Stratigraphic Best Practices 2.

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Process Models for Deposition of Sediment Gravity Flows
(or who thought what, and why)

Turbidite Facies Associations

(classifying the bricks)

The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems

(piling up the bricks)

Classification of Deepwater Systems

(from elements to architecture)

Sediment Gravity Flows

Turbidity Current Fluidized/ Liquified Flow Grain Flow Debris Flow

Turbulence

Upward Intergranular Flow

Grain Interaction

Matrix Strength

Middleton & Hampton, 1976

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Sediment Gravity Flows any flow moving into a basin under the influence of gravity two components, a solid and a fluid two end-member rheological states: Bingham Plastic..for us, Debris Flows Newtonian Fluidfor us, Turbidity Currents

Sediment Gravity Flow Life Cycle

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Sediment Gravity Flows the old way of thinking look at the products, back-track to process. has led to considerable controversy the new way of thinking

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Sediment Gravity Flows Bouma (low density turbidites) Lowe (high density turbidites) Shanmugam (sandy debris flows) Kneller (a mechanical approach)

The Turbidity Flow

The Ideal Bouma Cycle

The Bouma Sequence

Flysch di Motta outcrops, Southern Italy

Baas, 2001

The Ideal Lowe Cycle

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Sediment Gravity Flows: The Great Debate Shanmugam listed a number of objections to the high density turbidite argument: a lack of rigour in the definition of what is a high or low density at what clay concentration does a flow begin to exhibit cohesive behaviour? ?transport mechanics from depositional patterns

The Reason for the Confusion?

Baas and Best, 2001

Changes in Time and Space

Kneller, 1995

Topographic Effects on Flow

Kneller, 1995

Flow Behavior vs. Changes in Time and Space

Kneller, 1995

Some of the New Thinking

Process based approach Tied to fluid mechanics and flume studies Examining the inter-relationship between controlling factors Workers
Kneller McCaffrey Talling Parker

Turbidite system architecture is determined largely by accommodation the space between the equilibrium slope down the transport path and the actual sediment surface (floor of channel or surface of fan) along that path

Profile pinned at base level Profile pinned at base level

Kneller, 2002

Changes in flow parameters (efficiency) alter equilibrium slope create or destroy accommodation
Kneller, 2002

Ponded accommodation depends on flow type at the time not a horizontal surface

Kneller, 2002

Graded channel

Kneller, 2002

No aggradation
fluvial-like features (point bars, scroll bars, bend migration, composite sand sheet)
Interval Attribute (Sea Floor + 80 msec) Maximum Negative Polarity
From Mayall & Stewart, 2000

one km

Image courtesy of Henry Posamentier

Negligible aggradation resulting in composite sheet (amalgamated channels). Cretaceous Rosario Group, Mexico

Kneller, 2002

Lateral channel migration with negligible aggradation generates point-bar-like lateral accretion surfaces. Note mudstone intervals draping clinoforms.
Ross Formation, Carboniferous, Western Ireland.
Kneller, 2002

Kneller, 2002

Aggradation. Decrease in flow power increases

equilibrium slope, creates accommodation.
Leveed Pleistocene channel. Conventional seismic

Vertical scale c. 300 ms (~ 250m). Horizontal scale c. 5km

Kneller, 2002

Aggradation
Most evidence of bend migration buried in subsurface
Amazon Fan channel. From Pirmez et al., 2000

Architectural Model for Highly Aggradational Sinuous Channels

From Peakall et al., 2000

Bend development in a subsurface example of a sinuous submarine channel. Successive positions of the channel thalweg are shown at aggradation intervals of 10 m, and were picked from amplitudes on successive horizon slices; thalweg width is ~60 m, channel width is ~400 m. Flow is from right to left. (From Peakall et al., 2000)

Progressive narrowing of aggradational channel with time (reduction in flow size).

