AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS

CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE NOTE SERIES #40

Field Guide For AAPG Hedberg Field Research Conference - April 15-20,1999
Deep-Water Sandstones, Brushy Canyon Formation, West Texas

R.T. Beaubouef, C. Rossen, F.B. Zelt, M.D. Sullivan, D.C. Mohrig, G D.C. Jennette
Exxon Production Research Co.
with significant contributions from J.A. Bellian, S.J.Friedman, R.W. Lovell, D.S. Shannon
and the rest of the EPRCo. Deep-Water Reservoirs Group
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 Published by the Education Department of
The American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Copyright O 1999 by
Field Guide For The American Association of Petroleum Geologists
All Rights Reserved
AAPG Hedberg Field Research Conference:
Printed in the U.S.A.

DEEP-WATER SANDSTONES, BRUSHY CANYON FORMATION, ISBN: 0-89181-189-3

WEST TEXAS
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R.T. Beaubouef, C. Rossen, F.B. Zelt, M.D. Sullivan,
D.C. Mohrig, and D.C. Jennette
Exxon Production Research Company
Cover: Panoramic photograph of the western escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains showing the
northern 10 krn of the Brushy Canyon outcrop belt at the northwest margin of the Delaware Basin. The
basin margin area is to the left in this view, and the basin center is toward the right. In this setting, the
Brushy Canyon Formation is an onlapping wedge comprised of siltstone dominated slope facies with
large, sandstone filled submarine canyons and slope channels. These channel complexes are oriented
southeasterly and represent former point sources of siliciclastic sediment delivered to the Delaware Basin.

with significant contributions from J.S. Bellian, S.J. Friedman,

R.W. Lovell, D.S. Shannon, and the rest of the EPRCo.
Deep-Water Reservoirs Group
AAPG Continuing Education Course Note Series #40
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 Table of Contents
Pages
..
Introduction and Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
11-12

Outcrop Localities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.1.1.5.3

Slope systems
1 .1. 1.7
Upper slope canyons and channel complexes ............................................................................................................................................................................

Middle slope channel complexes ................................................................................................................................................................................................

2 1.2.3

Base of slope channel complexes................................................................................................................................................................................................

..3.1. 3.9

Basin floor systems

4 . Basin floor channel complexes .....................................................................................................................................................................................................
4.1.4.8

Proximal basin floor fan ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................

.4.2.4.4

Medial basin floor fan ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................

4.5.4.8

Basin floor sheet complexes ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

5.1.5.3

Extended Bibliography pages .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

..6.1. 6.2

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Introduction
Exceptional oblique-dip exposures of submarine fan
complexes of the Brushy Canyon Fm. allow reconstruc-
tion of channel geometries and reservoir architecture
from the slope to the basin floor. The Brushy Canyon
conslsts of 1,500 ft. of basinally restricted sandstones
and siltstones that onlap older carbonate slope deposits
at the NW margin of the Delaware Basin. This succes-
sion represents a lowstand qequence set comprised of
lugher frequency sequences that were deposited in the
basin during subaerial exposure and bypass of the adja-
cent carbonate shelf. Progradational sequence stacking
patterns reflect changing position and character of the
slope as it evolved from a relict, carbonate margin, to a
constructional, siltstone-dominated slope. Lowstand fan
systems tracts consist of sharp-based, laterally extensive,
sand-prone basin floor deposits and large, sand-filled
channels encased in siltstones on the slope. The aban-
donment phase of each sequence (lowstand wedge-trans-
gressive systems tract) consists of basinward-thinning
siltstones that drape the basin floor fans. The slope-to-
basin distnbution of lithofacies is attributed to a three
stage cycle of: 1) erosion, mass wasting, and sand
bypass on the slope with concurrent deposition from
sand-rich flows on the basin floor, 2) progressive back-
filling of feeder channels with variable fill during wan-
ing stages of deposition, and 3) cessation of sand deliv-
ery to the basin and deposition of laterally-extensive silt-
stone wedges. Paleocurrents and channel distributions
indicate SE-E sediment transport from the NW basin
margin via closely spaced point sources.
Depositional Setting
Deep-water sandstones and siltstones of the Brushy
Canyon Formation were deposited in the Delaware Basin
of the Permian Basin Complex (West Texas and New
Mexico) during early Guadalupian (Permian) time.
During the Guadalupian, the deep-water portion of the
basin (light gray area) had water depths on the order of
400-600 m (King, 1948) and was surrounded by exten-
sive shallow-water shelves (dark blue areas) of the
Northwest Shelf (north), Diablo Platform (west) and
Central Basin Platform (east).
-
Reaional Bas Settina
Slope-to-basin variations in channel sue, geometry and
fill are related to variations in the degree of bypass asso-
ciated with channels and the timing of channel backfill.
On the slope, major feeder channels are deeply incised
into thick laminated siltstones, have simple margins, and
are vertically stacked due to proximity of fixed point
sources. The channel fills are highly variable in charac-
ter, reflecting deposition from both lower and higher-
energy flows during late-stage backfilling. At the toe of
slope, sandstones occur in nested, multi-story channel
complexes not confined by single, master erosion sur-
faces. Channel bases are commonly marked by lenticu-
lar, coarse-grained lags deposited from high-energy
bypassing flows. Channel fills are complex, and indicate
repeated episodes of erosion, bypass, and hackfii, with
thick-bedded sandstones concentrated in channel axes
and thin-bedded sandstones and siltstones preferentially
preserved along channel margins. In down-fan, more
aggradational settings, lags are absent. Channels are
smaller, less complex, and simply filled with thick-bed-
ded amalgamated sandstones. These channels are rela-
tively short-lived features that were rapidly plugged by
high-energy flows. In distal, predominantly nonchannel-
ized areas of the basin floor, sandstones form laterally
extensive sheets that are broadly lenticular as a result of
minor erosion, depositional mounding, and compensa-
tional stacking patterns.
Basin Tectonics
Development of the Permian Basin Complex was initiat-
ed in Mississippian to Early Pennsylvanian time in a
foreland basin setting located to the north of the
Marathon Fold Belt. Loading and convergence resulted
in uplift of shelfal areas along high-angle reverse faults
and subsidence in the basin. Thrust-loading in the
Marathon Fold Belt peaked in the Late Pennsylvanian to
Early Permian (early Wolfcamp) and was followed by
isostatic adjustment that produced a wide-spread angular
unconformity (mid Wolfcamp unconformity) along the
-
I - - - - 5N Permian Paleolatitude
basin margin (Ross, 1986). This unconformity locally
cuts down into the Pre-Cambrian (King, 1965). modified from Wright, 1962; Fitchen, 1997
Following the mid-Wolfcamp unconformity (Late
Wolfcampian, Leonardian and Guadalupian time), the Figure 1. Basin setting and outcrop belt of the Brushy Canyon Formation, early Guadalupian
basin was characterized by tectonically stable shelf mar- (Permian).
gins and gradually decreasing subsidence rates (from 3.7
cm/k.y. in the Wolfcampian to 0.8 cm/k.y. in the
Guadalupian, Ye and Kerans, 1996).
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Figure 2a. Geologic map of West Texas and
Brushy Canyon outcrop belt. From: Geologic Atlas
of Texas: Van Horn-El Paso Sheet, 1967. Texas
Bureau of Economic Geology
atp- wens Pear and m e spmng ~ormatNonr
[ and LBonsidian mc*r undMde6
Figure 2b. Paleogeographlc Interpretation of Brushy Canyon Outcrop Belt
(Modified From: Zelt and Rossen, 1995)
Figure 2% As shown on an insert from a geologic map of
West Texas, the Brushy Canyon Fm. is exposed along the
western escarpments of the Guadalupe and Delaware
Mountains. These mountain ranges form a single structural
block that was tilted gently eastward (3-10 degrees) and
uplifted relative to the Salt Flat Graben located to the east,
as a result of Late Cenozoic basin and range normal-faulting
along NNW-trending normal faults (King, 1948). The
northern limit of the Brushy Canyon occurs in the southern
Guadalupe Mountains and marks the pinchout of the Brushy
Canyon against the northwestern basin margin. The south-
ern outcrop limit is structurally controlled. In the graben
boundary zone, the outcrop belt is locally offset by NNW-
trending normal faults with offsets of tens to several hun-
dred meters. Structural complexity locally hampers lateral
correlation of stratigraphic units in the northern Delaware
Mountains (Guadalupe Pass area) and in the Delaware
Mountains southeast of Bitterwell Mountain. Field analysis
by Exxon has been concentrated in the northern 35 lan of the
outcrop belt (Guadalupe Mountains National Park and 6 Bar
Ranch areas).
II +
Primary Measured Sections
Paleocurrent Orientation
I Major Depositional Axis
ECS - El Capitan South
GC - Guadalupe Canyon
BM - Brushy Mesa
PCC - Plane Crash Canyon
PC - Popo Channel
DM - Delaware Mountain
CC - Colleen Canyon
Firmre 2b. The Brushv Canvon outcrov belt is intemreted
torepresent an oblique-transkt from thk slope to baiin floor
at the NW margin of the Delaware Basin. Paleocurrent
indicators and channel distributions along the outcrop belt
indicate siliciclastic sediment supply from the NW-W, via
numerous closely-spaced (1-2 km)point sources. In the
northern part of the outcrop belt (southern Guadalupe and
northern Delaware mountains) the dominant direction of
sediment transport is toward the SE (basinward and approxi-
mately normal to the interpreted trends of Leonardian-early
Guadalupian carbonate shelf margins in this part of the
basin). In the central part of the outcrop belt (central
Delaware Mountains), paleocurrent indicate sediment trans-
port to the E-SE. This variability is interpreted to reflect
sediment input from both the northwest and western mar-
gins of the basin. As a result of variable flow directions, the
NW-trending Brushy Canyon outcrop belt provides an
oblique, dip-oriented profile into the basin in the north, and
a more oblique, strike-oriented profile to the south.
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 Shelf-Basin Relationships Showing Position of 3rd-Order Senll~nceBoundaries
oc ) Rustler - salad01

I
0 5km 1Okm

Delaware Mountains
Figure 3. This figure illustrates a summary of the sequence stratigraphic framework for Upper Leonardian-Guadalupian strata of the Northwest Permian Basin

A sequence stratigraphic framework has been developed
for the Permian Basin strata based on the work of Silver
and Todd (1969), Meissner (1972), Sarg and Lehmann
(1986), Kerans and others (1992), Kerans and Fitchen
(1995). In this diagram major, 3rd order sequence bound-
aries (composite sequence boundaries) are shown in red.
Basinally-restricted deep-water siliciclastics (LST) were
deposited during lowstands of relative sea level (LST)
when shelfal areas were subaerially-exposed. Thin, lateral-
ly extensive sandstones on the shelf are interpreted as early
TST deposits. These sandstones typically overlie subaerial
exposure sufaces, and are gradational upwards into overly-
ing carbonate shelf deposits. TST and HST are dominated
by shelf and shelf-margin carbonates that exhibit, respec-
tively, retrogradational, and aggradational to progradation-
a1 vertical stacking patterns. Overall sequence stacking
patterns of 3rd order sequences suggest that sequences con-
tained within the Delaware Mountain Group formed within
a 2nd order cycle composed of LST, TST, and HST domi-
nated sequence sets. Within this second order cycle, the
carbonate highstand systems show an evolution from low-
angle carbonate banks in the Early-Middle Guadalupian, to
high angle reef margins in the Middle-Late Guadalupian
(Kerans and Fitchen, 1996). The Brushy Canyon
Formation and overlying Cheny Canyon Sandstone Tongue
are interpreted, respectively, as the LSF and LSW systems
tract for the basal Guadalupian third order (composite)
sequence. The Brushy Canyon consists of up to 360 m of
basinally-restricted sandstones and siltstones deposited in
basin-floor and slope settings. At the basin margin, the
Brushy Canyon thins to pinchout by onlap onto a basin-
ward-sloping submarine erosion surface (Harms and Pray,
1974) interpreted as a sequence boundary. Farther updip,
in a shelf top setting, the base Brushy Canyon sequence
boundary is correlated to a karsted subaerial exposure sur-
face at the top of the Lower San Andres carbonate bank
(Kerans and Fitchen, 1995). The transgressive-highstand
systems tract for this sequence is represented by mixed
clastic-carbonate, aggradational to progradational clino-
forms of the Upper San Andres Formation.

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 -
GUADALUPE MTS. DELAWARE MTS.
NW+ -30 Miles SE
SHELF SLOPE BASIN FLOOR
Figure 5 -Fig 6.t

SC SFN EC GC
4t h 3rd
Order Order

1Upper B.C.

Middle B.C.

Lower B.

Upper Cutoff
~ i i eCutoff
r
Bone Spring Limestone
1
-I

I LEGEND
Lowstand Sandstones Lowstand Slope Siltstones Carbonates
(deep water)
Lowstand Wedge Slope Siltstones SSB Sequence Set Boundary
&channels
- Sheets Condensed Intervals SB Sequence Boundary
Conglomerates & Slumped Zone
Sheit Sequence Stratigraphy from Korans and Fitchon, 19%

Figure 4. Schematic geologic cross section of the Brushy Canyon Fm. from the Guadalupe to Delaware Mountains illustrating the onlapping wedge-shaped geometry, the slope to basin floor variations in lithofa-
cies and internal stratigraphy. Also shown are the general locations of photographs shown in figures 5 and 6.

