Identifier

etd-12082015-175150

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geology and Geophysics

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The False River point bar system is located roughly thirty miles north of Baton Rouge, LA. It is an oxbow lake cut off from the Mississippi River, and represents a large-scale modern analogue to the ancient systems of northeastern Alberta, Canada, specifically those of the Athabasca Oils Sands. While previous work has been done regarding the general architecture of a point bar, there is still omplexity associated with larger scale systems, as studies have been mostly based on small and medium-scale examples. Examination of the point bar was done through a combination of coring and geophysical logging, followed by software analysis of the logs in order to identify facies pack ages and trends within three different areas of the bar (early upstream apex, late stage near apex, and downstream late simple bar stage to late compound bar stage). Three facies packages were interpreted: Top bar, interbedded heterolithic strata, and high-net facies (sand-rich). Although early to late stage simple bar growth demonstrated predictable facies stacking trends, facies related late stage compound bar growth and active abandonment from the main river channel were unpredictable based on small-scale simple models. Permeability differences within sand-rich packages also decreased in the downstream end of the bar, demonstrating a difference in sand quality within seemingly identical facies packages which has previously been overlooked.

Date

2015

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Clift, Peter

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1868

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