Regional to Wellbore Analog for Fluvial-Deltaic Reservoir Modeling

Chidsey, Thomas C.; Adams, Roy D.; Morris, Thomas H.

doi:10.1306/st50983

Cited by 26 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The middle Turonian Ferron Sandstone of Utah, USA, comprises three deltaic clastic wedges that were fed by rivers draining the Sevier orogenic belt to the western WIS margin, from which the Vernal, Last Chance, and Notom deltas have been described (Cotter, 1975) and extensively studied (see papers in volume edited by Chidsey, Adams, & Morris, 2004). Recent work has focused extensively on characterising channel geometries and hydrology in palaeochannels draining to the Ferron Notom delta (e.g.…”

Section: Data Sets and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting sediment discharges and erosion rates in deep time—examples from the late Cretaceous North American continent

et al. 2020

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Depositional stratigraphy represents the only physical archive of palaeo-sediment routing and this limits analysis of ancient source-to-sink systems in both space and time. Here, we use palaeo-digital elevation models (palaeoDEMs; based on highresolution palaeogeographic reconstructions), HadCM3L general circulation model climate data and the BQART suspended sediment discharge model to demonstrate a predictive, forward approach to palaeo-sediment routing system analysis. To exemplify our approach, we use palaeoDEMs and HadCM3L data to predict the configurations, geometries and climates of large continental catchments in the Cenomanian and Turonian North American continent. Then, we use BQART to estimate suspended sediment discharges and catchment-averaged erosion rates and we map their spatial distributions. We validate our estimates with published geologic constraints from the Cenomanian Dunvegan Formation, Alberta, Canada, and the Turonian Ferron Sandstone, Utah, USA, and find that estimates are consistent or within a factor of two to three. We then evaluate the univariate and multivariate sensitivity of our estimates to a range of uncertainty margins on palaeogeographic and palaeoclimatic boundary conditions; large uncertainty margins (≤50%/±5°C) still recover estimates of suspended sediment discharge within an order of magnitude of published constraints. PalaeoDEMs are therefore suitable as a first-order investigative tool in palaeo-sediment routing system analysis and are particularly useful where stratigraphic records are incomplete. We highlight the potential of this approach to predict the global spatio-temporal response of suspended sediment discharges and catchment-averaged erosion rates to long-period tectonic and climatic forcing in the geologic past.

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Section: Data Sets and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting sediment discharges and erosion rates in deep time—examples from the late Cretaceous North American continent

et al. 2020

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“…The upper member is chiefly fine to very coarse-grained, pebbly sandstone and carbonaceous mudrocks with laterally continuous coal beds. Comprehensive stratigraphic studies of the Ferron Sandstone have been conducted in the type Last Chance delta complex (see papers in Chidsey et al, 2004) and around the northern axis of the Henry Mountains Syncline (e.g. Li et al, 2011b).…”

Section: Geological Setting Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced bioturbation on the down‐drift flank of a Turonian asymmetrical delta: Implications for seaway circulation, river nutrients and facies models

Korus

Fielding

2015

Sedimentology

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Extant models predict delta front environments down-drift of river mouths as unfavourable for organisms because of the physico-chemical stresses caused by sediment and fresh water influx. This study, however, finds evidence for near-optimal living conditions down-drift of contemporaneous mouth bars and distributary channels, as well as at the tops of abandoned lobes, in part of the asymmetrical 'Notom Delta' complex of the Ferron Sandstone (Turonian, south-eastern Utah, USA). Presented herein is a sedimentological and ichnological model using thirty-two detailed measured sections along a 16 km transect through two continuously exposed, ca 10 m thick allomembers containing delta front, mouth bar and distributary channel facies. Azimuths from sedimentary structures show south-eastward deflection of near-shore palaeocurrents relative to the inferred north-south shoreline, as well as minor reversal of flow. Two end-member trace fossil suites are recognized in delta front sandstones: (i) a stressed suite of low abundance, low diversity, diminutive traces reflecting mobile deposit feeding, resting and locomotion behaviours; and (ii) a comparatively unstressed, high abundance, moderate diversity suite with a regular, heterogeneous distribution of deep, vertical or U-shaped suspension-feeding burrows which, in places, thoroughly homogenize the sandstones. The down-drift side of the delta was colonized by suspension feeders during seasonal reversal of the seaway gyre when mud plumes were swept northward or when riverderived nutrients were sufficiently concentrated relative to fresh water and sediment input. During normal seaway circulation, very high sedimentation rates and mud-laden, wave-dampened waters down-drift of the river mouths heightened the preservation potential of the pervasively bioturbated facies. Up-drift of the river mouths, these bioturbated facies were either not preserved or not developed until the lobe was abandoned. This alternative model for delta planform asymmetry contributes to the refinement of facies models for deltaic systems and provides a framework for predicting the distribution of bioturbation-enhanced porosity and permeability in lobedeflected deltas.

