DEPOSITIONAL HISTORY AND FACIES ANALYSIS OF THE UPPER JURASSIC SEDIMENTS IN THE EASTERN BARROW SUB-BASIN

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Keiran Wulff

Callovian to Tithonian syn-rift sediments in the eastern Barrow Sub-basin can be subdivided into five depositional sequences, each separated by regionally correlatable unconformities. Sequence boundary development can be closely related to periods of major changes in basin configuration associated with the sequential breakup of eastern Gondwanaland. Synchronism of major faulting with sequence boundary development during the early and late Callovian, mid Kimmeridgian, and mid Tithonian times supports tectonism being a dominant control on the development of Type 1 unconformities in the eastern Barrow Sub-basin.Upper Jurassic depositional sequences in the eastern Barrow Sub-basin, whether of tectonic or eustatic origin, consist primarily of lowstand systems tracts comprised, wholly or in part, of detached basin floor fan complexes, channelised and canyon-fed fan systems, slump deposits, outer shelf to slope deposits, and deep marine claystones. Inner shelf to shoreface sediments of the transgressive and highstand systems tracts are absent due to episodic, post-depositional uplift and erosion along the Peedamullah Shelf and Flinders Fault System during the Late Jurassic. The periods of uplift and erosion provided much of the sediment redeposited in basinal areas during lowstand times.Depositional models based on regional sequence stratigraphic studies can be integrated with local seismic stratigraphy to provide a mechanism for estimating likely reservoir quality, once controls on sedimentation (namely tectonics, eustasy, and sediment supply) are understood. This is demonstrated by the recognition of at least seven sandstone facies within the Upper Jurassic sedimentary section. Each sandstone has particular characteristics which can be related to the depositional setting. Reservoir quality is best developed in dominantly medium grained, moderate to well sorted sandstones, deposited as detached, basin floor submarine fan sands or interbedded turbidites. In contrast, reservoir quality is poorly developed in the remaining sand-prone facies deposited as slope fans, slumps, or distal turbidites.

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 264-264
Author(s):  
R. W. Scott

Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis is claimed to be a “new globally valid system of stratigraphy … a precise methodology to subdivide, correlate and map sedimentary rocks” (Vail et al., 1991, p. 622). Sequence stratigraphic units, such as depositional sequences, depositional systems tracts, and parasequences, are time-equivalent rocks of specific durations controlled by cyclical changes in sediment supply related to eustasy. These units are bounded by regionally extensive unconformities with erosion beneath and onlapping strata above, or by physical surfaces separating either different patterns of stratal geometry or shoaling-up facies units. According to this school, precise correlations are based upon inferred time relations within depositional models.Several key concepts of sequence stratigraphy have their origins in early geological studies. For many years geologists have separated time-equivalent strata by regional unconformities related to changes in climate or sea level, e.g., J. Woodward, 1695 and T. C. Chamberline, 1909. Stratal surfaces, such as bentonites and limestone markers, have been used in place of fossils for time correlations since the first wells were drilled. Stratigraphic models have strongly influenced how we correlate strata since the time of William Smith.Two developments are, indeed, new and have sparked the current resurgence in stratigraphic research. One is the seismic technology to test the physical continuity of strata on a regional scale (50-100 km), and to test the stratal geometry of genetically related depositional packages. The second is the chart of global coastal onlap events and eustasy (Haq et al., 1988).Some key research problems are: (1) how to identify unique, time-significant stratal surfaces; (2) how to test their physical continuity; (3) how to test the time relations within depositional models; and (4) how to identify the unique, time-significant global events recorded in the stratigraphic record. These stratigraphic concepts can be tested by graphic correlation, which is a powerful technique of high precision, quantitative stratigraphy. Its application in Cretaceous sections of the Gulf Coast and Oman, and in the Plio-Pliestocene of the Gulf Coast aids the distinction between synchronous surfaces and diachronous boundaries.


