scale observations, especially in low-permeability reservoir intervals. Here we utilize sedimentology and ichnology at the bed- and bedset-scale to constrain the range of porosity and permeability that can be expected within facies of the Lower Cretaceous Viking Formation of south-central, Alberta, Canada.Three main facies were recognized, representing deposition from the middle shoreface to the upper offshore. Amalgamated, hummocky cross-stratified sandstone facies (Facies S_HCS) consist of alternations between intensely bioturbated beds and sparsely bioturbated/laminated beds. Trace fossil assemblages in bioturbated beds of Facies S_HCS are attributable to the archetypal Skolithos Ichnofacies, and are morphologically characterized by vertical, sand-filled shafts (VSS). Bioturbated beds show poor reservoir properties (max: 10% porosity, mean: 85.1 mD) compared to laminated beds (max 20% porosity, mean: 186 mD). Bioturbated muddy sandstone facies (Facies S_B) represent trace fossil assemblages primarily attributable to the proximal expression of the Cruziana Ichnofacies. Four ichnological assemblages occur in varying proportions, namely sediment-churning assemblages (SC), horizontal sand-filled tube assemblages (HSF), VSS assemblages, and mud-filled, lined, or with spreiten (MLS) assemblages. Ichnological assemblages containing horizontal (max: 30% porosity, mean: 1.28 mD) or vertical sand-filled burrows (max: 10% porosity, mean: 2.2 mD) generally have better reservoir properties than laminated beds (max: 20% porosity, mean: 0.98 mD). Conversely, ichnological assemblages that consist of muddy trace fossils have lower porosity and permeability (max 10% porosity, mean: 0.89 mD). Highly bioturbated, sediment churned fabrics have only slightly higher porosity and permeability overall (max: 15% porosity, mean: 1.29 mD). Bioturbated sandy mudstone facies (Facies M_B) contain ichnofossils representing an archetypal expression of the Cruziana Ichnofacies. Four ichnological assemblages occur throughout Facies M_B that are similar to Facies S_B; SC, HSF, VSS, and MLS assemblages. The SC (max: 15% porosity, mean: 21.67 mD), HSF (max: 20% porosity, mean: 3.79 mD), and VSS (max: 25% porosity, mean: 7.35 mD) ichnological assemblages have similar or slightly lower values than the laminated beds (max: 20% porosity, mean: 10.7 mD). However, MLS assemblages have substantially lower reservoir quality (max: 10% porosity, mean: 0.66 mD).Our results indicate that the most likely occurrence of good reservoir characteristics in bioturbated strata exists in sand-filled ichnological assemblages. This is especially true within the muddy upper offshore to lower shoreface, where vertically-oriented trace fossils can interconnect otherwise hydraulically isolated laminated sandstone beds; this improves vertical fluid transmission. The results of this work largely corroborate previous findings about ichnological impacts on reservoir properties. Unlike previous studies, however, we demonstrate that the characteristics of the ichnological assemblage, such as burrow form and the nature of burrow fill, also play an important role in determining reservoir characteristics. It follows that not all bioturbated intervals (attributed to the same facies) should be treated equally. When upscaling bed-scale observations to the reservoir, a range of possible permeability-porosity values can be tested for model sensitivity and to help determine an appropriate representative elementary volume.     

Two bioerosion ichnofacies produced by early and late burial associated with sea-level change

In bioerosion, as in trace fossils as a whole, deeply emplaced structures have greater survival value than shallow structures. That is to say, tiering (the relative depth to which rasping, etching and boring organisms penetrate their substrate) is of paramount importance for the preservation potential of individual trace fossils. An Entobia ichnofacies is established for trace fossil assemblages dominated by deep tier borings and arising from long-term bioerosion, such as occurs on sediment-free submarine cliffs or hardgrounds. A Gnathichnus ichnofacies comprises assemblages containing all tiers, including superficial sculptures produced by radulation that have very little preservation potential. Such assemblages occur in short-term bioerosion situations as on shell surfaces and hardgrounds buried early by sedimentation. Correspondence to: R. G. Bromley     

Ichnology, sequence stratigraphy and depositional evolution of an Upper Cretaceous rocky shoreline in central Chile: Bioerosion structures in a transgressed metamorphic basement

Exposures of upper Paleozoic slates of the metamorphic basement near Concepción, central Chile, are covered by transgressive deposits belonging to the Upper Cretaceous Quiriquina Formation. Presence of clusters of the bivalve boring Gastrochaenolites isp. at the irregular and erosive contact between these two units indicates the development of an ancient rocky shoreline, illustrating a rare example of bioerosion in a metamorphic substrate. Coarse-grained deposits mantling the bioeroded surface represent a transgressive lag produced due to ravinement. In sequence-stratigraphic parlance, the bioeroded surface is classified as a FS/SB or co-planar surface formed due to amalgamation of erosion during lowstand and the subsequent transgression. Unburrowed trough cross-bedded upper-shoreface to intensely bioturbated middle-shoreface deposits record continuous transgression. Logs bioeroded by Teredolites clavatus are also present. Middle-shoreface deposits are dominated by deep Ophiomorpha isp., commonly showing laminated infill. Thalassinoides suevicus occurs locally. Intense bioturbation also suggests that the shoreface developed in embayed shorelines, protected from oceanic waves. While rocky shorelines in limestone are characterized by a high abundance and diversity of bioerosion structures, those formed in other types of substrates contain less diverse, commonly monospecific, suites of borings. In terms of Seilacherian ichnofacies, the bioerosion structures analyzed are attributed to a low-diversity expression of the Trypanites ichnofacies. It is proposed that the Trypanites ichnofacies thus may display two expressions: an archetypal one characterized by high diversity in carbonate substrates, along with a depauperate expression in other types of substrates (e.g., metamorphic and igneous rocks). The extreme hardness of the substrate is regarded as the stress factor responsible for the reduction in ichnodiversity.