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“…. These strata have been interpreted to preserve distinct fluvial styles; the Ferron Sandstone represents a major meandering trunk channel Chidsey et al, 2004), while, at the Blackhawk-Castlegate transition, single-and multi-thread channels of the Blackhawk Formation Hampson et al, 2013;Flood & Hampson, 2014) are capped by fully braided channels of the Castlegate Sandstone (Miall, 1993(Miall, , 1994) (Fig. 1,2).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). These canyons preserve the most palaeo-landward terrestrial fluvial facies of the Last Chance delta and are characterized by major channelized sandstone bodies and abundant floodplain sediments and palaeosols Chidsey et al, 2004) (Fig. 2d-f).…”

Section: Ferron Sandstone Mancos Shalementioning

confidence: 99%

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Field evidence for disequilibrium dynamics in preserved fluvial cross-strata: A record of discharge variability or morphodynamic hierarchy?

Lyster¹,

Whittaker²,

Hajek³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Bedforms preserved in the rock record can provide detailed information on the morphologies and hydrodynamics of ancient fluvial systems on Earth and other planets. Existing processproduct relations for bedform preservation assume that fluvial cross strata reflect conditions under which bedforms were equilibrated with the prevailing flow, i.e., steady-state conditions. However, recent theoretical and experimental observations indicate that enhanced bedform preservation can occur in non-steady state, or disequilibrium, conditions, and it is currently unclear how prevalent disequilibrium dynamics are in preserved field-scale fluvial strata. Here we explore whether steady-state assumptions are appropriate for ancient fluvial systems by evaluating the nature of bedform preservation in well studied fluvial deposits of three Late Cretaceous (Turonian and Campanian) geologic formations in central Utah, USA: the Blackhawk Formation, Castlegate Sandstone, and Ferron Sandstone. In the field, we made systematic measurements of cross-set heights to quantify the extent to which preserved cross-sets reflect bedform preservation in steady-state conditions. Across the three formations, unanimously low coefficients of variation in preserved cross-set heights of 0.25-0.5 are inconsistent with bedform preservation in steady-state conditions, and instead point to fluvial systems in which enhanced preservation of bedforms occurred in disequilibrium conditions.Enhanced bedform preservation in fluvial strata can be explained by two independent hypotheses: the effect of flashy flood hydrographs on bedform preservation (flood hypothesis) or bedform preservation in the presence of a morphodynamic hierarchy (hierarchy hypothesis). We estimated bedform turnover timescales to quantitatively assess these competing hypotheses and contextualize their implications. Under the flood hypothesis, field measurements are consistent with enhanced bedform preservation driven by flashy flood hydrographs with flood durations ranging on the order of hours to a few days, which are consistent with perennial fluvial systems subject to heavy rains and tropical storms.Alternatively, under the hierarchy hypothesis, field measurements are consistent with bedform climb angles that range from 10 −2 to 10 −1 , reflecting rapid bar migration. Our work provides a novel way of investigating fluvial discharge variability in the geologic past, and we outline the potential next steps to disentangle the relative controls of flood variability and morphodynamic hierarchy in controlling bedform preservation in ancient fluvial systems.

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Regional to Wellbore Analog for Fluvial-Deltaic Reservoir Modeling

Cited by 26 publications

References 5 publications

Predicting sediment discharges and erosion rates in deep time—examples from the late Cretaceous North American continent

Predicting sediment discharges and erosion rates in deep time—examples from the late Cretaceous North American continent

Enhanced bioturbation on the down‐drift flank of a Turonian asymmetrical delta: Implications for seaway circulation, river nutrients and facies models

Field evidence for disequilibrium dynamics in preserved fluvial cross-strata: A record of discharge variability or morphodynamic hierarchy?

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