Predicting heterogeneity in meandering fluvial and tidal‐fluvial deposits

Durkin, Paul R.; Hubbard, Stephen M.; Smith, Derald G.; Leckie, Dale A.

doi:10.1002/9781119424437.ch9

Cited by 14 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…From the initial work of Smith et al (2009aSmith et al ( , 2011 and Hubbard et al (2011) it is tempting to consider sandstone percentage as a key diagnostic attribute of counter-point-bar deposits. The work of Smith et al (2009a) and Durkin et al (2018) reveals that the transition between point bar and counter-point bar happens over a short distance; therefore, point bar and counter-pointbar segments may be distinguishable in the depositional record. Until data is acquired from a broader selection of study sites, however, it seems unlikely that a specific facies percentage range will be a reliable indicator of counterpoint-bar deposits in itself.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The deposits of counter-point bars have been identified and documented in modern fluvial environments (e.g. Makaske & Weerts, 2005;Smith et al, 2009aSmith et al, , 2011Durkin et al, 2018); however their deposits have been largely elusive in the outcropping stratigraphic record (Ielpi & Ghinassi, 2014;Durkin et al, 2015a). Smith et al (2009aSmith et al ( , 2011 presented the first lithological logs from counter-point bars, described from vibracores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On average FA3 is thinner than FA1 and FA2. Siltstone-dominated lateral accretion packages like those of FA3 are common to the tails of point bars, including counter-point bars (Thomas et al, 1987;Wood, 1989;Durkin et al, 2018).…”

Section: Facies Association 3: Siltstone-dominated Upward-fining Succmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recognizing the product of concave‐bank sedimentary processes in fluvial meander‐belt strata

et al. 2020

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Downstream migration of point bars is an important process in meander belts. Inherent to downstream migration is sediment accumulation in concave channel banks, immediately adjacent to and downstream of convex point bars. Despite this, associated concave bank processes are often overlooked, with depositional products sparsely identified in the stratigraphic record. Counter‐point‐bar deposits are a type of concave‐bank deposit that have been positively identified in subsurface three‐dimensional seismic datasets, yet outcrop examples are not well‐constrained. This study characterizes and establishes recognition criteria of counter‐point‐bar deposits in outcrop using extensive exposure of Late‐Cretaceous meander‐belt deposits in eastern Alberta, Canada. Using a combination of traditional field‐based sedimentological analyses and three‐dimensional outcrop mapping with an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle and Structure‐from‐Motion photogrammetry, point bar, counter‐point bar, and associated abandoned‐channel deposits, as well as adjacent floodplain deposits are identified. Bed‐scale characteristics of counter‐point‐bar deposits include interlaminated and interbedded siltstone and fine‐grained sandstone, abundant organic detritus, and evidence of deformation and slumping. At the bend scale, accretion packages bounded by internal erosion surfaces are composed of dipping siltstone and minor sandstone beds that extend from the top to the base of the meander belt. At the belt scale, positive identification relies on concave accretion surface mapping, their orientation relative to the meander‐belt edge (i.e. dipping away), and consideration of meander‐bend evolution. These results have implications for recognition of counter‐point‐bar deposits in analogous, less‐constrained data sets, which provides a foundation for more complete palaeoenvironmental interpretations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recognizing the product of concave‐bank sedimentary processes in fluvial meander‐belt strata

et al. 2020

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“…10). As counter point bars tend to be associated with finer-grained, heterogeneous deposits (Smith et al, 2009;Hubbard et al, 2011;Durkin et al, 2018), there is significantly more heterogeneity in the channel belt stratigraphy than what would be expected if only oxbow-lake fills were considered (e.g., Colombera et al, 2017). Because downstream translation is characteristic of relatively young meander bends, counter point bars are more common along the most recent channel location.…”

Section: Counter Point Bars In the Kinematic Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…overall finer grained than adjacent point bars and they can be dominated by silt-and mud-grade sediment (Hickin, 1979;Makaske and Weerts, 2005;Smith et al, 2009;Hubbard et al, 2011;Durkin et al, 2015Durkin et al, , 2017Durkin et al, , 2018. As a result, the heterogeneity of meandering river deposits is probably significantly larger, and the distributions of permeability and porosity are more complex than simple point-bar-based models imply (Smith et al, 2009;Durkin et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autogenic translation and concave bank deposition in meandering rivers

Sylvester¹,

Durkin²,

Hubbard³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Although it has long been recognized that deposition along meandering rivers is not restricted to convex banks, the consensus is that external forcing, that is, confinement by an erosion-resistant barrier, is necessary for significant concave-bank deposition to occur. Using a kinematic model of channel meandering and time-lapse satellite imagery from the Mamoré River in Bolivia, we show that downstream translation and the associated concave-bank deposition are essential, autogenic parts of the meandering process, and they are expected to be present whenever perturbations such as bend cutoffs and channel reoccupations create shorter bends with high curvatures. The implication is that zones of concave-bank deposition with lower elevations, relatively fine-grained deposits, stagnant water bodies, and riparian vegetation different from what is characteristic of point bars are more common than previously considered.

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Reconstruction of meander‐bend migration from associated channel‐belt architecture recorded in successions of ancient meandering rivers: A case study from the Cretaceous Songliao Basin, China

Lin

Wang

Shan

et al. 2021

The Depositional Record

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Identification of the diverse channel patterns of meander‐bend migration is essential when reconstructing the historical evolution of sedimentary processes in meandering rivers. However, reconstruction of the spatio‐temporal evolution of ancient meandering fluvial deposits for hydrocarbon exploration is difficult due to the limited research on the patterns and styles of meander‐bend migration. To reconstruct the geomorphologic and sedimentary evolution of subsurface meandering palaeochannels, this study proposes an approach based on combining meander‐bend planforms and cross‐sectional architectural elements of clastic sedimentary successions of ancient meandering rivers. The research was applied to meandering fluvial deposits of the lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation in the north‐eastern Songliao Basin, China. High‐resolution satellite images of modern meandering rivers were used to classify and evaluate the meander‐bend planform transformations of expansion, rotation and contraction (also known as bend tightening, i.e. narrowing of the neck of the meander‐bend showing a tendency towards neck tightening or cut‐off). Major meander‐bend transformations were related to cross‐sectional bedding architecture (i.e. bed dipping or bounding surface), which was identified through well‐log and core characteristics, to construct the migration patterns of subsurface meander‐belt deposits. Integration of well‐log and core analysis from a dense array of wells allowed the stratigraphic architecture of ancient meandering rivers and stacking patterns of fluvial sandbodies to be characterised. Furthermore, major reservoir architectural elements and bounding surfaces of meandering channels were identified. Ultimately, the 3D meandering fluvial architecture was represented on 2D vertical sections so that, planform transformations and the evolutionary processes of point bars and meander bends could be elucidated. Reconstruction of meander‐bend migration is of practical value for deciphering ancient fluvial systems and the development of subsurface fluvial reservoir models.

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Predicting heterogeneity in meandering fluvial and tidal‐fluvial deposits

Cited by 14 publications

References 59 publications

Recognizing the product of concave‐bank sedimentary processes in fluvial meander‐belt strata

Recognizing the product of concave‐bank sedimentary processes in fluvial meander‐belt strata

Autogenic translation and concave bank deposition in meandering rivers

Reconstruction of meander‐bend migration from associated channel‐belt architecture recorded in successions of ancient meandering rivers: A case study from the Cretaceous Songliao Basin, China

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