Basinally-restricted, deep-water sandstones and siltstones
of the Brushy Canyon Fm. are Early Guadalupian in age,
and are interpreted as a third order, lowstand sequence set
that was deposited in the Delaware Basin during subaerial
exposure and bypass of the adjacent, carbonate shelf. On
the slope and basin floor, the base of the Brushy Canyon
Fm. is a basinward-sloping submarine erosion surface that
truncates older (Leonardian-early Guadalupian) carbonate
rocks of shelf margin and slope facies. This surface is cor-
related updip on the shelf to a subaerial exposure surface
developed at the top of the Lower San Andres carbonate
bank margin (Keraus and Fitchen, 1995).
In basin floor areas, the Brushy Canyon can he subdivided
into three, laterally persistent sand-prone units separated by
thinner, laterally persistent siltstones which are interpreted
as high frequency (4th order) sequences (informal lower,
middle, upper Brushy Canyon members). The lowstand
fan systems tract (LSF) of each sequence consists of sharp-
based, laterally-persistent, sandstones on the basin floor,
and of large, sand-tilled channels encased in siltstones on
the slope. The abandonment phase of each lowstand sys-
tems tract (lowstand wedge-transgressive systems tract)
consists of basinward-thinning siltstones that drape the
basin floor fans. Basin floor deposits are best represented
in the lower Brushy Canyon member, whereas the transi-
tion from slope to basin floor is best expressed in the upper
Brushy Canyon member. The overall progradational stack-
ing pattern of Brushy Canyon high frequency sequences
suggests evolution of the slope from a relict, carbonate
slope that was primarily a site of sediment bypass in early
Brushy Canyon time, to a more constructional, siltstone-
dominated slope in late Brushy Canyon time.

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Figure 5. Oblique aerial view to NW showing slope to basin floor transition in Brushy Canyon outcrops of the Guadalupe and Delaware mountains.
This photo provides a vlew toward the basin margin from
the palm basin-floor. The base of the Brushy Canyon
(heavy red line) consists of a basin margin submarine ero-
sion surface and correlative conformity on the basin floor
that is interpreted as a LST sequence set boundary (SSB).
The blue line, near the top of the Delaware Mountains,
marks the approximate position of the Brushy Canyon
"genetic top" (CSM Top Brushy Canyon) of Gardner and
Sonnenfeld (1996). In the basin margin area (Guadalupe
Mountains), the Brushy Canyon is dominantly composed
of laminated siltstones that are interpreted as slope
deposits. In the Delaware Mountains (right) the Brushy
Canyon is dominated by 3 laterally-extensive sandstone
packages (informal Lower, Middle and Upper Brushy
Canyon members) that are interpreted as basin floor
deposits (4th order LSF). Thinning of the Brushy Canyon
toward the basin margin (from 370 m on the right side of
the photo to 100 m on the left side) occurs by progressive
onlap onto the basal SSB, and the Brushy pinches out
entirely a few km to the north of the area shown in this
photo. The 4th order LST intervah can be further subdx-
vided into higher order units as is evident within the Lower
Member in this photo. Four or five resistive sandstone
bodies capped by sandstone-poor intemals can be traced
for several kilometers from south to north. Although not
obvious from this view, the Upper Member can be subdi-
vided into a similar number of 5th order units. Tracing
higher order units in the Middle Member is more difficult
because of a lack of prominent, laterally extensive siltstone
intemals and a high degree of amalgamation of sandstone
DELAWARE MTS. 1
units. Based on our correlations, the Lower Brushy
Member onlaps the SSB (or facies changes into slope silt-
stones) in the area below El Capitan. The top of the
Middle Member extends farther updip and is correlated
into Bone Canyon of the western escarpment, Guadalupe
Mountains. The hulk of the Brushy Canyon Fm. present on
the Western Escarpment is interpreted to be stratigraphical-
ly equivalent to the Upper Brushy Member of the Delaware
Mountains.
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 I Basin-Floor Expression of Brushy

ary (SB), 4th Order

rface, 3rd Order
urface, 4th Order
-mi

Figure 6. Stratigraphic succession of Brushy Canyon in basin-floor position (view to NE from Lookout Knob)

Stratigraphic Hierarchy: On the basin floor, the base
Brushy Canyon sequence set boundary is a relatively con-
formable surface underlain by the Pipeline Shale and
Upper Cutoff Formation. The Lower, Middle and Upper
Brushy Canyon Members, interpreted as 4th order
sequences within the Brushy, form three distinctive, topo-
graphic mesa or benches that are laterally persistent across
the outcrop belt. Each member contains a lower sand-
prone unit (100-150 m thick) interpreted as a LSF that is
capped by a thinner (up to 15 m thick) laterally extensive
siltstone internal (interpreted as a LSW). The "40 ft.
Siltstone" that separates the Middle and Upper Brushy
Canyon Members can be traced with confidence from this
area to Guadalupe Canyon, located some 20 k m to the
north. The 4th order LST intervals can be further divided
into higher order units that are important for local correla-
tion and potentially for analysis of vertical stacking pat-
terns. Higher order units are most apparent within the
Lower Member which can be subdivided into five laterally
persistent sandstone ledges that can be traced for several
kilometers laterally. Although not obvious from this view,
the Upper Member can be subdivided into a similar num-
ber of units. Higher order subdivision of the the Middle
Member is more d i i c u l t due to the high degree of chan-
nelization and local lack of laterally persistent siltstones.
Vertical Stacking Patterns: In this position, the three
Brushy Canyon Members show a distinct vertical progres-
sion in sand body geometry, channel abundance, and chan-
nel geometry. The Lower Brushy Member is dominated
by sheet-like, tabular sandstone bodies or packets, that
locally contain small-scale sand-filled channels with simple
erosional margins. In the Middle Brushy Member, simple
sand-filled channels are larger and more abundant.
Although not well exposed in this view, the Upper Member
is characterized by very large, deeply incised, multi-story
channel complexes with amalgamated sandstone fills up to
1 km wide (e.g. Buena Vista locality indicated on photo).
These channel complexes are quite complex and record
multiple episodes of channel cutting, bypass and back-fill-
ing. The Brushy Canyon stratigraphic hierarchy and verti-
cal stacking patterns are reviewed schematically in figure 7.

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 t SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY
8 SaLa,SQ
King (1948)
Zelt &
Rossen(1995)
??g
m, pk
4e o HIGHER ORDER SURFACES, DEPOSITS
iRRY CANY
:ORMAT
Channel Fill Assemblages
\

BRUSHY
, CANYON
Beds I Bedsets

I
PlPLELlNE SHALE

? LSF I LST (Lowstand Fan, Lowstand Sytems Tract)

I
V
A
Abandonment, Drape Surfaces I Intervals
Erosional Surfaces, Sequence Boundaries

* the number and stratigraphic position of 5th order packages shown is only
a schematic and not meant to depict the actual internal stratigraphy of any
-
LSW TST (Lowstand Wedge, Lowstand Sytems Tract member of the Brushy Canyon Formation
-
and Transaressive Svstems Tracts undifferentiated)
Figure 7. This diagram relates the lithostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the lower Delaware Mountain Group, emphasizing a hierarchy of bounding surfaces and schematically depicts the large scale,
apparently progradational stacking patterns discussed on previous pages.

Stratigraphic Subdivisions of the Brushy Canyon
Formation. The Brushy Canyon Fm. represents a 3rd
order LST sequence set that is bound above and below by
major unconformities or their correlative conformities, and
can be correlated throughout the Delaware Basin. In the
outcrop belt, this sequence set consists of three 4th order
stratigraphic packages that are bound by sharp, locally ero-
sional contacts and can be correlated throughout most of
the Delaware Mountains and a portion of the Guadalupe
Mountains (30-40 km). Surfaces of abandonment separate
LST fan (LSF) dominated intervals from LST wedge
(LSW) - TST dominated intervals. The sandstone-rich por-
tions of these units contain a number of 5th order units that
are also bound by erosional surfaces, contain internal aban-
donment surfaces, and can be correlated for distances up to
20 km within the outcrop belt. The 5th order packages are
built of higher order depositional units that include channel
fill assemblages, bed sets and beds that generally do not
have long correlation lengths, but can be subdivided in the
same manner.
3rd Order Stacking Patterns. The stacking patterns,
lithofacies and channel types are distinct between the LSF
intervals of the 4th order units and the diagram depicts the
large scale, apparently progradational stacking of 4th order
units seen in the Delaware Mountains. In general, the
Lower Brushy Canyon is dominated by sheet-like, tabular
sandstone bodies. Channels occur within extensive sand-
stone "packets" and are often genetically associated with
adjacent sandstone sheets. Channel types and lithofacies
are consistent with medial-outer fan depositional environ-
ments. The Middle Member is seen as primarily a mix of
laterally extensive sandstones and relatively large channels
filled with massive sandstones. The channels have relative-
ly simple, erosional margins and genetic associations
between channel and inter-channel strata are not obvious.
In general, the channel types and lithofacies are consistent
with proximal-medial fan depositional environments. By
contrast, the Upper Member is characterized by very large,
deeply incised, multi-story channel complexes up to lkm
wide separated mainly by unrelated, inter-channel strata.
The fill of these complexes record multiple episodes of
channel cutting and filling and evidence for prolonged peri-
ods of bypass. The channel types and lithofacies are con-
sistent with middle-lower slope depositional environments.
These stacking patterns may indicate: a) changes in the ori-
entation or position of depositional axes of systems through
time, b) progradation of systems through time, c) a change
in the style and character of depositional systems through
time, or d) some combination of these processes.

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 Down-Slope Trends in the Erosion, Transmission and 1
Deposition of S1 mt ' Ti ' idity Currents
'hrbidites, > 90 % of the Brushy supercritical climb of both types of bedforms constrains
L "

Canyon Fm. the bedload-transport distance to less than one bedform

Bedload Deposits
Median grain size:
> Coarse Sand
Stratification:
1. plane parallel beds and laminae;
2. tabular cross beddmg;
3. trough cross beddmg;
4. isolated (starved) bedfonns.
Key Points:
These deposits are defined here to primarily consist of
particles that travelled as bedload some minimum dis-
tance before deposition that was at least equal to the
thickness of the transporting turbidity current. Since
maximum bedload velocities are only about 114 of the
average current velocity, with time this coarser-grained
material separates from the suspended sediment and the
current itself. These relatively thin deposits, interpreted
as lags, are up dip equivalents to thicker sandstones that
were deposited from suspension from relatively long-
lived turbidity currents.
Suspension Deposits
Median grain size:
< Medium Sand
Shurtfication:
1. structureless beds (may be graded);
2. climbing dune stratification (trough cross bedding);
3. ripple stratification;
4. plane parallel laminae.
Key Points:
Sandy turbidites. Climbing dunes and ripples document
the movement of sediment as bedload after it has settled
out of a turbidity current from suspension. These
deposits are still considered suspension deposits because
the distance the sediment moves as bedload is very small
relative to its length of transport as suspended load. The
length, a distance of less than 3 m.
Many of the fusulinids within the sandy turbidites can be INITIATION OF
TURBIDITY CURREh
-.
interpreted to have been moved into sites of deposition BY FAILURE OR
UNDERFLOW
as bedload. The intermingling of this bedload with the
suspended load requires that it travelled to the site with
approximately the same velocity. This suggests that the
fusulinids fell out of suspension a relatively short dis-
tance up dip from the site. Otherwise, the slower mov-
ing bedload would not arrive at the site of deposition
until after most of the sand bed had already accumulated.
I
FLOW DECELERATION LEADS TO
CURRENTS THAT ARE "OVERCHARGED"
Silty turbidites. Progradation of the submarine slope to WlTH SUSPENDED SEDIMENT, DRMNG FLOWS CONTINUE TO DECELERATE DUE
DEPOSITION TO DROPS IN THEIR EXCESS DENSITY
the Delaware Basin throughout deposition of the Brushy THAT ARE PARTIALLY ASSOCIATED
Canyon Fm. is primarily the result of the deposition of WlTH THE DEPOSITION OF PREVIOUSLY
SUSPENDED SEDIMENT
thick, wedge-shaped packages of silty turbidites. These
thin-bedded turbidites came from slow-moving currents DEPOSIT TENDENCY:
that began depositing sediment at the time of their initia-
tion. These currents are different than those that acceler-
ated down some portion of the slope, cutting channels
and transporting sand all the way to the basin floor.
Debrites < 5 % of the Brushy
Canyon hm.
Fabrics of these deposits range from frameworks of
Erosion by
Head
of Current
+
- -
gravel with sand-filled pore spaces to sandstones with a
small number of out-sized clasts. Pebbles, cobbles and
boulders in these deposits are either limestones from
underlying formations or intraformational rip-up clasts. Erosion (L
+
Hemipela ites, < 5 % of the Brushy
Deposrt~on
by Body
of Current
. ,
Canyon m. 8
These mudstones are made up of particles from either a
hypopycnal plume or a wind-blown source. The
deposits are typically enriched in total organic carbon. Bypass 8
Centimeter-thick volcanic ashes are present.
Deposition +-
b Tail
of Zurrent

Figure 8b. Sediment is constantly being exchanged between the bed and an overriding turbidity current
so any modification of the surface by the current is always equal to the sum of a depositional and ero-
sional component.

A turbidity current can be divided into three parts, a
head, a body and a tail. Differences in properties of the
flow from the head to the tail of a current set the pat-
terns of erosion and deposition associated with its pas-
sage over any particular point on the bed. The heads of
turbidity currents always have a tendency to erode the
substrate, because the arrival of the head is always asso-
ciated with an acceleration. The bodies of turbidity cur-
rents carry most of the suspended sediment in the flow.
Therefore, conditions in the body determine whether at
a point the current primarily is eroding the bed, deposit-
ing sediment on the bed, or carrying it further down dip.
If sediment carried in the body is bypassing a section of
the bed, the only possible suspension deposit at that
point would come from the tail. Packages of thinly
bedded, relatively fine-grained turbidites can be seen
directly on top of many significant erosional surfaces.
These deposits can be interpreted either as sedimenta-
tion associated with a relative shutdown of the sediment
delivery system or as the deposits of the tails of bypass-
ing turbidity currents. The two interpretations forecast
a very different location for the time-equivalent sands.
In the shut-down scenario any sand is expected to be
trapped up dip of these positions, while in the case of
bypass, sand is expected further out into the basin.

