Characterisation of dynamic flow patterns in turbidite reservoirs using 3D outcrop analogues: Example of the Eocene Morillo turbidite system (south-central Pyrenees, Spain)

Labourdette, Richard; Crumeyrolle, Philippe; Remacha, E.

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2007.07.003

Cited by 31 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…The understanding of their geometries and their internal sedimentary architecture is necessary to better characterize reservoir heterogeneity. Therefore, numerous works have recently been carried out by both industrial and academic researchers to understand the behavior and sedimentary architecture of sinuous deep-water channels, including different approaches: study of modern deep-water channels, outcrop analysis (Arnott 2007;Labourdette et al 2008), 3D seismic studies (Abreu et al 2003;Deptuck et al 2007;Kolla 2007), and numerical and experimental modeling (Corney et al 2006;Das et al 2004;Imran et al 2007; Kassem and Imran 2004;Keevil et al 2006;Peakall et al 2000;Straub et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary Architecture in Meanders of a Submarine Channel: Detailed Study of the Present Congo Turbidite Channel (Zaiango Project)

Babonneau¹,

Savoye²,

Cremer³

et al. 2010

Journal of Sedimentary Research

157

120

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International audienceSinuous deep-water channels are recognized in most large deep-sea fans in the world. They present a particular interest to oil companies, since they are significant hydrocarbon reservoirs in deep offshore environments. The understanding of their geometries and their internal sedimentary architecture is necessary to better characterize reservoir heterogeneity of sinuous submarine channels. Therefore, numerous studies have been undertaken recently to better understand the behavior and sedimentary architecture of deep-water channels. The aim of this paper is to present our results concerning the development of the meandering channel of the present Congo turbidite system (or Zaire turbidite system). The study is based on high-resolution data including multibeam bathymetry, seismic lines, echosounder profiles, high-resolution side-scan sonar images, and gravity cores, collected by IFREMER along the submarine Congo channel between 1994 and 2000, during Guiness and ZaiAngo surveys. The present Congo turbidite channel is a long incised turbidite channel. It is presently active. It has been built gradually by progradation of the distal depositional area. The most distal part of the channel is the youngest part and shows an immature morphology: the channel presents a low incision and a low sinuosity. In contrast, the upper part of the channel has undergone a long evolutionary history. Its pathway is mature and complex, with numerous abandoned meanders visible in the morphology. This paper presents evidence of progressive channel migration and meander development of the Congo channel. It describes and explains the presence of terraces inside the channel. The detailed characterization of channel morphology and migration geometry shows that the evolution of the channel path is very similar to fluvial meandering systems with (1) lateral meander extension or growing, (2) downstream translation of the thalweg, and (3) meander cutoff. Seismic and 3.5 kHz echosounder profiles show that the terraces, which are visible in the seafloor morphology, are not the imprints of incisional processes. Terraces are true depositional units infilling the channel. They are built during and after the lateral migration of the channel. They are composed of (1) point-bar deposits and (2) inner-levee deposits aggrading above the point bar deposits. Point-bar deposits are characterized by low-angle oblique reflectors forming deposits with a sigmoidal shape. They seem very similar to those observed in fluvial systems. The similarity between fluvial and turbidite point bars suggests that the basal part of the turbidity currents flowing in this channel can be considered as very similar to river flow. With the high-resolution dataset collected in a present Congo turbidite channel, we provide a new description of the channel morphology and evolution, at a "reservoir" scale, intermediate between outcrop observations and 2D and 3D seismic data. The detailed interpretation of intrachannel sedimentation, associated with lateral channel mig...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary Architecture in Meanders of a Submarine Channel: Detailed Study of the Present Congo Turbidite Channel (Zaiango Project)

Babonneau¹,

Savoye²,

Cremer³

et al. 2010

Journal of Sedimentary Research

157

120

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“…Channel formation can be subdivided into three stages: 1) erosion and bypass when large scale erosional surfaces up to tens of metres are formed and capped by lag deposits, 2) channel fill when the coarsest material is repeatedly deposited and eroded with simultaneous sediment spill outside the channel, and 3) abandonment when the finest material caps and separates two channel elements (e.g., Clark & Pickering 1996;Gardner et al 2003;Mayall et al 2006;Labourdette et al 2008;Dakin et al 2013;Bayliss & Pickering 2015a, b). Abundant amalgamation and small scale erosion, relatively low contribution of lag deposits and domination of deposits of collapsing flows imply that the MQ deposits represent the channel fill stage.…”

