See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Recent Advances in Deepwater Sedimentology: Science Driven by the Search for Natural Resources
Abstract:
The lower slope to toe-of-slope region represents an important locus for coarse-grained sediment deposition in the depositional profile. Two basinward-stepping toe-of-slope composite sandstone packages are the focus of detailed investigation. Each of these packages is 10's of meters thick and at least 10 km in length along depositional dip and shows a repeated downstream change in stratigraphic architecture. Sediment bypass surfaces characterized by intra- and extra-basinal clast conglomerate lag deposits correlate down slope to lenticular bodies interpreted as channel complexes (~400 m wide and <20 m thick). More distally these units transition into high aspect ratio depositional elements interpreted as channelized sheets. Toe-of-slope sandstone bodies are overlain by concordant mudstone and siltstone or widespread, fine-grained mass-transport deposits. Detailed reconstruction of the stratigraphic architecture provides invaluable information that can be used to supplement data in hydrocarbon-prone basins characterized by sparse 1-D wellbore information and widespread, but relatively low resolution seismic datasets. Stacking patterns and mapped distribution of strata provide information at exploration to reservoir modeling scales.
See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Recent Advances in Deepwater Sedimentology: Science Driven by the Search for Natural Resources