Facies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz T. Fürsich ◽  
Matthias Alberti ◽  
Dhirendra K. Pandey

AbstractThe siliciclastic Jhuran Formation of the Kachchh Basin, a rift basin bordering the Malagasy Seaway, documents the filling of the basin during the late syn-rift stage. The marine, more than 700-m-thick Tithonian part of the succession in the western part of the basin is composed of highly asymmetric transgressive–regressive cycles and is nearly unfossiliferous except for two intervals, the Lower Tithonian Hildoglochiceras Bed (HB) and the upper Lower Tithonian to lowermost Cretaceous Green Ammonite Beds (GAB). Both horizons represent maximum flooding zones (MFZ) and contain a rich fauna composed of ammonites and benthic macroinvertebrates. Within the HB the benthic assemblages change, concomitant with an increase in the carbonate content, from the predominantly infaunal “Lucina” rotundata to the epifaunal Actinostreon marshii and finally to the partly epifaunal, partly infaunal Eoseebachia sowerbyana assemblage. The Green Ammonite Beds are composed of three highly ferruginous beds, which are the MFZ of transgressive–regressive cycles forming the MFZ of a 3rd-order depositional sequence. The GAB are highly ferruginous, containing berthieroid ooids and grains. GAB I is characterized by the reworked Gryphaea moondanensis assemblage, GAB II by an autochthonous high-diversity assemblage dominated by the brachiopods Acanthorhynchia multistriata and Somalithyris lakhaparensis, whereas GAB III is devoid of fossils except for scarce ammonites. The GAB are interpreted to occupy different positions along an onshore–offshore transect with increasing condensation offshore. Integrated analyses of sedimentological, taphonomic, and palaeoecological data allow to reconstruct, in detail, the sequence stratigraphic architecture of sedimentary successions and to evaluate their degree of faunal condensation.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Ole Valdemar Vejbæk ◽  
Svend Stouge ◽  
Kurt Damtoft Poulsen

The present distribution of Palaeozoic sediments in the Bornholm area is a consequence of several different tectonic regimes during the Phanerozoic eon. This development may be divided into three main evolutionary phases: A Caledonian to Variscian phase encompassing the Lower Palaeozoic sediments. The sediments are assumed originally to have showed a gradual thickness increase towards the Caledonian Deformation Front located to the south. This pre-rift development may be further subdivided into three sub-phases: A period of slow sedimentation on a relatively stable platform as recorded by the uniformly low thicknesses of the Cambrian to Lower Silurian sediments. A period of foreland-type rapid sedimentation commencing in the Llandoverian to Wenlockian, continuing in the Ludlovian and possibly into the Devonian. The period is characterized by /olding and uplift of the Caledonides to the south causing tectonic loading of the foreland and resultant rapid sedimentation in the foreland basin. A period of gravitational collapse causing minor erosion during the Devonian. The transition to the second major phase in the Phanerozaic structural development, during which the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist zone came into existence, is recorded by regional deposition of Carboniferous sediments. These sediments are, however, mostly removed by tater erosion. A syn-rift phase characterized by sedimentation in graben areas and expanding basins commencing in the Rotliegendes and continuing through the Triassic, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. This phase was probably initiated by a Late Carboniferous- Early Permian tensional dominated right-lateral wrench fault system within the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist zone. A Post-rift development phase dominated by Late Cretaceous carbonate sedimentation. During Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary times the Bornholm area was strongly affected by inversion tectonism caused by compressional strike-slip movements. This resulted in reverse faulting and uplift and erosion of former basinal areas. Understanding the two latter phases is important for understanding the present distribution of the Palaeozoic. A key to understanding the hydrocarbon potential of the area is the maturation of the organic matter in the main potential source, the Ordovician Upper Alum Shale. Maturity was mainly achieved during the Silurian to Late Palaeozoic time, and little further maturation took place later. The Upper Alum Shale is accordingly expected to be overmature in the main part of the study area and mature in the Hano Bay Basin. This reflects the assumed primary uniform thickness of the Lower Palaeozoic, with a general thinning towards the northeast. A Caledonian to Variscian phase encompassing the Lower Palaeozoic sediments. The sediments are assumed originally to have showed a gradual thickness increase towards the Caledonian Deformation Front located to the south. This pre-rift development may be further subdivided into three sub-phases: A period of slow sedimentation on a relatively stable platform as recorded by the uniformly low thicknesses of the Cambrian to Lower Silurian sediments. A period of foreland-type rapid sedimentation commencing in the Llandoverian to Wenlockian, continuing in the Ludlovian and possibly into the Devonian. The period is characterized by /olding and uplift of the Caledonides to the south causing tectonic loading of the foreland and resultant rapid sedimentation in the foreland basin. A period of gravitational collapse causing minor erosion during the Devonian. The transition to the second major phase in the Phanerozaic structural development, during which the Sorgenfrei - Tornquist zane came into existence, is recorded by regional deposition of Carboniferous sediments. These sediments are, however, mostly removed by tater erosion. A syn-rift phase characterized by sedimentation in graben areas and expanding basins commencing in the Rotliegendes and continuing through the Triassic, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. This phase was probably initiated by a Late Carboniferous- Early Permian tensional dominated right-lateral wrench fault system within the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist zone. A Post-rift development phase dominated by Late Cretaceous carbonate sedimentation. During Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary times the Bornholm area was strongly affected by inversion tectonism caused by compressional strike-slip movements. This resulted in reverse faulting and uplift and erosion of former basinal areas. Understanding the two latter phases is important for understanding the present distribution of the Palaeozoic. A key to understanding the hydrocarbon potential of thearea is the maturation of the organic matter in the main potential source, the Ordovician Upper Alum Shale. Maturity was mainly achieved during the Silurian to Late Palaeozoic time, and little further maturation took place later. The Upper Alum Shale is accordingly expected to be overmature in the main part of the study area and mature in the Hano Bay Basin. This reflects the assumed primary uniform thickness of the Lower Palaeozoic, with a general thinning towards the northeast.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Khitrenko ◽  
Adelia Minkhatova ◽  
Vladimir Orlov ◽  
Dmitriy Kotunov ◽  
Salavat Khalilov