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 --.
Generic Turbidite Profile
I---

: I:: 11:: 111 I

I-----

Complete Sediment BypaswTransmission:
with no additional erosion
Deposition of thielS, laterally persistent beds that d a p the margins ofthe heerosional containec Variable degrees of emdon can
be associated with the bases of these beds.
Ineamplete Sediment Bypass, Type 1:Thin,
lenticular, coarse-grained beds, interpreted as
lags of bedload material.
I IV '
Incomplete Sediment Bypass, Type 2: Thin,
onlapping, fine-grained beds, interpreted as
deposits of turbidity-current tails. Relative Downslope Distance
Figure 9b. A channel complex records a history of cutting and filling associat-
ed with a succession of turbidity currents. The changes through time observed
in any vertical section through a channel complex are the consequence of spa-
tial changes in the position of that channel cross-section relative to the runout
of the characteristic turbidity current. During Phase I this turbidity current is
eroding the substrate in this position and depositing all of its sediment load fur-
ther down dip. During Phase 11, this channel cross-section is located where cur-
rents are just beginning to deposit sediment. During Phase III the cross-section
and the "sweet spot" of turbidity-current deposition are coincident. During
Phase N the cross-section is located down dip of almost all turhidity current
deposition.
Approximate envelopes for each of these phases are drawn above on the profile
for the generic turbidite. Changes through time in the character of the runout of
the effective turhidity current are primarily controlled by variation in the
amount of sediment available, in the caliber of this sediment and in the long
profile of the system.

4- siltstone --+
drape

Substantial reduction in the quantity and caliber of the sediment moving down a channel associated with change in updip conditions (e.g., relative sea-level rise or
channel avulsion).

Figure 9a. Conceptual model for construction of a channel complex.

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Day 3
Proximal Basin Floor
Submarine canyons consist of erosional features, up to
100 m deep and 1 km wide, incised into older shelf margin
carbonates. Fills are locally conglomeratic and predomi-
nantly composed of amalgamated, channelized, thick-hed-
ded sandstones. On the middle to lower slope, 10-50 m
deep, vertically-stacked slope channels are incised into
thick, basinward-thinning wedges of laminated siltstones.
These channels are characterized by simple to compound
channel margins, and by variable fills that range from
thick-bedded, amalgamated sandstones, to thin-bedded,
non-amalgamated sandstones. Channel fill variability is
attributed to long histories of sediment bypass followed by
relatively late-stage filling compared to channels on the
basin floor. Vertically-stacking of channels is locally con-
trolled by slump-scar topography and reflects p r o x i ~ t yto
up-dip feeder canyons.
Slope to Basin Variations in Channel and Sandbody
1 Archib--b. .re, Brushy Canyon Formatin-, Delaware Basin
Shelf
n
Day 4
,,-:-..res 4.2-4.4' 1 Day 4"4g+@s$$
&&&*
Medial Basin Floo
(Figures 4.F * 8)
At the toe-of-slope, the decrease in depositional gradient
leads to development of broad, multi-story channel com-
plexes that are not confined by master erosion surfaces.
Major channel surfaces are marked by lenticular, coarse-
grained lag deposits that were deposited by bedload deposi-
tion from by-passing, high-concentration flows. Axes of
channels are dominated by amalgamated, thick-bedded tur-
bidites, whereas thin-bedded sandstones and siltstones are
preferentially preserved along the channel margins. Multiple
erosion surfaces separate the channel axis facies from the
thin-bedded channel margins. Complex patterns of channel
fill record overall channel aggradation through repeated
episodes of erosion, sediment bypass and channel filling.
Basin Floor
=\
~:!s*&*e:~y~&;
Distal Basin Floor
(Figures 5.1-5.3)
On the basin floor, channels are less deeply incised, and
typically have simple margins. Coarse-grained lag deposits
are less common, and channels typically stack in compen-
sational, or laterally-offset stacking patterns. In proximal
basin floor areas, channels are moderate in size and are
typically filled from axis to margin by thick-bedded, amal-
gamated turbidites. These channels are interpreted as rela-
tively short-lived features plugged by rapid deposition from
high-concentration flows. In medial basin floor areas,
channels are less incised and channel fills consist of highly
aggradational successions of massive or dune cross-strati-
fied sandstones. At the transition from confined to uncon-
fined portions of the fan, channels consist of
vertically-stacked, low-relief erosion surfaces that pass lat-
erally (away from the channel axis) into medium- to thick-
bedded, amalgamated to non-amalgamated, massive
sandstones that form laterally extensive, but broadly lenticu-
lar sheets.
Figure 10. Schematic illustration of slope to
basin transect planned for conference. Slope to
basin variations in channel size, geometry and fill
are interpreted primarily to be related to system-
atic, down-fan changes in the degree of erosion,
the degree of sediment bypass, and the timing of
channel filling.
The distal basin floor is predominantly composed of later-
ally-extensive sandstone sheets composed of medium- to
thick-bedded, amalgamated to non-amalgamated massive
turbidites. Beds are typically broadly lenticular and stack
compensationally. Channels exhibiting obvious erosional
confinement are rare and axes of deposition in this setting
are represented by zones of vertically-stacked, amalgamat-
ed thick-bedded turbidites that are flanked laterally by
medium-bedded, semi-amalgamated turbidites. These fea-
tures reflect rapid suspension deposition in an unconfined
setting from predominantly high-concentration flows.
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 ieneralized Three Stage Evolution of Lowstand Systems Tracts,
Brushy Can--- n Formation
I. MAIN PHASE LOWSTAND FAN

I II. LATE-STAGE LOWSTAND FAN

TIME INCREASING

Figure 11. Interpreted evolution of Brushy Canyon lowstand systems during 4th order lowstand of relative sea level. An understanding of the relative timing of sand-prone deposition on the basin floor versus
slope during a cycle of sea level change explains many of the variations from slope to basin floor in channel architecture that were described in the previous figure.

During Time I (Main Phase of Lowstand Fan), falling
base level and a lack of accommodation on the shelf result
in high rates of sediment supply to the basin floor via suh-
marine canyons. Slope channels are primarily zones of
bypass and the basin floor is the main site of deposition for
high-energy, high-concentration, sediment gravity flows.
As a result of rapid fan aggradation, the time duration
between channel cutting on the basin floor and channel fill-
ing is interpreted to be relatively short. Short phases of
channel bypass followed by back-filling from high concen-
tration flows result in a predominance on the basin floor of
shallowly incised channels that are simply filled with thick-
bedded, amalgamated turbidites.
During T i e II (Late Stage of Lowstand Fan), a slow
relative sea level rise results in increased accommodation
on the upper slope and outer shelf. Sediment flux to the
basin floor is reduced and deposition is focused in slope
channels that previously served as bypass corridors to the
basin. Channel fills may reflect deposition from a variety
of flow types (both high and low concentration flows)
depending on the "caliber" or importance of the point
source as a sediment contributor, and the character of flows
delivered to the slope at the time of back-filling.
During T i e 111(Lowstand Wedge), higher rates of rela-
tive sea level rise and increased accommodation on the
shelf result in cessation of sand delivery to the basin and
abandonment of both lowstand fan and slope channel sys-
tems. Deposition at the basin margin from dilute, low-den-
sity tubidity currents results in development of thick
wedges of laminated siltstone that thin basinward. This
stage represents the constmction, or out-building of the
slope during Bmshy Canyon time. Thin, organic-rich silt-
stones containing volcanic ashheds represent deposition
during times of condensed sedimentation.

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 Comparison of Interpreted Paleogeography for Lower and Upper Brushy Canyon Members
- ~
Schematic Paleogeographic Map Lower Brushy Canyon Formation Schematic Paleogeographic Map Upper Brushy Canyon Formation

PROXIMAL CHANNELIZED FA
BRUSHY MESA (EM)

CHANNELTO SHEET TRANSITION:

COLLEEN CANYON (CC)

I SHEET COMPLEXES:
CORDONIZ CANYON ma

S C u E t

APPROXIMATE LOCATION
, OF OUTCROP-'I

Figure 12. Comparison of interpreted paleogeography for Lower and Upper Members of the Brushy Canyon Formation illustrating the progradation of depostional systems. For each member the positions of
slope and basin floor environments are interpreted to have shifted progressively basinward through time. The approximate locations of the outcrop belts are shown as red dashed lines.

The position of the paleo-slope is interpreted to have pro-
gressively built basinward during deposition of the Brushy
Canyon sequence set. The position of the slope for the
Lower Brushy Canyon Member was inherited from the
relict CutoffBone Springs carbonate slope seen in the
Guadalupe and Diablo Mountains. During the remainder
of Brushy Canyon deposition the slope was "construction-
al" and dominated by basinward tapering, siltstone wedges.
The siltstone slope facies that dominates the basin margin
area extends further southward into the Delaware
Mountains for the upper Brushy member than for that of
the middle member reflecting this overall slope prograda-
tion. Additionally, the stacking patterns, lithofacies and
channel types are distinct between the sandstone-rich, LSF
intervals of the 4th order units seen in the Delaware
Mountains. In general, the Lower Brushy Canyon is domi-
nated by channel types and lithofacies consistent with
medial-outer fan depositional environments. The middle
member is dominated by channel types and lithofacies con-
sistent with proximal-medial fan depositional environ-
ments. By contrast, channel types and lithofacies within the
upper member are consistent with middle-lower slope depo-
sitional environments. Based on these observations general
paleogeographic maps have been drawn for the upper and
lower members of the Brushy Canyon Formation and are
shown above. However, the limited depositional dip per-
spective of the outcrop belt, and a lack of understanding of
how and where these 4th order LST terminate within the
basin hampers the interpretation of the stacking patterns.

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Figure 1.1. Topographic map showing an approximate outline of the Brushy Canyon outcrop belt, and locations of
sites that will be visited on this trip. Upper Brushy Canyon sites are shown in green, Lower Brushy Canyon sites are
shown in orange. Also shown are general paleocurrent directions and the approximate position of the toe-of-slope
for each member of the Brushy Canyon Formation.

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 mlles Paleageography
0- i5 This palwgwgraphic reconstruction for the Upper Brushy Canyon shows that
North the noahem 20 lan of the outcrop belt was deposited in a slope to roe-of-slope
jubmarine Canyon North Shumar setring. This slope was approximately 15 km wide, and had basin-ward dips of
2 degrees (assuming water dept!s of 4.50-600 m). Much of the slope was silt-
stone-prom and composed of thick basinward-thinning wedges of laminated
siltstones interpreted as the deposits of dilute, fine-grainedturbidity currents*
Sediment Transport
Sands were transported across this cofistructionalsiltstone slope, from the NW
basin m a i n towards the SE-E, via numerous closely-spaced point sources or
sediment transport pathways The outcrop belt intersects these point sources in
up-dip positions to the n a t h and progressively mare down-dip positians to the
south.

Charmel Architecture
Thee main archtectural styles are recognized from up-dip to down-dip posi-
tions along these sediment transport pathways:
1) Upper slope areas are characterized by submarine canyons, incised into
older, shelf-margin carbonates. These canyons are filled with a mix of silt-
stones, and large, sand-filled channels. The canyons typiedly broaden, and
shallow out down-slope into more aggradational slope ssttings.
2) Middle to lower slope areas, down-dip of canyons, are characterized by
sand-filled slope channels incised into thick laminated siltstones. These slope
channels are typically vertically-stacked due to the focusing effect of up-dip
feeder canyons.
3) In toeof-slope areas, the decrease in gradient and loss of channel confine-
ment results in a transition from vertically-stacked slope channels, to bmad,
nested multi-story channel complexes. These toe-of-slope channel complexes
contain common caarse-grained lags and exhibit complex fill patterns that indi-
cate repeated episbdes of erosion, sedimedt bypass, and channel back-filling.

Figure 1.2. Schematic paleogeographic map of Upper Brushy Canyon Formation. This paleogeographic map highlights the main slope environ-
ments (submarine canyons, slope channel complexes, and toe-of-slope channel complexes) that will be the focus of the first three days of the field
conference. Day 1 will focus on submarine canyon fills and slope channel complexes in middle to upper slope settings. Day 2 (Guadalupe Canyon)
will focus on vertically-stacked, slope channel complexes deposited in a middle slope environment. Day 3 (Buena Vista) will be spent investigating
characteristics of channel complexes deposited in lower slope (toe-of-slope) environments.

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 Day I . Basin Margin Onlap Area: Su -

Figure 1.3. Panoramic photograph and sketch of western escarpment, Guadalupe Mountains showing the northern 10 km of Brushy Canyon outcrop belt in the most proximal area near the NW margin of
Delaware Basin. Detailed photographs of the area shown on following pages are referenced with white circles. A geologic map of the area is shown on the next page.