Most recent Mississippi Fan channel. Isopach maps of acoustically high-amplitude zones for successive time increments. Contours in milliseconds; 20 ms equivalent to c.15 m in depth. Adapted from Stelting et al. (1985a)

Formation of inner levees indicates reduction in flow size with time

From Normark et al., 1998, Piper et al., 1999

Kneller, 2002

Line 1

Slope initially almost at grade. Progressive decrease in flow power increases equilibrium slope, creates accommodation

Note lateral migration of channel fill one km Line 2 50 msec

Image courtesy of Henry Posamentier

Note lateral migration of channel fill

Kneller, 2002

Transition from erosional channel to aggradational channellevee system during Younger Dryas (circa 10 to 12 ka)

Decrease in flow volume and/or density during SL rise leads to increase in gradient, creates accommodation to allow channel aggradation

A
Data courtesy of Shell

Aggradational channel architecture records progressive change in flow parameters, and generation of accommodation

Kneller, 2002

(higher efficiency, larger/muddier/more dense flows)

(lower efficiency, smaller/sandier/less dense flows)

Kneller, 2002

Erosion
Increase in flow power reduces equilibrium slope, destroys accommodation`

Incised channel. Offshore Trinidad & Tobago. From Brami et al., 2000

Increase in flow power reduces equilibrium slope, destroys accommodation but what produces channel fill?
Marnoso Arenacea, Appennines, Italy Marnoso Arenacea, Appennines, Italy

Kneller, 2002

Implications of cycles of flow type for sheet systems:

systems regrade as nature of flows changes

UPDIP

DOWNDIP INCREASING FLOW SIZE/DENSITY and/or DECREASING GRAINSIZE

erosion progradation aggradation

1 2

DECREASING FLOW SIZE/DENSITY and/or INCREASING GRAINSIZE

aggradation retrogradation

3
no deposition

2
Kneller, 2002

Flow density, flow thickness and maximum grain-size govern equilibrium gradient or profile of a slope .which in turn governs accommodation and accommodation governs architecture

vertical stacking of architectural styles depends

upon changes in mean flow parameters commonly reduction in flow size through ?sea-level or ?climate cycles

ISSUES
What controls changes in flow parameters? (sequestration of sand, reduction in gross sediment flux to shelf break, triggering mechanisms.) How to deconvolve effect of flow type, evolution of local to regional base level, structural development of slope?
Kneller, 2002

End-Member Turbidite Reservior Types

(from outcrop and subsurface studies)

IDEALIZED GULF OF MEXICO DEEPWATER SEISMIC FACIES

ExxonMobil Gulf of Mexico Minibasin Model

Lithologic Log
Li th olog ic L og
Grain Siz e mud sillt sand

Gamma Ray Net/ Gross

G am m a R ay Log
API UNITS hig h low low mod hig h

Lateral Continuity
v. low low mod hig h

Per ce nt Sa nd ( N /G) Late r al C ont i nui ty o f Be ddi n g

DC

D rape C o m plex

Profile A

Lev e ed C hann el C om pl ex

LC C

Lev eed C h ann el C om plex

D is tribu tar y Lob e C om ple x (F an) M as s T r an s port C o m pl ex

Seq ue nc e Boun dar y

D LC D is tr ib utar y Lobe C om pl ex

M ass Tr a nspor t C om plex

Profile B

Lev e ed C hann el C om pl ex

M TC

Debris flows and s lumps

D istribu tar y Lob e C om pl e x (F an)

high
Seq ue nc e Boun dar y M as s Tr an sport C o m plex

low

low high

low

high

Mass Transport Stage

F e e de r C h an n e l Fe e de r C h an n e l

Immature Constructional Channel

F e e de r C h an n e l F e e de r C h an n e l

Mature Constructional Channel

F e e de r C h an n e l

A B

from R. Beauboeuf EPRCO

POTENTIAL RESERVOIR ARCHITECTURE

Modified from Prather et al.,1998

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Deepwater Facies Associations Mutti and Ricci Lucchi a generic model for point-sourced, multicomponent fans a proposed scheme for the Gulf of Mexico limited input range

Walkers Classic Fan Model

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems (the bricks) Channels constructive erosional Overbank Deposits low net-to-gross systems high net-to-gross systems Lobes terminologically-challenged

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems

Channels:
reservoirs occur in the Gulf of Mexico in both constructional and erosional channel systems constructional systems may be distinguished on seismic by a bidirectional downlap, gullwing response erosional systems may be distinguished on seismic by a shingled, offlapping or (for small nested channels) a hummocky response HPR are more likely to be associated with sand-filled erosional systems, which may be distinguished by their compactional relationships and blocky log responses. High quality reservoirs are found in association with

