Biostratigraphic Databases:

Critical Tools in Stratigraphic

Architecture and Sequence
Stratigraphy

Robert B. Witrock
Minerals Management Service,
Department of the Interior,
New Orleans, Louisiana
Biostratigraphys changing role
over the last 200 years
The changing role of biostratigraphy
Biostratigraphic databases
have become more useful to
the petroleum industry as they
are updated with:

- new age models

- new bioevent age estimates

- improved taxonomy

- improved paleoecology

An overview of a biostratigraphic database project (modified from

Lazarus, D. B., 1994, The Neptune Project - developing a large
- more species occurrences in
relational database of marine microfossil data on a personal range charts (includes fossil
computer, Mathematical Geology 26: 817-832). For more information
about the Neptune relational database project see http://palaeo- increases, acmes, coiling
electronica.org/1999_2/neptune/research.htm
changes)
Sequence stratigraphy

Alongside evidence of
transgressions and
regressions,
unconformities (or
hiatuses), where
recognized in
outcrop or subsection,
identify depositional
sequence boundaries.
 Sequence stratigraphy

Highstand system
tracts, lowstand
system tracts, and
maximum flooding
surfaces

Condensed sections:
composed of many paleobioevents [several Last
Appearance Datums (=LADs)] within a small sample range
indicative of slow sedimentation rates
 Sequence stratigraphy

Sequence boundaries, maximum flooding surfaces,

and their relationship to basin floor fan complexes
 Sequence stratigraphy

Type 1 sequence
a depositional sequence where there is a relative sea level fall
below the present shoreline position.
forms when the sea-level fall rate > the subsidence rate at the
depositional shoreline.
characterized by subaerial exposure and erosion (incised valleys,
stream downcutting)
Sequence boundaries, maximum flooding surfaces, and their relationship to
basin floor fan complexes
 Sequence stratigraphy

Type 2 sequence
a depositional sequence where relative sea level fall does
not force a shift in shoreline position

forms when the sea-level fall rate < the subsidence rate
at the depositional shoreline.
characterized by the absence of subaerial erosion
Sequence boundaries, maximum flooding surfaces, and their relationship to
basin floor fan complexes
(from Garry Jones, Unocal, 1996)
 Detecting an unconformity

LO = last occurrence, or last appearance datum (LAD) FO = first occurrence, or first appearance datum (FAD)
(Jones et al, 2002)
 Sequence
biostratigraphic
modeling

biostratigraphic databases should

include information regarding fossil
abundances (increases, declines)
and diversity.

these high-resolution paleontologic

events can be used to distinguish
maximum flooding surfaces.
Hierarchy of stratigraphic cyclicity

High-quality high-resolution biostratigraphy can identify

beyond sequence cycles (3rd order) to the
parasequence cycle (5th order) level.
Sequence stratigraphy modeling
(from Garry Jones, Unocal, 1996)

BFF basinal floor fan complex MFS maximum flooding surface

HST highstand systems tract SMW shelf margin wedge
LSW lowstand systems wedge TSS transgressive systems tract
 Stratigraphic architecture

From Meckel et al, GCSSEPM Foundation Conference, 2002)

Biostratigraphic databases which store abundance information (number of

individuals of a species, fossil increases, decreases, acmes, condensed sections)
and diversity measurements (planktic/benthic ratios, the number of different
species in a sample) can detect small-scale yet widespread paleobiologic events
which may be mappable.
 Armentrout (2002)

For correlation and mapping of the Gulf of Mexico offshore, MMS

uses the genetic sequence [GS (Vail model)] as well as the
depositional sequence [DS (Galloway model)].
 The Maximum Flooding Surface
(MFS) records culmination of the
marine transgression. It is a
regional shale marker
The Sequence (maximum
Boundaries (SB)
shale point, high
are regional gamma ray)on
unconformities onthe
the shelf,
shelf, andand a condensed
correlative section
conformities
SB 7 ininthe
thedeep
deepbasin.
basin
The primary deep-water reservoirs MFS 7
SB 6
are basin-floor fan sands that sit
SB 5 immediately above the sequence MFS 6

SB 4 boundaries.
SB 3 In the deep water, the MFS is MFS 5

associated with the condensed MFS 4

SB 2
section below the overlying
MFS 3
SB 1 sequence boundary. The
condensed section is often MFS 2

associated with a faunal MFS 1

abundance peak.

after Armentrout (2002)

Sequence boundaries and maximum flooding surfaces

The MMS chronozone
boundaries generally coincide
with major sequence boundaries.
M
L
U

M
U
M

M
M
M

M
L
M

after Armentrout (2002)

Hypothetical association of MMS chronozones

and depositional sequences
Time for questions

Thanks for your attention!