The Brushy Canyon Sequence Set Boundary Depositional Setting

In the basin margin area, the Brushy Canyon thins towaru
the north (from 400 m beneath El Capitan to ultimate pin-
chout just north of Sbumard Peak) by onlap onto a relict
carbonate shelf margin complex of Leonardian-Early
Guadalupian age (Victoria Peak, Bone Spring and Cutoff
formations). The onlap surface is a basinward-sloping
submarine erosion surface, that is correlative on the shelt
with a karsted, subaerial exposure surface. To the south,
in basin floor areas, it is a sharp, but relatively conforma-
ble contact with the Pipeline Shale.
In this area, the Brushy Canyon is largely siltstone-prone,
reflecting deposition in a slope setting. Sandstones are
confined within large erosional channels (10-50 m deep)
that are vertically-stacked to form laterally distinct "fair-
ways" or point sources into the basin. On the upper
slope, these sand-filled channels are confined within sub-
marine canyons up to 1 km in width that are incised into
the Victoria Peak carbonate bank. Downdip, on the mid-
dle to lower slope, these canyons open up and feed sand-
stone-filled slope channels that are incised into thick lami-
nated siltstones. The vertical stacking of these slope chan-
nels reflects the focusing effect of the updip feeder
canyons.

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Geologic Map of the Bone Springs
Area of the Western Escarpment El
Capitan X 8078

of the Guadalupe ~ o u n t a i n s Guadalupe

, Peak
Modified from King (19i8)with information from
Rossen (1 985),Harris (1 982),Franseen (1 989),
Fitchen and Kerans (1995),
Gardner et al. (1W6), Rossen et al. (1998) 0
0

North
4
0 1000 2000
1
..
..
..
..
.1
..
..
..
..
.I

Bell Canyon Formation

A
Brushy Canyon S

base
U.Cutoff SI
base South Wells Member
U.Vic.Pk. SI Lower Victorio Peak Fm.

youngest
-
--
I 4 Shumard Canyon System
- -

-
3rd Order Sequence Boundary Brushy Canyon Formation
El Capitan North System Paleo-current --- 3rd Order Sequence Boundary

---
Figure 1.4. Geologic Map of the West Face of the LZ' El Capitan South System lndlcators
Rossen et al. 1998 Approx~mate Siltstones (-org. rich]
Guadalupe Mountains adapted from King (1948) CSM Brushy Canyon Sandstones,
emphasizing stratigraphy of Brushy Canyon oldest Bone Canyon System Genetlc Top Approx~mate Conglomerates
Formation upper slope systems.

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 Figure 1.5a. Basal, conglomeratic fill of the "Bone" paleo submarine canyon, Lower-Middle (?) Brushy Canyon
Fm., Bone Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains. The "Bone" submarine canyon is approximately 75 m deep and 650- Figure 1.5b. Cabonate clast conglomerates, basal Brushy
900 m wide (see Fiaure 1.4). and is cut into the underlvina Cutoff and Bone S~rinaformations. The canvon Canyon, Bone Canyon. The Brushy Canyon conglomerates
trends SE and is exposed ii'an interpreted slope posiion: The basal 25 m of'canyon fill consists i f &&ate- in Bone Canyon consist of framework-supported pebble to
clast conglomerates (0.5-7.5 m thick) and interbedded, thinner, stratified sandstones. The conglomerates contain boulder-sizedclasts in a matrix of very fine-grained, silty sand-
pebble to boulder-sized clasts (up to 4 m in length) and are interpreted as debris-flow deposits. Clasts within the stone. The conglomerates are interpreted as debrites based
conglomerates were locally derived from carbonate shelf-margin and slope deposits of the underlying Cutoff, on: 1) chaotic clast orientations or weak alignment of clasts
Victorio Peak and Bone Spring formations. parallel to bedding, 2) massive ungraded character, 3) overall
non-erosional basal contacts, and 4) local protrusion of clasts
above the tops of beds. The conglomerates reflect succes-
sive failures of the lithified carbonate basin margin that repre-
sent headward erosion of the "Bone" submarine canyon.
Base of
Brushy Figure 1.5~.Measured section of basal 75m of Bmshy Canyon Fm. Unit 2 has a channelized base and consists of medium to thick-bed- As shown on Figure 1.4, the NE canyon margin occurs 300 m (1000
that fills the "Bone" submarine canyon (from Rossen, 1985). Fill of ded, sandy, peloidal-skeletal grainstones that commonly exhibit ft) to the north of Bone Canyon where the entire, 75 m thick, basal
Canyon the "Bone" submarine canyon is variable, and is subdivided into 3 Bouma turbidite subdivisions (i.e., graded Ta, Tab, and Tbc beds). Bmshy Canyon succession pinches out by onlap (sidelap) onto the
channel fill associations (units 1-3) originally mapped by King in This unit reflects basinward transport of carbonate material derived base Brushy Canyon sequence boundary. The SW canyon margin is
1948 (see Figure 1.4). The overall variability of canyon fill is inter- from contemporaneous, shallow-marine environments existing at the not as well defined; however, thickness patterns suggest that the
Cufoff Fm. preted to reflect variable flow types during late-stage canyon filling. heads of canyons. canyon margin occurs just SW of Bone Canyon. In a SE direction
-
(toward the basin), the breakup of the amalgamated Bone Canyon
Unit 1 consists of carbonate-clast con.domerates and interbedded Unit 3 consists of channelized, medium- to thick-bedded, massive channel fills (units #1-3) into channelized lenses, separated by silt-
Conglomerate sandstones. Successive conglomerateinits exhibit an overall thin- sandstones (interpreted channel axis facies) that interfinger laterally stones, is interpreted to reflect broadening and shallowing of the
ning and fining-upward stacking pattern. Sedimentary structures in with thick intervals of rippled sandstones (interpreted channel margin Bone submarine canyon, and deposition in an increasingly aggrada-
Limestone turbidites intervening sandstone units (upper plane-bed laminations, planar facies). tional slope environment.
cross-bedding, small-scale channelization, and thin-bedded classical
Siltstone turbidites) suggest deposition by both high-concentration, and low-
concentration turbidity currents.

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 Upper Slope Submarine Canyon and Middle Slope Channel Systems
Upper Brushv Canvan. Shirttail to Shumard Canvons
Fiaure 1.6a. "Shumard" submarine canvon. Shirttail Canvon

shelf-margin carbonates of the Cutoff and Victorio Peak forma-
tions. The NE canyon margin defines the northern (up-dip)
extent of the Brushy Canyon outcrop belt (Brushy Canyon "pin-
chout"). The lower 213 of the canyon fill consists of channel-
ized, amalgamated, thick-bedded sandstones. Siltstones (form-
ing recessive slopes) are locally preserved along the canyon
margins. The upper 113 of the canyon fill consists of siltstones
and small, sand-filled channels containing abundant carbonate
canyon. As the ~ h u m i r dpaleo-canion is tracked downdip, the
canyon broadens and opens up. Amalgamated, channelized
sandstones of the canyon axis become less amalgamated and
separate to form the vertically-stacked sand-filled slope chan-
nels exposed in present-day Shumard Canyon. In this oblique-
dip view, the channels are 10-50 m deep and are incised into
laminated siltstones. The sandstone fills of successively
younger channels are thicker-bedded, more amalgamated, and
more clast rich. This stacking pattern may be local to
this feeder since similar vertical variations are not
well developed in other stacked slope channel com-
plexes of similar age.
Figure 1 . 6 ~ .Marginal, oblique dip-view of lower
slope channel, Shumard Canyon. The fill at the
margin of this channel consists of a thick (25 m) suc-
cession of thin-bedded, planar and ripple-laminated
sandstones (Bouma Tb & Tc turbidites) and interbed-
ded siltstones. Toward the channel axis, thin-bedded
low-concentration turbidites are replaced by increas-
ing proportions of thicker-bedded, Ta sandstones.
Note the channel base is a simple erosion surface
incised into laminated siltstones.

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 Figure 1.7. Upper Brushy Canyon slope siltstones of the El Capitan south area.

This area is representative of the Brushy Canyon "constructional" slope environments. An

approximately 300m thick interval of alternating light and dark colored siltstone is capped by
a thick, channelized sandstone body.

1.7a. Photograph showing thick slope siltstones that are characteristic of areas located
between slope channel fairways. Siltstones are composed of two main lithofacies: 1) light
gray, medium to coarse-grained, laminated siltstones (1.7h) and 2) dark gray, fine-grained,
organic-rich siltstones (1.7~).High-relief erosion surfaces, cut into siltstones and draped by
laminated siltstones (see arrows), are common in some slope areas. Some of these surfaces
are interpreted as evacuated slump scars.

1.7b. Example of light gray, laminated siltstones. Mm-scale, graded laminations are inter-
preted as deposits of dilute, fine-grained turbidity currents.

1.7~.Example of dark-gray, organic-rich siltstones which serve as excellent marker horizons

within the Brushy Canyon Fm. These siltstones have up to 2% TOC (marine algal kerogen
type) and are interpreted as relatively condensed, hemipelagic deposits.

Figure 1.7a. Example from El Capitan area of thick slope siltstones that are characteristic of areas located between
slope channel fairways.

Figure 1.7b. Example of light gray, laminated siltstones.

Figure 1.7~.Example of dark-@ay,~ ~ ~ ~ n i c -siltstorl.=~
r i c h wl I
serve as excellent marker horizons within the Brushy Canyon Fm.

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 PALEOFLOW OUTSIDE NORTHERN CHANNEL MARGIN PALEOFLOW ALONG NORTHERN CHANNEL MARGIN CHANNEL TREND area explained in more detail on next page
RIPPLE MARKS IN THIN-BEDDED NRBIDITES IN OVERBANK RIPPLE MARKS IN THIN-BEDDED TURBlDlTES INDICATE CHANNEL MARGIN STRIKE MEASUREMENT
NORTH OF CHANNEL INDICATE FLOW OBLIQUELY TOWARD CHANNEL MEAN = 112 FLOW TOWARD CHANNEL AXIS

PALEOFLOW OUTSIDE SOUTHERN CHANNEL MARGIN l 3 PALEOFLOW ALONG SOUTHERN CHANNEL MARGIN
RIPPLE MARKS IN THlh-BEDDED TLRBlDlTES SOLTH OF ChANNE. RIPPLE MARC3 Ih Th h-BEDDED TJRBlDlTES NDICATE FLOW
INDICATE FLOW AWAY FROM CHANNEL OBLIQUELY AWAY FROM CHANNEL AXIS
MEAN = 139 ...
111

Figure 2.1. Panoramic photograph, Upper Brushy Canyon Frn, Guadalupe Canyon area. The photograph shows approximately 150 m (500 ft) of section. The outcrop is oriented perpendicular to channel margins which
trend E-SE.Paleocurrent measurements are from the 100 ft. channel near the top of the section

