Achievements and Challenges in Sedimentary Basin Dynamics: A Review

Abstract

Thanks to a continuous effort for unravelling geological records since the early days of coal and petroleum exploration and water management, the architecture and chrono-litho-stratigraphy of most sedimentary basins has been accurately described by means of conventional geological and geophysical studies, using both surface (outcrops) and subsurface (exploration wells and industry seismic reflection profiles) data. However, the understanding of the early development and long term evolution of sedimentary basins usually requires the integration of even more data on the deep Earth, as well as quantifications by means of kinematic-sedimentological and thermomechanical modelling approaches coupling both surface and deep processes.In the last twenty years, huge national and international efforts, frequently linking academy and industry, have been devoted to the recording of deep seismic profiles in many intracratonic sedimentary basins and offshore passive margins, thus providing a direct control on the structural configuration of the basement and the architecture of the crust. Seemingly, needs for documenting also the current thickness of the mantle lithosphere and the fate of subducted lithospheric slabs have led to the development of more academic and new tomographic techniques. When put together, these various techniques now provide a direct access to the bulk 3D architecture of sedimentary basins, crystalline basement and Moho, as well as underlying mantle lithosphere. Inherited structures, anisotropies in the composition of the sediments, crust and underlying mantle as well as thermicity and phase transitions are now taken into account when predicting the localization of deformation in the lithosphere during compression and extension episodes, and reconstructing the geodynamic evolution of rift basins, passive margins or even foreland fold-and-thrust belts.Source to sink studies also provide accurate estimates of sedimentary budget at basin-scale. Extensive use of low temperature chrono-thermometers and coupled kinematic, sedimentological and thermal models allow a precise control on the amount and timing of erosion and unroofing of source areas, but also the reconstruction of the sedimentary burial, strata architecture and litho-facies distribution in the sink areas.Coupling deep mantle processes with erosion and climate constitutes a new challenge for understanding the present topography, morphology and long term evolution of continents, especially in such sensitive areas as the near shore coastal plains, low lands and intramountain valleys which may be subject to devastating flooding and landslides.In addition to the search for hydrocarbon resources, other societal needs such as CO 2 storage and underground water management will benefit from upgraded basin modelling techniques. New 2D and 3D basin modelling tools are progressively developed, coupling in different ways deep thermo-mechanic processes of the mantle (asthenosphere and lithosphere), geomechanics of the upper crust and sediments (compactio...

Constraining forcing factors and relative sea-level fluctuations in semi-enclosed basins: the Late Neogene demise of Lake Pannon

“…In such situations, small relative sea‐level fluctuations can have large effects on the basin fill (e.g. Garcia‐Castellanos et al ., ; Catuneanu et al ., ; Roure et al ., ; Matenco et al ., ). An example of a basin where accommodation space was low relative to sediment supply is the Pannonian Basin of Central Europe, a major back‐arc basin that formed during the Miocene (e.g.…”

Perpectives on Integrated Solid Earth Sciences

“…In his paper, Burov (2009) provides an overview of a number of coupled models of surface and tectonic processes, with a particular focus on 3 representative cases: (1) slow convergence and erosion rates (Western Alps), (2) intermediate rates (Tien Shan, Central Asia), and (3) fast convergence and erosion rates (Himalaya, Central Asia). Roure et al (2009) (this volume) point out that thanks to a continuous effort for unravelling geological records since the early days of coal and petroleum exploration and water management, the architecture and chrono-litho-stratigraphy of most sedimentary basins has been accurately described by means of conventional geological and geophysical studies, using both surface (outcrops) and subsurface (exploration wells and industry seismic reflection profiles) data. However, the understanding of the early development and long term evolution of sedimentary basins usually requires the integration of additional data on the deep Earth, as well as kinematic-sedimentological and thermo-mechanical modelling approaches coupling both surface and deep processes.…”

“…New 2D and 3D basin modelling tools are progressively developed, coupling in different ways deep thermo-mechanical processes of the mantle (asthenosphere and lithosphere), geomechanics of the upper crust and sediments (compaction, pressure-solution and fracturing of seals and reservoirs), basin-scale fluid and sediment transfers (development of overpressures, hydrocarbon generation and migration). As pointed out by Roure et al (2009), further challenges related to CO 2 storage will soon require the integration of fluidrock interactions (reactive transport) in basin and reservoir models, in order to cope with the changes induced by diagenesis in the overall mechanical properties, and the continuous changes in fluid flow induced by compaction, fracturing and cementation.…”

Coupled Deep Earth and surface processes and their impact on geohazards

“…Hydraulic fracturing has been used to stimulate flow properties of the basement rock. During simulation induced seismicity did not exceed M = 3. settings can strongly benefit from novel integrative multi-disciplinary approaches (Roure et al, 2009;van Wees et al, 2009). For unconventional resources and geothermal energy ( Fig.…”

“…In this context, sedimentary basins, mankind's largest resource of energy and fresh water, are paramount. Quantitative insight in the evolution of sedimentary basins has dramatically increased over the last decades as a result of major conceptual advances in understanding their tectonic settings and thermomechanical evolution (Roure et al, 2009). At the same time, due to massive acquisition of new data, partly in conjunction with intensive energy exploration, novel constraints are available to further test and refine model predictions.…”