Date of Graduation

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Geology and Geography

Committee Chair

Timothy Carr

Committee Co-Chair

Shikha Sharma

Committee Member

Peter Sullivan

Abstract

Seven lithofacies were identified from visual descriptions and quantitative interpretations using traditional core analysis methods, such as core and thin-section description, x-ray diffraction (XRD), total organic carbon (TOC), and spectral core gamma-ray (GR). Ingrain's digital rock physics (DRP) color-coded CoreHDRTM lithofacies classification was successful at illustrating small-scale variations in the core based off high resolution bulk density (RHOB) and photoelectric factor (PEF) logs. A core-scale lithofacies log and spectral core GR aids in recognizing condensed sections and stacking patterns, which helps establish a sequence stratigraphic framework for the cored well that consists of six stratigraphic intervals. The sequence stratigraphic framework reveals that the Marcellus Formation in the area was deposited during a relatively low energy, shallow sea environment, where degree of anoxia was neither persistent nor widespread like previously thought. Rapid fluctuations in anoxia are attributed to changes in water chemistry, sediment supply, and primary production associated with close proximity to localized bathymetric low and a nearby sediment source.

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