Key features visible in this outcrop include:
1) Vertically-stacked sand-prone channel fills encased in
siltstones: Sandstone channel fills #1-5 (oldest to
youngest) are contained within master erosion surfaces (red
lines) that are incised into siltstones and thin-bedded tur-
bidites. The master erosion surfaces typically occur 1 to
several meters below the base of the onlapping sandstone
fill. This relationship is documented in more detail on the
following page.
2) Large, channel-form erosion surfaces incised into sand-
stones and are overlain by thick, siltstone-prone intervals.
Sandstone channel fills #2 and #3 are truncated by high-
relief, channel-form erosion surfaces that are filled with
draping and/or onlapping siltstones and thin-bedded sand-
stones. The thin-bedded, fine-grained channel fills may
represent deposition from the "tails" of bypassing flows, or
more likely reflect an episode of abandonment after chan-
nel erosion.
3) Channel dimensions: Large, channel-form erosion sur-
faces are 15-30 m deep, and up to 500 m wide. The most
completely exposed channel has a widwdepth ratio of 16.
4) Sandstone channel fills: Channel fill styles are variable
(see next page). Dominant fill types consist of non-amalga-
mated, medium- to thick-bedded, internally massive sand-
stones with planar, non-erosional to moderately erosional
bases. Sandstones are typically laterally extensive across
channels, but thin gradually towards channel margins.
Channel margins are typically overlain by "drapes" up to
several meters thick, of inclined, thin-bedded classical tur-
bidites and siltstones that mantle and gradually onlap the
basal erosion surfaces. A crude, thickening-upward bedding
trend is observed in channel #4 (the 100' channel). This
bedding trend may reflect decreasing capacity of flows to
transmit sediment farther basinward as channel infilling
progressed.
5) Evidence for slumping: The dark-gray, organic-rich
siltstone (lower right of pan) has an irregular, antiformal
geometry and drapes an erosion surface that is located
within the underlying light-colored laminated siltstones.
This erosion surface has at least 10 m of erosional relief,
and is interpreted (based on its irregular geometry) as an
evacuated slump scar. Topographic lows on this basal,
slump-related erosion surface at least partially controlled
the location of overlying sand-filled channels.
Additionally, contorted bedding near the base of some
channel fills suggests local slumping was associated with
channel initiation.
6) Overall vertical stacking patterns: Sandstone Channel
Fills # 1-5 are vertically-stacked, reflecting either up-dip
point-source control, or influence of pre-existing topo-
graphic features such as the slump-related erosion surface
at the base of the section. Lower channel fills are only par-
tially preserved, due to intercutting of master erosion sur-
faces, but become more completely preserved upwards.
These relationships suggest increasingly aggradational con-
ditions of deposition at this locality during Upper Brushy
Canyon time.
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 Figure 2.2a Channel Fill Types
High Erosional Fill
nerg
Fill Example: Fusulinid-rich sanstones,
upper half Sandstone Channel 3
Moderately erosional, onlapping
fill with complex channel margins
Example: Sandstone Channel 4(SE
margin)
Onlapping fill with facies changes
toward margins and development
of channel margin drapes
Examples: Sandstone Channels 2,
3 and 4
1 CHANNEL
Low "Passive"(nonerosional) onlap-
Energy
Fill ping fill
Example: Sandstone Channel
1 (right side of siltstone "antiform")
Figure 2.2b Complex Channel Margin, SE
margin of Sandstone Channel 4.
The channel margin is characterized by stacked erosion
surfaces and erosional remnants of small-scale sand-
stone channel fills. These geometries indicate a complex
history of repeated erosion and at least minor backfilling
early in the channel's history, before later, more aggra-
dational, back-filling by laterally-extensive, onlapping
sandstones.
Figure 2.2~. Non-amalgamated, onlapping
sandstone fill at axis of Sandstone Channel 2.
This style of channel fill is common to all the
Guadalupe Canyon slope channels. Sandstone beds are
medium- to thick-bedded and internally massive.
Sandstones typically thin towards channel margins into
very thin sandstone beds, which are interbedded with
thin siltstones and form composite "drapes" along
channel margins (see Photo 2).
1 PALEOCURRENT
INDICATORS FOR
CHANNEL 2
CHANNEL TREND
PALEOFLOW ALONG
CHANNEL MARGIN
I
B4 N.31
MEAN = 134
PALEOFLOW OUTSIDE
Figure 2.2e. Detailed view of onlapping
sandstone aeometries and development of thin-
bedded d r a b along channel-margin of
Sandstone Channel 2.
Figure 2.2d. Margin of Sandstone Channel 2
showing progressive thinning of non-amalga- Arrows mark lateral thinning of sandstone beds into zone
mated channel-filling sandstones towards of inclined, thin-bedded sandstones and siltstones form-
channel margin. ing channel-margin "drape". Master erosion surface is
present below base of photo. Onlapping sandstone
geometries at channel margins result in local thickening-
The master channel erosion surface is separated from
upward bed thickness trends.
the base of the onlapping sandstones by a thin reces-
sive zone of inclined, thin-bedded sandstones and silt-
stones which mantle the channel margin. Dip angles
within the "drapes" typically flatten upwards. Arrows
show lateral thinning of channel-filling sandstones into
thin sandstone beds or laminae which form part of this
composite drape.
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Figure 2.3 Summary of Middle Slope Channel Complexes
Channel Characteristics
Channel Geometries:
Large (up to 45 m deep), low aspect ratio sand-filled chan-
nels confined by master erosion surfaces incised into slope
siltstones.
Bypass Indicators:
Siltstone-draped erosion surfaces are common and coarse-
grained lags are locally present. Thin intervals containing
internal erosion surfaces, very thin lenticular sandstones
and "starved"ripples occur near the base of some channel
complexes and may represent the record of protracted
bypass through the channel.
Channel F ill
s:
In this setting, large-scale erosion surfaces are commonly
overlain by thin-bedded sandstones and siltstones. These
thin-bedded fme-grained intervals may fill entire channels,
or form the initial fill in otherwise sandstone-dominated
channel fills. Sandstone channel fills are variable in style,
but are dominantly composed of non-amalgamated, medi-
um- to thick- bedded massive sandstones that are laterally
extensive from channel axis to channel margin, and which
thin abruptly at channel margins into composite "drapes"
composed of interbedded, thin sandstones and siltstones.
Stacking Patterns:
Vertical to slightly offset channel stacking patterns are
common and indicate focusing of flow by nearby upper-
slope canyons. Evidence for slump-related features indi-
cate that pre-existing topography may be an additional con
trol on channel locations and stacking.
Depositional Interpretation
The section at Guadalupe Canyon is dominated by a set of
vertically-stacked channel complexes. These complexes
are interpreted to have been situated on the mid-slope and
to represent "feeder"channe1s into the basin. The middle
slope setting for these channels is based on: 1) their geo-
graphic and stratigraphic position, 2) their relatively large
size, 3) the presence of thick intervals of slope-building
laminated siltstones, 4) common slumps within the silt-
stones suggesting relatively high gradients, and 5) a vert-
cal stacking of channels suggesting deposition not too far
downdip of a fixed point-source.
The Guadalupe Canyon slope channels are interpreted to
have had long periods of sediment bypass prior to their fill-
ing. During these intervals, each channel served as a trans-
port conduit into the basin. Key features suggesting signif-
icant sediment bypass include: 1) the large size of the mas-
ter erosion surfaces, 2) evidence for repeated cutting and
filling in the basal, axial portions of some channel fills, and
3) local coarse-grained lags.
A significant hiatus between channel cutting and channel
filling is also suggested by the character of the laterally-
extensive, non-amalgamated, massive sandstones that fill
Slope
most of the Guadalupe Canyon channels. The non-erosion-
al character of these sandstone beds, together with a char-
acteristic facies change at their margins from massive beds
to thin-bedded, low-density turbidites, suggests emplace-
ment by relatively slow-moving flows in a strongly deposi-
tional mode. These flows were quite different from those
that cut the erosional channel containers. The lower energy
style of fill is potentially associated with late-stage back-
filling of the slope channels during times of relative sealev-
el rise when the sediment flux to the slope was greatly
reduced.
In general, Brushy Canyon slope channels exhibit greater
variability in fill styles than do Brushy Canyon channels on
the basin floor. This variab'ility is attributed to the tenden-
cy for slope channels to be filled by flows over a greater
interval of time and later in the relative sea level cycle than
associated basin floor channels. Differences in fill styles
between slope channel complexes fed by different point
sources reflect variations in the "caliber" or importance of
the point source as a sediment contributor, and variations in
the character of flows delivered to the slope at the time of
back-filling.
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 Figure 3.la
PALEOCURRENT INDICATORS PALEOCURRENT INDICATORS PALEOCURRENT INDICATORS
PALEOFLOW ACROSS CHANNEL MARGIN PALEOFLOW ACROSS CHANNEL MARGIN CHANNEL TREND

%
RIPPLE MARKS IN THIN-BEDDED MEAN = 28 RIPPLE MARKS INTHIN-BEDDED
N=ll
I CHANNEL MARGIN I
NRBlDlTES ALONG NORTHWESTERN STRIKE MEASUREMENTS
TURBlOlTES ALONG NORTHWESTERN
MARGINS OF CHANNELS INDICATE MARGINS OF CHANNELS INDICATE
FLOW AWAY FROM AND TOWARD FLOW AWAY FROM AND TOWARD
CHANNEL AXlS CHANNEL AXIS MEAN =SO N.12

/
CHANNEL TREND CHANNEL TREND PALEOFLOW ACROSS CHANNEL MARGIN

CHANNEL MARGIN
MEAN = 320
CHANNEL MARGIN RIPPLE MARKS IN DRAPES ALONG
STRIKE MEASUREMENTS STRIKE MEASUREMENTS SOUTHERN MARGIN OF CHANNEL
INDICATES FLOW SLIGHTLY OBLIQUE
TO CHANNEL TREND

1
Figure 3.1b
I
Figure 3 . 1 ~ Figure 3.1d
1

Figure 3.1. Overview of Delaware Mountain and Buena Vista outcrop localities(Upper Brushy Canyon Frn.).

3.la. T h i s photo s h o w s a l a t e r a l l y extensive, s a n d - p r o n e plex i s 80 m thick. The a x i s o f t h e c h a n n e l complex i s sistent s a n d s t o n e l e d g e s that a r e separated by recessive- 3.lb,c,d. P a l e o c u r r e n t m e a s u r e m e n t s for l o c a t i o n s r e f e r -
channel c o m p l e x in the U p p e r B r u s h y Canyon m e m b e r that c h a r a c t e r i z e d by thick, a m a l g a m a t e d sandstones. T o w a r d s w e a t h e r i n g s i l t s t o n e intervals. T h e outcrop belt i s a p p r o x i - e n c e d in F i g u r e 3.la.
i s i n t e r p r e t e d as a major feeder c h a n n e l complex d e p o s i t e d t h e m a r g i n s of the c o m p l e x , these amalgamated sandstones r n a t e l y 1 km long and o r i e n t e d a t a highly o b l i q u e a n g l e to
in a l o w e r s l o p e (toe-of-slope) setting. T h e channel cam- b e c o m e l e s s amalgamated, a n d separate into l a t e r a l l y per- the SE-E trend of c h a n n e l s within t h e c o m p l e x .

3.1 Search CD-ROM

 EPR Co. Buena Vista #2
Figure 3.2 Photograph c,f Buena Vista locality within the Upper Brushy Canyon Member an1d the locations of the Buena Vista # l #2 researc:h boreholes.
This outcrop contains two 5th order stratigraphic units
interpreted as lower slope channel complexes separated by
a laterally extensive siltstone bed ("marker bed"; see fol-
lowing pages). The base of the Upper Member is interpret-
ed as a sequence boundary (4th order) and abruptly over-
lies a prominent, laterally extensive siltstone interval
known as the 40 foot siltstone (Zelt and Rossen, 1995).
The 40' siltstone is included within the Middle Brushy
Canyon Member and is interpreted to represent a 4th order
lowstand wedge (LSW).
From this view the highly channelized internal character of
the complexes is evident. Major erosion surfaces within the
complex are highlighted in red, secondary erosion surfaces
are highlighted by thick black lines, and interpreted aban-
donment surfaces (overlain by laminated siltstones) are
marked in blue. Major erosion surfaces within the channel
and
complex typically have 10-15 m (30-50 ft) of erosional
relief. Erosion surfaces associated with the southern margin
of the upper complex (upper right-hand side of photo) exhib-
it 50-60 feet of incision along a complex, inclined zone.
Major erosion surfaces within the channel complex are typi-
cally overlain by lenticular, coarse-grained sandstones (resis-
tive, rusty brown beds on pan) that are interpreted as lags
deposited hactively from high-velocity, bypassing flows.
Secondary erosion surfaces within the complex have ero-
EPR Co. Buena Vista #I
sional relief of 5-10 m and may stack vertically within the
confines of major erosion surfaces. These secondary erosion
surfaces are filled with thick-bedded, amalgamated sand-
stones and typically lack lags. The complexly intercutting
character of major and minor erosion surfaces suggests a
protracted evolution including repeated episodes of down-
cutting, sediment bypass, channel backfill and abandonment.
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 PALEOCURRENT INDICATORS
CHANNEL TREND
MEAN = 60
CHANNEL MARGIN
STRIKE MEASUREMENTS

1 PALEOFLOW WITHIN CHANNEL 1

PARTING LINEATIONS IN LAMINATED
TURBIDITES NEAR AXIS OF CHANNEL
INDICATE FLOW PAPALLEL TO CHANNEL

PALEOFLOW OUTSIDE CHANNEL

RIPPLE MARKS IN CHANNEL-MARGINAREA N=41
A N 0 IN OVERBANK ADJACENT TO CHANNEL
INDICATES FLOW AWAY FROM CHANNEL

mun= 149
Figure 3.3b

Figure 3.3a

oase or
are tractively-
:lasts. Numerous Internal scour
?ssuggest that these sands rep-
the thin tractive deposits of multi-
gh-energy, bypassing flows.
Figure 3.3. Lithofacies and stratal geometries preserved along Permeameter Channel margin, Buena Vista, Upper Brushy Canyon Formation.
I ~ermearneter~ h a n n e c~ h & edeposits
of low concentration turbidity currents
have been interpreted both as: 1)
bypass facies deposited from the dilute
tails of bypassing flows, and 2) low-
energy back-filling facies that are prefer-
entially p r e s e ~ e dalong the channel internal scour surfaces and lenticular,
margin. coarse-grained lags.

3.3a. This figure shows the margin of the "Permeameter"
channel which occurs along the SE flank of the Buena
Vista channel complex (see Figure 3.2). 3.3b. Paleocurrent
measurements taken along the southern margin of
Permeameter Channel.
The Permeameter Channel illustrates a vertical progres-
sion of fill types, and facies variations from channel axis to
margin, that are characteristic of many other channels with-
in the Buena Vista channel complex. The "Permeameter"
fill succession consists of:
1) Erosion of basal erosion surface.
2) Lenticular, coarse-grained, traction-laminated sand-
stones along margin of channel(Fig. 3.3~).
3) Thin-bedded, low concentration turbidites that drape the
channel margin. These thin-bedded turbidites may be com-
plexly interleaved with small-scale erosion surfaces and
lenticular coarse-grained sandstones, or may occur as even-
ly bedded units that thicken toward channel axes(Fig.
3.3d,e).
4) Thin-bedded channel margin turbidites are typically
removed toward the channel axis by younger erosional sur-
faces that are typically infilled with thick-bedded, amalga-
mated sandstones.
5) Repetition of 3) and 4) may produce a complex,
interfingering pattern between thick-bedded, amalgamated
channel-filling sandstones in the channel axis, and thin-
bedded turbidites at the channel margin.
6) Abandonment, or erosional incision and repetition of
the cycle.
This fill succession is interpreted to represent an overall
cycle of: 1) erosion, 2) predominant sediment bypass, and
3) depositional back-filling of erosional relief. The more
complex stratal relationships within the Permeameter
Channel indicate that the channel fill stages represent
numerous cutting, bypassing and back-filling events.

