IMPROVING MODELS THROUGH MEASUREMENTS OF STRATAL GEOMETRIES WITHIN HIERARCHICAL SEDIMENTARY ARCHITECTURE

Sedimentary deposits typically can be organized into hierarchies of unit types and associated permeability modes. Outcrops of sedimentary deposits allow sedimentary units to be mapped, permeability to be measured with high resolution, and sedimentary architecture to be related to the univariate and spatial bivariate statistics of permeability. Data reflecting the stratal architecture can often be much more numerous than permeability measurements. These lithologic data can be used to improve the estimates of the spatial bivariate statistics for permeability and to improve models for solute spreading. In doing so, bias created from the incomplete exposure of units can be reduced by a Bayesian approach for estimating unit proportions and mean lengths. We illustrate this methodology with field data from an outcrop in the Española Basin, New Mexico.