Multi-Scale Analysis of Carbonate Mass-Transport Deposits, Permian, Apache Mts, Texas

Mass-transport deposits (MTDs) are ubiquitous in deep-water depositional systems, and the occurrence of MTDs plays an important role in the formation and distribution of deep-water petroleum systems. Studies at seismic-and outcrop-scale are common, yet integrated and multi-scale quantifications, especially of carbonate MTDs, are still lacking. This study uses well-exposed outcrops of the Bell Canyon Formation, Apache Mountains, Texas to characterize the multi-scale heterogeneity and rock-fabric anisotropy of carbonate MTDs. We integrate multiple scales of observation, including thin-sections, outcrop measurements, and 3D models generated from handheld lidar and drone-derived photogrammetry to quantify (1) spatial variability in MTD thickness, (2) vertical and spatial distribution of clasts and their properties (e.g., size, shape, composition), and (3) variation in the composition and texture of the matrix. A python script was developed to perform automated shape analysis from segmented images, generating a series of shape parameters and grain-size distributions. These results are integrated to define scaling relationships between the various data types (e.g., clast size, aspect ratios, vertical grading, overall deposit thickness). Data from this study can be utilized to help reconstruct the depositional processes and the resultant architecture of carbonate MTDs and assess the similarities and differences between these deposits and those generated by siliciclastic and mixed-lithology sediments. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights for the geomechanical anisotropy of carbonate MTDs, which can be applied to similar deposits in the Permian Basin as well as other carbonate systems globally.