Detailed Facies Analysis and Sequence Stratigraphy of Potential Lacustrine Source Rocks , Greymouth Basin , New Zealand

Increased interest in the hydrocarbon potential of the lacustrine mudstones of the Late Cretaceous Paparoa Coal Measures (PCM) has led to this recent study in developing a sequence stratigraphic framework for the Greymouth rift basin. The main purpose of this research is to define sedimentary facies criteria to reconstruct the basin’s paleogeography thus providing an accessible analogue source rock model for Taranaki and Late Cretaceous frontier basins in New Zealand. Sequence stratigraphic analysis can then be used to interpret intervals of increased subsidence in the basin and tectonic history.