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Figure 3.4b
Figure 3.4. This diagram shows the uppermost Brushy Canyon Formation at the Buena Vista locality. Also shown are the locations of research boreholes drilled in 1998 (the actual location of Buena Vista #2 is slightly
north of this area). See figures on previous and following pages for additional information. Only the logs for the interval above the marker bed are shown.
This figure emphasizes the relationships between the axis
and southern margin of a large, erosionally-confined chan-
nel complex that occurs above the "marker bed" and that is
interpreted to have formed in a toe-of slope depositional
environment. The "marker bed" is an organic-rich siltstone
(0.6 m thick) that contains ashbeds and that can easily be
correlated on photo pans and measured sections for over 15
km to the northern limit of the Delaware Mountains. The
"marker bed" is interpreted as a condensed interval that
-
T g ofoutcrop
r (Zelt & R-n,
l ~ a r k e Bed 1995)
marked widespread abandonment of submarine fan systems
during Upper Brushy Canyon time. The marker bed is
truncated immediately south of the Buena Vista #1 well by
an erosional surface at the base of a younger channel sys-
tem (interval A on sketch). Channel system A is overlain in
the south by a succession of medium-bedded sandstones
and interbedded siltstones (interval B) that represents
another channel system located to the south. Intervals A
and B are progressively truncated northward of Buena Vista
Laminated Siltstone
- - -
R DEN RES
PI'
w-
-approx. 100 feet
#1, and are ultimately completely removed by erosion at
the base of the channel complex in interval C. The base
and southern margin of the complex are bounded by com-
posite erosion surfaces composed of numerous discordant
surfaces. The minimum depth of erosional relief is esti-
mated at 120 feet. The southern margin of the complex is
a steep, recessive-weathering zone composed of onlapping
thin-bedded turbidites, draping siltstones, and thin lag
deposits. Numerous channel margin remnants exist within
South
IThii-bedded Sandstones
Thin-bedded Sandstones
I
-I
this zone, indicating multiple cycles of erosion and deposi-
tion and a highly protracted initial phase of evolution. In
the axis of the channel complex, the channel base is over-
lain by a thick lag complex. Overlying the lag complex is
a thick package of thick-bedded, massive and amalgamated
sandstones that represent the axial fill of the complex. These
sandstones exhibit crude horizontal stratification, onlap
abruptly along the southern channel margin and represent a
rapid, highly aggradational ("plugging") style of fill.
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 Search CD-ROM
EPR Co. Buena Vista #I
Up er Brushy Member
R
Brus y Canyon Formation
Six Bar Ranch, West Texas

RES (SO)

I.5O Ta, Td

Ta, Td

al
Ta
m
I

I'
Td,Te O.B.

Figure 3.5. Core Summary Plot

The EPR Co. Buena Vista #1 well penetrates the upper mem-
ber and the top of the middle member of the Brushy Canyon
Formation. The Buena Vista outcrop is oriented slightly
oblique to the paleo-flow direction (see Fig. 3.4), therefore
provides a depositional strike perspective. At Buena Vista,
the upper member is interpreted as lower slope deposits and
characterized by deeply incised channels.

This core summary-plot illustrates the relationship between

well-log patterns, core lithofacies associations and environ-
ments of deposition. Dominating the cored interval is
approximately 240 feet of stacked channel-axis and channel-
margin deposits for the upper confined channel complex
(UBC-2) and predominantly channel-axis deposits for the
lower confined channel complex (UBC-1). Channel-axis
deposits are dominated by highly amalgamated, normally
- graded, massive to cross-stratified sandstones deposited pri-
TR, Ta marily by high-concentration turbidity currents. In these
channels the highly erosional basal surfaces are commonly
overlain by lenticular units of rip-up clast conglomerates or
fusulinid-rich sandstones. Channel-margin deposits are domi-
nated by onlapping, erosionally bounded, thin-bedded, low-
concentration turbidites and inter-bedded thin, lenticular
Ta coarse-grained sandstones.
Ta, TR
Ta

I Middle Brushy C.A. = Channel Axis deposit

Canyon FM C. M. = Channel Margin
O.B. = Overbank deposit
Upper Brushy Canyon
ash bed.--- C.C.C.= Confined Channel
UBC-1
I Com~lex

0Upper Brushy Canyon

80' siltstone
UBC-2
a = bioturbation
TR =Traction deposit M = massive bedding
Ta = massive sst. = ash bed
Tb = planar-stratifiedsst. 41 = current ripples
Tc = current ripple dominated sst. a = contorted beds
a:. = fusulinids
Td = planar-stratifiedshaly sst.
.2-= trough cross-beds

,' p t T
M.D. Sullivan 6 S.J. Fri
Te = planar-stratifiedto massive
mdst. --= water escape
structures
 Search CD-ROM
EPR Co. Buena Vista #2
r:
Up er Brushy Member
Brus y Canyon Formation
Six Bar Ranch, West Texas

Figure 3.6. Core Summary Plot

The EPR Co. Buena Vkta #2 well penetrates the upper mem-
ber of the Bmshy Canyon Formation. The Buena Vista out-
crop is oriented slightly oblique to the paleo-flow direction
'd, Te (see Fig. 3.4), therefore provides a depositional strike per-
spective. At Buena Vkta the upper member is interpreted as
lower slope deposits and characterized by deeply incised
channels.

This core summary-plot illustrates the relationship between

well-log patterns, core lithofacies associations and environ-
ments of deposition. Dominating the cored interval is
approximately 250 feet of stacked channel-axis deposits for
the upper confined channel complex (UBC-2) and a mixture
of channel-margin and channel-axis deposits for the lower
confined channel complex (UBC-I). Channel-axis deposits
are dominated by highly amalgamated, normally graded,
massive to cross-stratified sandstones deposited primarily by
high-concentration turbidites. In these channels the highly
rc, TC erosional basal surfaces are commonly overlain by lenticular
- units of rip-up clast conglomerates or fusulinid-rich sand-
Te stones. Channel-margin deposits are dominated by onlap-
ping, erosionally hounded, thin-bedded, low-concentration
turbidites and inter-bedded thin, lenticular coarse-grained
sandstones.

Middle Brushy C.A. = Channel Axis deposil

~ a n v o nFM C. M. = Channel Marain
0.6. = Overbank deposit
-
Upper Brushy Canyon
C.C.C.= Confined Channel
UBC-l
Complex
[7 Upper;!E;rr Canyon
a = bioturbation
M massive bedding
=
TR =Traction deposit
Ta = massive sst. ....
-I
. .
= ash bed
.

= current ripples
Tb = ~lanar-stratifiedsst.
Tc = current ripple dominated sst. " == fusulinids beds
Td = planar-stratified shaly sst.
trough cross-beds
Te = planar-stratified to massive
mudstone. -
a=
-= water escape
structures
 ' Brus

& EPRCo.
EPR Co.
o,'&
' Buena
." Vista #2 Buena Vista #I

Approximate Area of

Siltstones Pebbly Sandstones (Lags) Thick-bedded Sandstones Thin-bedded Sandstones

(Channel Axis) (Channel Margin)

Figure 3.7. This diagram illustrates the calibration of the Buena Vista well logs to the outcrop and the bedding correlations between the two borehole locations. Refer to previous pages for locations of the Buena
Vista #I and #2 sites and additional information.

For purposes of illustration, facies associations have been
simplified as follows; siltstone (abandonment intervals),
pebbly sandstones (channel lags), thick-bedded sandstones
(channel axis facies), and thin-bedded sandstones (channel
margin facies). The Upper Brushy Canyon Member at
Buena Vista can be subdivided into two 5th order units
(UBC-1, UBC-2) and several 6th order units. The 5th
order units are interpreted as lower slope, or toe-of-slope
channel complexes while the 6th order units represent sto-
ries within the fill of the complexes.
UBC-1 is characterized by numerous, relatively shallow,
nested channels. These channels have margins that gener-
ally stack in the vicinity of the Buena Vista #2 location,
and axes that preferentially stack in the vicinity of the
Buena Vista #1 location. By contrast, the UBC-2 complex
represents a highly amalgamated, deeply incised system
with its southernly margin located at the site of Buena
Vista #1, and its axis at BuenaVista #2. Although the axial
fill of the UBC-2 complex consists of amalgamated chan-
nel sandstones that simply onlap the base UBC-2.3 surface
to the south, the margin of the complex is quite complicat-
ed and records a protracted history of multiple episodes of
erosion, bypass and deposition. A more detailed study of
the southern channel complex margin is indicated on the
upper right-hand side of the diagram and shown on the fol-
lowing page. This diagram illustrates the difficulty of
accurately correlating well logs for closely spaced wells
within this depositional setting. This work was accom-
plished as part of the Exxon Exploration Co. Deep-Water
Internship Program in collaboration with the Exxon
Production Research Co. Deep-Water Reservoirs Group.

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 30ft
(vert) I
L
30ft (horiz) rn
Massive to Bedded Sandstone
'Pinstripe' lithofacies: Dipping Siltstone
ISandstone:Truncated MarginWedges
410 ft

Coarse Lag: Sandstone, Clasts, Fusinlllds

- .

Thin-bedded SandstoneISiltstone

Slltstone: Abandonmenfflnterchannel
- Eroslonal Surface

Jennene, Beaubouef (EPR). Jensen, Brami, Wilson, Ardili, Tate, Keidell.

and Ripple-Laminated Sandstone
Fergusan(EEC)

Figure 3.8. This diagram illustrates the complex stratigraphic relationships along the southern margin of the upper channel complex at the Buena Vista outcrop locality. See Fig. 3.7 for location of sections. The
Buena Vista #1 well log and core project into the line of section in the vicinity of measured section IN.

The lithofacies designations used in this diagram are slight-
ly different than those of previous pages, and consist of:
massive to bedded sandstones (channel axis facies), "pin-
stripe" facies (inclined thin-bedded siltstones and sand-
stones within the channel margin), sandstone (erosionally
truncated wedges of medium-bedded sandstone within the
margin), coarse lag (pebbly sandstones within the margin),
thin-bedded sandstone and siltstone, siltstone (abandon-
ment facies). Prominent erosional surfaces are shown in
green. Datum 1, the "marker bed", is truncated to the
south. Datum 2 is an abandonment surface that is truncat-
ed to the north.
The channel margin zone is a steeply dipping lens that con-
tains a variety of lithofacies and numerous internal surfaces.
Note that the prominent erosional surfaces that bound the
lens dip at a high angle relative to internal bedding. These
surfaces are correlated to the base UBC-2.3 surface in
Buena Vista #2 (previous page) and intersect in the northem
part of the section. Hence, the strata contained within the
margin do not extend into the axis of the complex. The
channel margin zone includes several horizons of channel
lags and truncated channel margin wedges that thin, change
facies and onlap smaller scale channel margins within the
lens. These relationships indicate a protracted evolution
that included repeated cycles of erosion, bypass, and chan-
nel filling followed by resumed erosion. Significant thick-
ness of channel fill must have existed prior to each erosional
episode, and erosional down-cutting occurred to similar
stratigraphic levels in each erosional episode. By contrast,
the final filling of the complex was accomplished by depo-
sition of horizontally-bedded, massive sandstones that sim-
ply onlap the upper surface of the channel margin lens with-
out appreciable facies changes toward the margin. In gener-
al these relationships indicate; a) an early phase of alternat-
ing bypass and channel filling and, b) a late phase of chan-
nel back-filling or "plugging". This work was accomplished
as part of the Exxon Exploration Co. Deep-Water Internship
Program in collaboration with the Exxon Production
Research Co. Deep-Water Reservoirs Group.

Search CD-ROM

Figure 3.9. Summary of Toe-of-Slope Channel Complexes
Channel Characteristics Channel Fills:
Channel Geometry: - Thick-bedded, amal :hannel fills are common,
particularly within fills of secondary(minor) channels.
- Moderate relief (5-15 m) erosional channels with simple
to complex margins. - Margins of major erosion surfaces are commonly overlain
or "draped" by inclined wedges of thin-bedded sandstones
Bypass Indicators: and siltstones containing common internal erosion sur-
faces.
- Lenticular, coarse-grained lags are common along the
base of major erosion surfaces. Associated Facies and Channel Stacking Patterns:
- Siltstone-draped scours are present, but not common. Channels are typically incised into other channel-fill sand-
stones (not into slope siltstones as in the slope channel set-
ting) and characterized by laterally-offset channel stacking
patterns.
Depositional Interpretation
The absence of thick slope siltstone intervals and the tran-
sition from vertical channel stacking patterns (observed in
slope areas) to laterally-offset channel stacking patterns
suggest deposition in a less confined, lower slope setting.
The abundance of coarse-grained lags at this locality is
attributed to loss of gradient at the toe-of-slope. Lags are
less abundant in areas located depositionally updip and
downdip from this locality.
Bash Floor
Low-density turbidites preserved in thin-bedded channel
margin drapes above lagged erosion surfaces are well-
developed in this depositional setting. This facies may rep-
resent either: 1) a bypass facies deposited from the dilute
tails of bypassing high-energy turbidity currents, or 2) low-
energy back-filling facies.
Complexly intercutting erosion surfaces, and cyclic fill
styles suggest low rates of aggradation, and repeated
episodes of erosion, bypass into the basin, and back filling
by high energy flows.
Search CD-ROM
Figure 4.1. A paleogeographic reconstruction for
the Lower Brushy Canyon (map to right) shows
that Lower Brushy Canyon sandstones were
deposited on the basin floor, in E-SE trending
submarine fan complexes.

The submarine fan complexes are interpreted to consist of

down-fan bifurcating channel networks which feed uncon-
fined sheet complexes in the outer reaches of the system.

