Petrological Characterizations of the Upper Red River in the Williston Basin
Mark A. Sippel, David E. Eby and Michael L. Hendricks
A core and petrographic study was undertaken to describe development of porosity within the Upper Ordovician (Champlainian-Cincinnatian) Red River Formation within portions of Bowman Co., ND and Harding Co., SD. The Red River Formation in the Williston Basin is divided into lithologic/depositional cycles, "A", "B", "C" and "D", from youngest to oldest. In the study area, vertical stacking of lithofacies is the principal control on sediment accumulation and lateral distribution. Progradation of depositional facies is insignificant or absent. Vertical stacking results in widespread and laterally continuous trends of lithofacies that extend over most of the Williston Basin. Therefore, restriction associated with sediment filling of the basin is an important component in lithofacies deposition and distribution.