Abstract Western Siberia is a unique petroleum basin with exclusive geological objects. Those objects allow us to test various methods of sequence stratigraphy, systematization and evaluation approaches for reservoir characterization of deep-water sediments. Different methods have potential to decrease geological uncertainty and predict distribution and architecture of deep-water sandstone reservoir. There are many different parameters that could be achieved through analysis of clinoform complex. Trajectories of shelf break, volume of sediment supply and topography of basin influence on architecture of deep-water reservoir. Based on general principles of sequence stratigraphy, three main trajectories changes shelf break might be identified: transgression, normal regression and forced regression. And each of them has its own distinctive characteristics of deepwater reservoir. However, to properly assess the architecture of deepwater reservoir and potential of it, numerical characteristics are necessary. In our paper, previously described parameters were analyzed for identification perspective areas of Achimov formation in Western Siberia and estimation of geological uncertainty for unexplored areas. In 1996 Helland-Hansen W., Martinsen O.J. [5] described different types of shoreline trajectory. In 2002 Steel R.J., Olsen T. [11] adopted types of shoreline trajectory for identification of truncation termination. O. Catuneanu (2009) [1] summarize all information with implementation basis of sequence stratigraphy. Over the past decade, many geoscientists have used previously published researches to determine relationship between geometric structures of clinoforms and architecture of deep-water sediments and its reservoir quality. Significant amount of publications has allowed to form theoretical framework for the undersanding sedimentation process and geometrical configuration of clinoforms. However, there is still no relationship between sequence stratigraphy framework of clinoroms and reservoir quality and its uncertainty, which is necessary for new area evaluation.


Author(s):  
Cees J.L. Willems ◽  
Andrea Vondrak ◽  
Harmen F. Mijnlieff ◽  
Marinus E. Donselaar ◽  
Bart M.M. van Kempen

Abstract In the past 10 years the mature hydrocarbon province the West Netherlands Basin has hosted rapidly expanding geothermal development. Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata from which gas and oil had been produced since the 1950s became targets for geothermal exploitation. The extensive publicly available subsurface data including seismic surveys, several cores and logs from hundreds of hydrocarbon wells, combined with understanding of the geology after decades of hydrocarbon exploitation, facilitated the offtake of geothermal exploitation. Whilst the first geothermal projects proved the suitability of the permeable Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous sandstones for geothermal heat production, they also made clear that much detail of the aquifer geology is not yet fully understood. The aquifer architecture varies significantly across the basin because of the syn-tectonic sedimentation. The graben fault blocks that contain the geothermal targets experienced a different tectonic history compared to the horst and pop-up structures that host the hydrocarbon fields from which most subsurface data are derived. Accurate prediction of the continuity and thickness of aquifers is a prerequisite for efficient geothermal well deployment that aims at increasing heat recovery while avoiding the risk of early cold-water breakthrough. The potential recoverable heat and the current challenges to enhance further expansion of heat exploitation from this basin are evident. This paper presents an overview of the current understanding and uncertainties of the aquifer geology of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata and discusses new sequence-stratigraphic updates of the regional sedimentary aquifer architecture.


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