Lower Brushy slope deposits are poorly preserved in out-

crop, therefore the depiction of the slope is schematic. The
Lower Brushy Canyon fans are interpreted to pinchout
updip onto the toe-of-slope in the area located just south of
the Guadalupe Mountains. The Lower Brushy slope may
have largely consisted of relict carbonate slope deposits.

t
APPROXIMATE LOCATION

Within the basin-floor fans, four main depositional
environments are recognized:
1) Proximal Channelized Fan: Relatively large channels
are incised into pre-existing channel and inter-channel
strata. These channels exhibit simple erosional bases.
Channel fills, consisting of amalgamated, thick-bedded
sandstones, suggest rapid, back-filling by high-energy
flows. Lags and siltstone-draped erosion surfaces are rare.
2) Medial Channelized Fan: Channels of moderate-scale
are common and occur in association with tabular (broadly
channelized to sheet-like) sandstones and interbedded silt-
stones. Compared to proximal fan channels, medial fan
channels are characterized by simple channel margins and
amalgamated channel fills, but have greater widthldepth
ratios and are arranged in laterally offset stacking patterns.
3) Channel to Sheet lkansitions: Broad shallow channels
show a distinct, genetic association with laterally adjacent
tabular sandstones. Channel margins are characterized by
multiple low-relief erosional surfaces that pass laterally
from the amalgamated channel axes into relatively con-
formable medium- to thick-bedded interchamel sand-
stones. Although the tabular, sandstones appear sheet-like,
individual beds are typically lenticular, and exhibit com-
pensatory vertical stacking patterns.
4) Sheet Complexes: This environment is characterized
by laterally extensive, amalgamated to non-amalgamated,
medium- to thick-bedded sandstones that form compensa-
tionally-stacked bedsets. Channels are generally absent.
Erosional scours, if present, are broad and shallow, and
typically have less than 1 m relief.

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1 Figure 4.2a
Figure 4.2. Proximal Basin Floor: Popo Channels, Middle Brushy Canyon Formation.
4.2a. Oblique depositional strike perspective of proximal
fan channels of the middle member of the Brushy Canyon
Formation
Dominating this exposure are laterally offset, erosionally
based, narrow (low aspect ratio) channels and interchannel
sheets. In contrast to the deeply incised slope channels of
the upper member, these channels exhibit simple erosional
bases, are much less incised and have higher width to
thickness (aspect) ratios. Some erosional surfaces associat-
ed with the channel bases are overlain by coarse lags.
Channels tend to be filled from axes to margins by fine
grained amalgamated, thick-bedded cross-stratified sand-
stones exhibiting aggradational bed forms. These features
suggest deposition from long-lived currents and relatively
high sedimentation rates. Significant facies changes from
axis to margin are not observed and the sandstones abrupt-
ly terminate by onlap along channel margins. Genetic
associations between channel and interchannel strata are
not obvious. The interchannel strata are comprised of non-
amalgamated thin- to thick-bedded laminated to massive
sandstones and interbedded siltstones. These features are
cited as evidence for a channel evolution that includes: a)
an early phase of bypass and deposition from only the bed-
load portions of through going flows followed by b) a very
rapid, aggradational ("plugging") style of fill, followed by
c) a lateral shift in the axes of deposition.
4.2b. Example of cross-stratified, fine-grained sandstone
characteristic of channel axis deposition. This stratification
was produced by a train of bedforms (e.g., dunes) migrat-
ing down the channel during sustained turbidity-current
flow. Aggradation of the channel bottom due to the rain of
suspended sediment out of such a turbidity current was typ-
ically high enough to bury and preserve the stoss sides to
many of the bedforms. These supercritically climbing bed-
forms indicate that the filling of the channels was primarily
associated with spatial, not temporal, deceleration of the
currents. Estimates for the durations of these currents, as
well as for their velocities at the sites of deposition, can be
constrained through analysis of bedform geomeby (height,
length, and plan-form), bedform climb angle, and grain size.
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 Large erc ~ a channel
l on bas
n s l fan q r ~ ~ bhRcw

I CHANNEL TRENDS

UPPERCHANNEL
I
CHANNEL MARGIN
STRIKE MEASUREMENTS

LOWER CHANNEL

Figure 4 . 3 ~ .Proximal-margin

Figure 4.3b. Channel-axis

Figure 4.3. Proximal Basin Floor: Brushy Mesa, Lower Brushy Canyon Formation.

4.3a. Oblique depositional strike perspective of proximal
fan channels of the lower member. Dominating this expo-
sure are laterally offset, erosional based, narrow (low
aspect ratio) channels and interchannel sheets. Channels
tend to be filled from axes to margins by amalgamated,
thick-bedded sandstones suggesting rapid filling of chan-
nels by high-concentration turbidity flows. The interchan-
nel strata are comprised of non-amalgamated thin- to thick-
bedded massive sandstones and interbedded siltstones.
4.3b. Channel-axis deposits are dominated by thick-bed-
ded, high-concentration turbidites characterized by fine- to
medium-grained, massive sandstones. The channel fill is
characterized by repetitive sandstones that are fusilinid-rich
at their base and grade upward into massive sandstone.
4.3~.Channel-margins are also dominated by highly amal-
gamated massive sandstones. Note the simple onlap of
thick-bedded massive sandstones onto the margin of the
channel. Onlapping siltstones are locally preserved along
the margin and may be related a) to an early phase of trans-
mission prior to channel plugging orb) temporary aban-
donment of the channel following initial erosion. 4.3d.
Paleocurrent measurements for the proximal fan channels
at Brushy Mesa.

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Figure 4.4. Summary of Proximal Basin Floor Channel Complexes
Channel Characteristics
Channel Geometry:
Laterally offset, erosional based (5-20 m thick), narrow
(75-230 m), low aspect ratio channels that tend to be both
vertical and laterally amalgamated to produce very continu-
ous composite sandbodies separated by interchannel sheet
sandstones.
Channel Fill:
Channels tend to be filled from axes to margins by amalga-
mated, thick-bedded massive sandstones suggesting rapid
al Bas
filling of channels by high-concentration turbidite flows.
Often, cross-stratification is observed, which suggests sus-
tained flow and high depositional rates within channels. In
some cases, channel fill shows a decrease in amalgamation
toward the margins, but significant facies changes toward
margins are rare.
Bypass Indicators:
Although coarse lags are observed in some outcrops, their
proportions are low relative to middle and lower slope
channels. In general, the evidence for bypass is represent-
ed only by an erosional surface.
\ Shelf
Interchannel Association: tically stacked, deeply incised channels like those observed
Interchannel strata associated with these channels consist in the slope,
of non-amalgamated thin- to thick-bedded massive to cur- c) simple, rather than complex channel margins,
rent ripple laminated sandstones and interbedded siltstones. d) highly amalgamated sandstone channel fills, and
Genetic associations between interchannel and channel fill e) lower proportions of bypass indicators compared to
strata are not obvious. lower slope channels.
Depositional Interpretation
These channel complexes are interpreted to have formed in a
proximal basin floor setting. This interpretation is based on:
a) the absence of associated thick slope siltstone intervals,
b) laterally-offset, weakly incised channels rather than ver-
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 Colken Canyon, Lower Brushy Canyon Formetion
. .

--

( TREND OF CHANNEL

Figure 4.5a

.
Figure 4.5b. Axis to margin transition.
Figure 4 . 5 ~ . Sheet complexes aajacenr ro cnannel complex.
Figure 4.5e. Cross-stratified sandstones
-channelized in channel axis.
Figure 4.5. Medial Fan: Colleen Canyon, Lower Brushy Canyon Formation. These outcrops are interpreted to represent the transition between channelized and non
areas of the basin floor and are described as distributary channel complexes.

45a. Depositional strike perspective of a broad (350 m),
relatively shallow (20 m) channel with extremely continu-
ous sheet-like margins that can be traced laterally for sever-
al thousand feet. Surfaces from within the channel-axis
can be traced into the adjacent beds indicating a genetic
relationship between the channel and the sheet-like mar-
gins. Channel-axes are comprised of thick-bedded, com-
monly cross-stratified amalgamated sandstones that are
replaced toward the channel margins by progressively thin-
ner-bedded, less amalgamated sandstones. The channel
margin is formed by several, vertically stacked erosional
surfaces that exhibit up to 9 m of relief. The degree of ero-
sion decreases substantially into the adjacent sheet-like
sandstone "packages". Sandstones within these continuous
"packages" are generally massive internally and interpreted
to have been deposited rapidly from suspension. Loaded
bedding contacts, flame structures and evidence for dewa-
tering are abundant and indicate high rates of deposition.
Although the sandstone "packages" are highly continuous,
lenticular and compensational bedding styles and small
scale scour surfaces are common within them. Also
shown are paleocurrent indicators for the channel and adja-
cent strata.
4.5b. Enlarged view of main channel showing transition
from channel axis, amalgamated sandstones to channel mar-
gin, semi-amalgamated sheets. 4 3 . View looking east
showing the thick-bedded character and overall high conti-
nuity of channel margin sandstones lateral to the axis of the
channel complex. 45d. Thick succession of amalgamated,
trough cross-bedded sandstones in the axis of the channel
complex. 4.5e. Example of trough cross-bedded sand-
stones characteristic of axial channel fill. These bedforms
suggest long-lived currents and high sedimentation rates.

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Figure 4.6. Colleen Canyon, Lower Brushy Canyon Formation: Outcrop to Well-Log Calibration. These photos show the Colleen Canyon area as viewed from SSE.
4.6a. This outcrop is contained in the down-thrown fault
block east of the ranch road and is a southern view of the
same channel complex illustrated on the previous page.
Also shown is the location of the EPR Co. Colleen Canyon
#1 research borehole drilled in 1998. In this perspective,
almost the entire thickness of the lower member (4th order
sequence) can be seen. The basal Brushy Canyon
Formation rests sharply above an approximately 50m thick
interval of Pipeline Shale. The Brushy CanyonPipeline
Shale contact is the base of the Brushy Canyon lowstand
sequence set (3rd order SB). Based on the presence of a
highly condensed interval at the base of the "middle reces.
sive" observed in core (see following page), the lower
member can be subdivided into two sandstone-rich 5th
order units. Lateral equivalents to the channel complex
seen on the previous page occur in the upper half of the
lower unit. These packages can be further subdivided into
several thinner, but highly continuous sandstone "packets"
(6th order?).
4.6b. Enlarged view of the site of the Colleen Canyon #1
borehole site with well logs tied to the outcrop. Note that
the continuous channel margin deposits exhibit internal
regions of greater and lesser degrees of amalgamation,
which allows them to he divided into sheet-axis and sheet-
margin associations, respectively. The sheet-axis deposits
are dominated by amalgamated, normally graded to massive,
fine-grained sandstones with or without internal erosion sur-
faces. Sheet-margin deposits are dominated by non-amal-
gamated, fine-grained sandstones.
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 Search CD-ROM
EPR Co. Colleen Canyon #1
Lower Brushy Member
Brushy Canyon Formation
Six Bar Ranch. West Texas

:igure4.7. Core Summary Plot

h e EPR Co. Colleen Canyon #1 well penetrates the lower

Ta iember of the Brushy Canyon Formation and the basal
:rushy Canyon Formation sequence boundary. The Colleen
:anyon outcrop is oriented slightly oblique to the paleo-flow
Ta irection (see Fig. 4.5a), therefore provides a depositional
trike perspective. In the Colleen Canyon area, the lower
lember is interpreted as medial fan deposits representing the
Tc ansition between channelized and non-channelized regions
f the basin floor.
Td
his core summary-plot illustrates the relationship between
I, c-d $ell-logpatterns, core lithofacies associations and environ-
lents of deposition. Dominating the cored interval is
Ta pproximately 230 feet of stacked sheet-axis and
- hannellsheet-margin deposits. The well is located in a mar-
Td inal position relative to the main channel-axis and com-
Ta
Td rised of extremely continuous "packets" of semi- to non-
-
malgamated, massive to cross-stratified sandstones. Sheet-
Ta xis deposits are dominated by amalgamated sandstones and
m ~eet-marginsare dominated by non-amalgamated sand-
:ones. In both sheet axis and sheet margin deposits, sedi-
Ta lentary structures suggest rapid deposition from suspension
y high concentration turbidity currents.
Ta

b,Tc
-
Ta
C.A. = Channel Axis deposil
Ta C. M. = Channel Margin
Lower Brushy Canyon
O.B. = Overbank d e ~ o s i t
Ih C.C.C.= Confined Channel
Ta Complex
-

Td TR = Traction deposit a = bioturbation

M massive bedding
=
-
M.D.
Ta = massive sst.
Tb = planar-stratified sst. ....= ash bed
-' current ripples
=
Tc = current ripple dominated sst.
Td = planar-stratified shaly sst. a = contorted beds
Te = planar-stratified to massive = fusulinids
mudstone. &=trough cross-beds
--=water escape
structures
 Shelf

Slope

Figure 4.8. Summary of Medial Basin Floor Channel Complexes

Channel Characteristics Depositional Interpretation

C h a ~ e Geometry:
l Associated Facies:
Broad, shallow channel complex characterized by vertical-
ly-stacked, low-relief (< 10 m) erosion surfaces that pass
laterally into relatively conformable, interchannel areas that
exhibit only minor channelization.
Channel Fill:
- Axis of complex: amalgamated, trough cross-laminated
sandstones
- Flank of complex: non-amalgamated, medium to thick-
bedded, tabular sandstones that are often internally
structureless
Channel complex is incised into laterally extensive, tabular
sandstone "packets" containing lenticular, locally erosive,
loaded or dewatered generally massive sandstones.
These channel complexes are interpreted to have formed in c) evidence for rapid deposition from suspension in the
a media] basin floor setting characterized by a distributive absence of confinement in the channel flank areas, and
depositional environment. The prominent channel complex
in colleen canyon is interpreted as a major trunk channel d) evidence for minor focusing of flows within a relatively
smaller channels and sheet axes are interpreted as dis. unconfined setting outside the main channel axis.
tributary channels within a distributary channel complex.
This interpretation is based on:
a) low relief and broad width of channel complexes,
b) the continuity of beds from channel axis to channel
flank.

