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Sedimentology and stratigraphy of diatomaceous sediments in the Casmalia Hills and Orcutt oil fields in the Santa Maria basin, California

<p> Two industry acquired diatomite cores (Sisquoc Formation) from the Orcutt (Newlove 76-RD1) and Casmalia Hills (Stokes A-30804) oil fields were analyzed by core descriptions, laboratory analysis (XRD and SEM), and gamma ray logs. Based on these data, five distinct lithofacies, nine sedimentary features and compositional trends of both cores were established. Newlove 76-RD1 and Stokes A-30804 record an upward-shallowing succession at different depositional positions on the Pliocene paleo-slope of the Santa Maria basin. Stokes A-30804 reflects slope deposition on a lower flank of a paleo-bathymetric high receiving higher detrital influx from inter-ridge troughs. Slope deposition of Newlove 76-RD1 was closer to a paleo-bathymetric high where purer diatomaceous sediments accumulated. Within Stokes A-30804, purer opal-A dominant lithofacies contain the highest oil saturations. The diagenesis and precipitation of opal-CT and abundance of phyllosilicate significantly hinders oil saturation within lithofacies.</p>

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1528056
Date14 August 2014
CreatorsTorn, Daniel
PublisherCalifornia State University, Long Beach
Source SetsProQuest.com
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typethesis

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