Mississippi Fan Channelized Fan

Twichell, 1992

HARP Units on Amazon Fan

HAR and HARP Units

Amazon-Harp Fan Model showing sand-rich architectural features of mud-rich deep sea fans based on Amazon Fan drilling (Damuth and Kowsmann, 1998)

HARP Units

Distribution of sedimentary facies within acoustic units and turbidite elements of Amazon Fan (Damuth and Kowsmann, 1998)

Channel-levee System Development (1)

A. Breach in active fan channel levee B. Turbidity currents flow down channel diverted into region between active channel levee systems C. Unchannelized flows rapidly deposit sheet-like sands in this region. D. Lateral extent of these sands controlled by position of adjacent levees. Damuth and Kowsmann, 1998

Channel-levee System Development (2)

Channel-levee system 1 extends downfan following reestablishment of channel gradient, with the sheet-sand deposits (HARP units) extending to the lower fan. Levee sediments bury adjacent channel-levee systems. Damuth and Kowsmann, 1998

Amazon Fan Mid Fan Meandering Channels

Flood et al.

Relationship Between Valley Slope and Water Depth for Measured Amazon Fan Channel Reaches

Relationship Between Average Channel Depth and Water Depth for Amazon Fan Channel

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems Overbank Deposits: Low Net-to-Gross Systems = levees fine-grained, thin-bedded, merge with unconfined, non-channelized basinal sediments gullwings from a 1 to 20+km Coriolis asymmetry gives transport direction N:G 30 - 60%, excellent lateral continuity

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems Lobes a much maligned and defined term! Fanlobes
multiple protraction areas

Suprafan lobes
hundreds of square GoM blocks

Ponded Lobes
minibasin-sized accumulations

Channelized Lobes
minibasin-minus

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems

Ponded Lobes:
seismic facies : moderately continuous soft responses which thin laterally Individual lobes may fill the the basin, or be composite, with laterally-shingling bodies. Several square miles to tens of square miles in extent. In logs, will appear as multiple-stacked blocky log responses, possibly with cleaning-upward bases, generally with sharp tops. Thickness' would vary from tens of feet for individual sands to hundreds of feet for the complex, with high net-to-gross (>>50%).

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems

Depositional Lobes:
Seismic facies as for ponded lobes, but not confined by the edges of a basin. Would generally (but not definitively) be associated with a point source (channel mouth for example). May shingle laterally, but seldom be more than a few square miles in lateral extent. Log responses will be blocky, several tens to a couple of hundred feet thick, possibly with cleaning-upward bases, generally with sharp tops. Fringes of systems will be more heterolithic, with some reduction in net to gross from >>50% to as little as 30%. Will not generally see more than two stacked sands associated with one lobe. If the lobe is a HARP-type, the overlying facies will probably comprise a typical fining/dirtying-upward bell profile.

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems

Channelized Lobes: The term should be confined to the definition of Mahaffie (1994), i.e. situations where amalgamated channels can be demonstrated on seismic as complex-stacked shingled responses, which may or may not fill the basin. Preferably confirmed by well penetrations with logs showing stacked sharp-based, finer-topped, somewhat heterolithic responses.

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS The Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems Sheet Sands: probably genetically part of a depositional lobe or ponded lobe architectural element Galloway (1998): High sediment (volume and) supply rates and consequent unconfined flows

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Classification of Turbidite Systems Simple Generic Classification of Reading and Richards based on: Feeder System Geometry Dominant sediment grain-size Intraslope basins and basin floor topography will strongly modify

Depositional Models for Point-Source Submarine Fans

Mud-Rich Mud/Sand-Rich

Sand-Rich

Reading and Richards, 1994

Reservoir Architectures of Deepwater Systems

Mud-Rich

Mud/Sand-Rich

Sand-Rich

Reading and Richards, 1994

Depositional Models for a Multi-Source Deepwater Ramps

Mud-Rich

Sand-Rich

Reading and Richards, 1994

Architectural Elements of Deepwater Systems

Reading and Richards, 1994

DEEPWATER DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS Controls on Turbidite Systems Sediment Supply flux type Tectonics intrabasinal extrabasinal