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Figure 3.1. uurer ran: Cordoniz Canyon, Lower Brushy Car.,
Dominating the Lower Brushy Canyon Formation in
this portion of the outcrop belt are sharp based, gen-
erally non-amalgamated turbidite sheet complexes.
5.la. This photograph illustrates the "packaging",
stacking patterns, and bedding styles of sandstone
sheet complexes. These sheet complexes consist of
approximately 5m thick, laterally extensive "pack-
ets" of medium- to thick-bedded, massive sand-
stones with interbedded low concentration turbidites
and siltstones. The thicker, massive sandstones are
- .from sus-
interpreted to have been deposited ravidlv
pension by high concentration turbidity currents in
an outer fan environment and represent the dominant
facies type. Although the sandstone "packages" are
highly continuous, lenticular and compensatory
sandstone bedding styles and small scale scour sur-
faces are locally present. Loaded bedding contacts,
flame structures and evidence for dewatering are
abundant and indicate high rates of deposition. The
bases of these sheet complexes are relatively sharp
. -..nation. but tend to be nonerosional. They are either over-
lain by thinner siltstone dominated intervals or,
where amalgamated, the base of a younger sand-
stone "packet". In the lower portion of the photo-
graph the complexes appear to be compensationally
stacked or laterally offset and are interbedded with
siltstone intervals. In the middle to upper portions,
the complexes are thicker, more amrugamated and
appear to be stacked in an aggradational fashion.
Rather than reflecting overall progradation or out-
building of fan systems, these vertical stacking pat-
terns likely reflect lateral switching of depositional
axes of systems through time.
5.lb This photograph shows a close-up view of
complex bedding geometries within the lower mem-
ber. Near the base of the outcrop a sandstone "pack-
et" is observed to thin over an underlying "packet"
that is seen to thin in the ouoosite direction. Like
A A
many of the sheet complexes, the "packet" thinning
to the left exhibits an upward thickening bedding
trend. This is due to successively younger beds
pinching out progressively further to the left indicat-
ing a depositional response to underlying topogra-
phy. The sandstone beds show an inter-fingering
relationship with the adjacent siltstone interval
rather than onlapping a single surface, and beds and
laminae of the adjacent siltstone interval can be
traced into the sandstone "packet". This suggests
that many of the siltstone prone intervals interbed-
ded with these deposits may be marginal or off-axis
facies and not actual abandonment intervals, and
underscores the difficulty in performing stacking
pattern analyses at this scale.
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 .. .

, . .,

3";
d
Sheet Complex Axis

Figure 5.2. Amalgamated Sheet Complex (sheet axis): Cordoniz Canyon.

This is a depositional strike view of a sheet complex show-
ing a lateral progression of increasing bedding amalgama-
tion toward an axis (sheet axis). In many respects, the
architecture of these layered sandbodies is very similar to
the localized zones of amalgamation within the channel
margin sheets at Colleen Canyon. This complex shows
similar axis to margin transitions in the degree of amalga-
mation; the sheet axis is dominated by amalgamated, nor-
mally graded, massive, fine-grained sandstones and the
sheet-margin deposits are dominated by non-amalgamated,
massive, fme-grained sandstones. Finer grained interbeds
present in the non-amalgamated margins are progressively
removed by small scale erosion toward the axis.
Complexes such as these are viewed as intermediate
between the main channel complex at Colleen Canyon and
the layered sheet complexes seen on the previous page.
They represent deposition within a transitional environment
between confined and unconfined settings.

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Figure 5.3. Summary of Outer Basin Floor Fan
Sheet Complex Characteristics
Sandbody Geometry:
Sharp based, extremely continuous, 5-7 m layered sand-
stone "packets" that are either compensationally stacked,
laterally offset from one another, or stacked aggradationally.
Internal Characteristics:
Sheet complexes are dominated by medium- to thick-bed-
ded, massive sandstones interbedded with minor low con-
centration turbidites and siltstones. Lenticular and com-
pensatory internal sandstone bedding styles are common
and small scale scour surfaces are locally present. Loaded
bedding contacts, flame structures and evidence for dewa-
tering are common and indicate high rates of deposition.
Sheet complexes also tend to display an aggradational to
weakly developed thickening-upward organization. Based
on the degree of vertical amalgamation, complexes are suh-
divided into sheet axes and sheet margins and characterized
as follows: Sheet axis: highly amalgamated, medium- to
thick-bedded, massive, fine-grained sandstones; Sheet mar-
gin: thinner-bedded, non-amalgamated, massive, fine-
grained sandstones with interbedded siltstones.
Associated Facies:
Thin siltstone intervals with minor, thin-bedded sandstones
occur adjacent to and interbedded with sandstone dominated
sheet complexes. In some cases these appear to be an off-
axis or lateral facies association to the sandstone complexes.
Depositional Interpretation
These sheet complexes are interpreted to have formed in an
outer basin floor fan setting, but within a distributive depo-
sitional environment. The general lack of erosion and the
extreme continuity of layered sandstone "packets" contain-
ing massive sandstones suggests suspension deposition in a
relatively unconfined setting. However, the sheet axes or
localized zones of amalgamation indicate focusing of flow
and an association with nearby channels. The compensa-
tional stacking of sandstone "packets" indicates rapid
changes in the position of depositional axes (e.g. lobe
switching).
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Mr. Tony Kunitz for allowing
geologic field studies to be conducted on the 6 Bar Ranch.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Mike and Anne Capron.
Their hospitality has always made us feel at home on the 6
Bar Ranch, and much of our work would not have been
possible without their help. The cooperation of the U.S.
National Park Scrvice is also acknowledged. The authors
extend their thanks to Exxon Production Research Co. for
allowing the release of this guidebook. In particular, we
would like to thank C. R Jones, R. E. Hill, S. A.
Reeckmann, S. M. Utskot, and W. T. Drennen 111. Without
their cooperation, support, and guidance this guidebook
and the field research conference would not have been pos-
sible. Many Exxon geoscientists have contributed to our
understanding of the Brushy Canyon Formation during
field excursions and training courses over the years. Their
perspectives, insights and contributions to this work are
respectfully acknowledged. The efforts of the members of
the 1998 Deep-water Internship Program are gratefully
acknowledged.
Extended Bibliography for Brushy Canyon Formation
Armentrout, J.M., Peters, K.E., Sageman, B.B., Murphy,
A.E. and Gardner, M.H., 1998, Stratigraphic Hierarchy of
Organic Carbon-rich Siltstones in Deep-water Facies,
Brushy Canyon Formation, (Guadalupian), Delaware
Basin, Texas (abstr.); in AAPG International Meeting, Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, Extended Abstracts Volume, Mello,
M.R. and Tilmaz, P.O. eds., p. 622-623.
Beaubouef, R.T. and Rossen, C., 1999, Reconstructing
Slope to Basin Floor Depositional Systems from Outcrop
and Subsurface Data Sets; Examples of Sand-rich, Canyon-
fed Submarine Fan Complexes (abstr.), in AAPG Annual
Convention, San Antonio, TX, Program with Abstracts, p.
A10.
Berg, R.R, 1979, Reservoir Sandstones of the Delaware
Mountain Group, Southeast New Mexico; Guadalupian
Delaware Mountain Group of West Texas and Southeast
New Mexico, Permian Basin Section-Society of Economic
Paleontologists and Mineralogists Publication, in Sullivan,
N. M. ed., 79-18, p. 75-79.
Bozanich, R.G., 1979, The Bell Canyon and Cherry
Canyon Formations, Eastern Delaware Basin, Texas; in
Guadalupian Delaware Mountain Group of West Texas and
Southeast New Mexico, Permian Basin Section-Society of
Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Publication,
Sullivan, N. M. ed., 79-18, p. 121-141.
Broadhead, R.F. and Luo, F., 1996, Oil and Gas Resources
in the Delaware Mountain Group at the WIPP Site, Eddy
County, New Mexico; in The Brushy Canyon Play in
Outcrop and Subsurface, Permian Basin Section-Society of
Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Publication,
DeMis, W.D. and Cole, A.G. eds., 96-38, p. 119-130.
Fekete, T.E., 1986, The Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of
the Grayburg Formation and Its Associated Erosion Surface
along the High Western Escarpment of the Guadalupe
Mountains, Texas; unpublished M.S. thesis, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, 174 p.
Franseen, E.K., 1985, Sedimentology of the Grayburg and
Queen Formations (Guadalupian), and the Shelf Margin
Erosion Surface, Western Escarpment, Guadalupe
Mountains, West Texas; unpublished M.S. Thesis,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 189 p.
Franseen, E.K., Fekete, T.E. and Pray, L.C., 1989,
Evolution and Destruction of a Carbonate Bank at the Shelf
Margin: Grayburg Formation (Permian), Western
Escarpment, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas; in Controls on
Carbonate Platform and Basin Development, Society of
Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special
Publication, Crevello, P.D., Wilson, J.L., Sarg, J.F. and
Read, J.F. eds., 44, p. 289-304.
Fischer, A.G. and Sarnthein, M., 1988, Airborne Silts and
Dune Derived Sands in the Permian of the Delaware Basin,
Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 58, p. 637-643.
Gardner, M.H., 1992, Sequence Stratigraphy and Eolian
Derived Turbidites: Patterns of Deep-water Sedimentation
along an Arid Carbonate Platform, Permian (Guadalupian)
Delaware Mountain Group, West Texas; in Permian Basin
Exploration and Production Strategies: Applications of
Sequence Stratigraphic and Reservoir Chararacterization
Concepts: West Texas Geologic Society Publication, Murk,
D.H. and Currans, B.C. eds., 92-9 1, p. 7- 12.
Gardner, M.H., 1999, The Permian Brushy Canyon
Formation Submarine Fan Complex of West Texas:
Implications to Sequence Stratigraphic Models for Deep-
water Clastics (abstr.), in AAPG Annual Convention, San
Antonio, TX., Program with Abstracts, p. A45.
Gardner, M.H. and Sonnenfeld, M.D., 1996, Recognition
Criteria for Establishing a High Resolution Sequence
Stratigraphic Framework for High Net-to-Gross Slope
Sandstones, Permian Brushy Canyon Fm., TX (abstr.), in
AAPG Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA., Program with
Abstracts, p. A50.
Gardner, M.H. and Sonnenfeld, M.D., 1996, Stratigraphic
Changes in Facies Architecture of the Permian Brushy
Canyon Formation in Guadalupe Mountains National Park,
West Texas; in The Brushy Canyon play in outcrop and
subsurface, Permian Basin Section-Society of Economic
Paleontologists and Mineralogists Publication, DeMis,
W.D. and Cole, A.G. eds., 96-38, p. 17-40.
Harms, J.C., 1968, Permian Deep-water Sedimentation by
Non-turbid Currents, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas,
Geological Society of America Special Paper 121, p. 127.
Harms, J.C., 1974, Brushy Canyon Formation, Texas: A
Deep-water Density Current Deposit, Geological Society of
America Bulletin, 85, 1763-1784.
Harms, J. C. and Pray, L. C., 1974, Erosion and
Deposition along the Mid-Permian Intracratonic Basin
Margin, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas; in Modern and
Ancient Geosynclinal Sedimentation, Society of Economic
Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication,
Dott, R. H. Jr. and Shaver, R. H. eds., 19, p. 37.
Harms, J.C. and Williamson, 1988, rushy Canyon
Formation, Texas: A Deep-water Density Current Deposit,
Geologic Society of America Bulletin, 72, p. 287-3 17.
Harms, J.C. and Brady, M.J., 1996, Deposition of the
Brushy Canyon Formation: 30 years of Conflicting
Hypotheses; in The Brushy Canyon Play in Outcrop and
Subsurface, Permian Basin Section-Society of Economic
Paleontologists and Mineralogists Publication, DeMis,
W.D. and Cole, A.G. eds., 96-38, p. 51-61.
Harris, M. T., 1982, Sedimentology of the Cutoff
Formation (Permian), Western Guadalupe Mountains, West
Texas and New Mexico; M.S. Thesis, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, 186 p.
Hills, J.M., 1942, Rhythm of the Permian Seas-A
Paleogeographic Study, American Association of Petroleum
Geologists Bulletin, 26, p. 217-255.
Hull, J.P.D., 1957, Petrogenesis of Permian Delaware
Mountain Sandstone, Texas and New Mexico, American
Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 41,
p. 278-307.
Jacka, A.D., Beck, R.H., St. Germain, L.C., and Harrison,
1968, Permian Deep-sea Fans of the Delaware Mountain
Group (Guadalupian), Delaware Basin; in Guadalupian
facies, Apache Mountains area, West Texas, Permian Basin
Section-Society of Economic Paleontologists and
Mineralogists Publication, Silver, B. ed., 68-1 1, p. 49-90.
Jacka, A.D., 1979, Deposition and Entrapment of
Hydrocarbons in Bell Canyon and Cherry Canyon Deep-
sea Fans of the Delaware Basin; in Guadalupian Delaware
Mountain Group of West Texas and southeast New Mexico,
Permian Basin Section-Society of Economic
Paleontologists and Mineralogists Publication, Sullivan, N.
M. ed., 79-18, p. 104-120.
Kane, T.V., 1992, Sequence Stratigraphy Improves
Definition of Reservoir Architecture at Avalon (Delaware)
Field, Eddy County, New Mexico; in Permian Basin
Exploration and Production Strategies: Applications of
Sequence Stratigraphic and Reservoir Chararacterization
Concepts, West Texas Geologic Society Publication, Murk,
D.H., and Currans, B.C. eds., 92-91, p. 12-18.
Kerans, C., Fitchen, W.M., Gardner, M.H., Sonnenfeld,
M.D., Tinker, S.W. and Wardlaw, B.R., 1992, Styles of
Sequence Development within Uppermost Leonardian
through Guadalupian Strata of the Guadalupe Mountains,
Texas and New Mexico; in Permian Basin Exploration and
Production Strategies: Applications of Sequence
Stratigraphic and Reservoir Characterization Concepts,
West Texas Geologic Society Publication, Murk, D.H. and
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