The Bowland Shale Formation in the Blacon Basin: syngenetic processes, stacking patterns and heat productivity

We conducted a high-resolution multi-disciplinary analysis of two core sections in the borehole Ellesmere Port-1, Cheshire, UK. Biostratigraphic analysis indicates the core sections are Kinderscoutian and late Arnsbergian-Chokerian in age, respectively. Both cores are assigned to the Bowland Shale Formation (Holywell Shale). Coupled core scan and discrete geochemical analysis enables interpretation of syngenetic processes at a high stratigraphic resolution. Both cores exhibit the classic cyclicity of limestones, calcareous to non-calcareous mudstones and siltstones, interpreted to represent sediment deposition during fourth-order sea level fluctuation. Machine learning of the well log data coupled to the core scan data enabled prediction of the key lithofacies through the entire Bowland Shale interval in Ellesmere Port-1. The machine predictions show the Bowland Shale is interfingered with three turbiditic leaves of the Cefn-y-fedw Sandstone Formation and contains at least 12 complete fourth-order cycles. The Bowland Shale exhibits high radiogenic heat productivity (RHP) in comparison to other sedimentary rocks, due primarily to relative enrichment in U under intermittently euxinic conditions. Thermal modelling, however, shows Bowland Shale RHP contributes a negligible source of additional heat at the scale of 100s m.