Sandtrak® – provenance applications
The first step in any Sandtrak study is to construct a stratigraphic frame work using high resolution chemostratigraphy, wireline and biostratigraphic data, if available, in order to constrain subsequent provenance mapping. Sandtrak utilises high resolution (ICP based) elemental data, to fingerprint individual depositional systems such as turbidite lobes based on variations in provenance sensitive elements.
Chemostrat has adopted a detailed high resolution petrographic approach which is based on enhanced point counting of all mineral and lithic phases to extract more forensic provenance information on sandstones. Sandtrak heavy mineral methodology includes both the characterisation of heavy mineral populations, grain varieties and morphology to characterise source terrains and the impact of reworking, transportation and diagenesis.
Detrital Zircon dating provides a forensic fingerprint to identify individual sand packages based on differing populations of grains by tying them to specific source terrain. This tool has proved invaluable to improve sediment dispersal mapping and detailed reservoir correlation. Our state of the art in-house laboratory is capable of processing huge numbers of samples, analysing over 10 thousand concordant zircons in the first year of operation.
Our Sandtrak team also offers a unique silt provenance service that utilises high resolution XRD analysis and RAMAN spectroscopy for the characterisation of silt mineralogy focussing on for example feldspar, mica and heavy mineral populations. The ability to model both the provenance of sands and silts ensures that Sandtrak, for the first time, can model the sediment dispersal pattern of the entire depositional system.
Sandtrak will also test the suitability of other techniques such as lead isotope analysis of K-feldspar, garnet, tourmaline, mica and other grain geochemical techniques to fully characterise sediment provenance.
One the key components of Sandtrak is the ability to graphically and statistically model and integrate different provenance data to provide a comprehensive provenance model and to assess its impact on reservoir quality. The Sandtrak workflow culminates in the mapping in GIS of the entire sand and silt provenance model for the entire depositional system.
The Sandtrak team combines a group of specialist provenance professionals with a unique combination of techniques to provide correlation and provenance solutions for clients within commercial time frames.
