Study of upper Bell Canyon sandstones exposed in outcrop has led to the development of a depositional model that can be used to guide reservoir characterization. Stratigraphic relationships indicate that the Bell Canyon sandstones were deposited by turbidity currents in a basinal system of channels and levees with attached lobes.
Grain size is limited to fine sand and coarse silt.
Siltstones provide the most important depositional heterogeneity within Bell Canyon reservoirs because of the grain size and permeability contrast between sandstones and siltstone facies. Even thin siltstones can affect displacement operations in reservoirs. Because of the low permeability of siltstones, limited cross flow of fluids will occur between sandstones separated by siltstone.