The utility of cluster analysis in determining sedimentary facies

Data on 12 variables in 98 thin sections from 150 carbonate core samples of the Mauddud Formation (early Middle Cretaceous) in 13 well locations distributed throughout the Greater Burgan Oil Field, Kuwait, are re-examined using two correlation coefficients, distance similarity and product-moment, for data comparison and the weighted-pair group clustering technique with simple arithmatic averages for clustering of coefficients. The analysis shows results compatible with those obtained with subjective appraisal of the same data. The method can be utilized for sedimentary microfacies recognition and can be profitably applied in frontier areas where data are limited.