Section: Formation and Filling Of The Manasterz Quarry Channelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary processes and architecture of Upper Cretaceous deep-sea channel deposits: a case from the Skole Nappe, Polish Outer Carpathians

Łapcik¹

2018

Geologica Carpathica

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Deep-sea channels are one of the architectonic elements, forming the main conduits for sand and gravel material in the turbidite depositional systems. Deep-sea channel facies are mostly represented by stacking of thickbedded massive sandstones with abundant coarse-grained material, ripped-up clasts, amalgamation and large scale erosional structures. The Manasterz Quarry of the Ropianka Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Skole Nappe, Carpathians) contains a succession of at least 31 m of thick-bedded high-density turbidites alternated with clast-rich sandy debrites, which are interpreted as axial deposits of a deep-sea channel. The section studied includes 5 or 6 storeys with debrite basal lag deposits covered by amalgamated turbidite fills. The thickness of particular storeys varies from 2.5 to 13 m. Vertical stacking of similar facies through the whole thickness of the section suggest a hierarchically higher channel-fill or a channel complex set, with an aggradation rate higher than its lateral migration. Such channel axis facies cannot aggrade without simultaneous aggradation of levee confinement, which was distinguished in an associated section located to the NW from the Manasterz Quarry. Lateral offset of channel axis facies into channel margin or channel levee facies is estimated at less than 800 m. The Manasterz Quarry section represents mostly the filling and amalgamation stage of channel formation. The described channel architectural elements of the Ropianka Formation are located within the so-called Łańcut Channel Zone, which was previously thought to be Oligocene but may have been present already in the Late Cretaceous.

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“…However, 3D geological models from more rugose turbidite outcrops are starting to emerge (e.g. Falivene et al 2006;Labourdette et al 2008;Nilsen et al 2008;Zanchi et al 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing stratigraphic and sedimentological complexity from submarine channel complex outcrops to digital 3D models, Karoo Basin, South Africa

Pringle

Brunt

Hodgson

et al. 2010

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Submarine slope channel-fills form complicated stratigraphy and lithofacies distributions through repeated phases of erosion and deposition. This provides a challenge to accurate 3D modelling, particularly in representing lithofacies transitions within sand-poor areas. In this paper, traditional (sedimentary logs, palaeocurrent measurements, architectural panels) and non-conventional technologies (Light Detection and Ranging; Ground Penetrating Radar) were integrated to quantitatively describe lithofacies distributions and sedimentary architectures from two large-scale outcrops, one base of slope, high sandstone content system (Unit B) and one from a mid-slope, more mixed lithology system (Unit C), in the Laingsburg Formation, Karoo Basin, South Africa.The workflow described in this study combines digital structural restoration and extrapolation of major stratigraphic surfaces, grouped palaeocurrents and architectural geometries observed at outcrop to create 3D digital models. The model was divided into zones along major stratigraphic discontinuities and populated using lithofacies associations that were adjusted for outcrop rugosity and palaeodispersal direction. Observed channel margin asymmetries, distribution of lithofacies and stacking patterns were all honoured in the digital models.The Unit C slope-channel system differs from many exposed submarine channels due to the low proportion of sandstone present within the infill. Thin-bedded channel margin lithofacies are preserved through the lateral stepping of channels and allow the correlation of stratigraphy from channel axis to margin and on to overbank areas. In the older, sandier Unit B base-of-slope system, the stratigraphic change in stacking pattern, channel aspect ratio, lithofacies of channel-fills and stratigraphic hierarchy were all captured. This research captured the architectural complexity observed at outcrop to generate more realistic models than could be constructed normally using limited subsurface data.

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Characterisation of dynamic flow patterns in turbidite reservoirs using 3D outcrop analogues: Example of the Eocene Morillo turbidite system (south-central Pyrenees, Spain)

Cited by 31 publications

References 18 publications

Sedimentary Architecture in Meanders of a Submarine Channel: Detailed Study of the Present Congo Turbidite Channel (Zaiango Project)

Sedimentary Architecture in Meanders of a Submarine Channel: Detailed Study of the Present Congo Turbidite Channel (Zaiango Project)

Sedimentary processes and architecture of Upper Cretaceous deep-sea channel deposits: a case from the Skole Nappe, Polish Outer Carpathians

Capturing stratigraphic and sedimentological complexity from submarine channel complex outcrops to digital 3D models, Karoo Basin, South Africa

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