Reconstruction of meandering paleo-channels using dense well data,Daqing Oil Field,Songliao Basin,China

Reconstructing meandering paleo-channels is attracting global research attention. We implemented a novel method by comprehensively integrating migration models and sedimentary structures. Firstly, the migration architectures of the corresponding characteristics in planform and cross-sectional models were summarised as expansion, translation, expansion and translation, expansion and downstream rotation, constriction and downstream rotation, and expansion and countercurrent rotation models. Secondly, full continuous core data from 270 dense drilling wells were collected from the Daqing Oil Field in the Songliao Basin, China, providing information on rock textures, sedimentary cycles, and boundary information for the two layers being studied. Through a comprehensive analysis of dense drill cores and logging data, the abandoned channels and the initial and final channel centrelines were identified. Consequently, four profiles, including one longitudinal and three transverse sections, were constructed to reveal the cross-sectional structures and planform migration architecture. Profile interpretation revealed the evolution from the initial channel centreline to the final centreline. Using a method of rational interpolation, we were able to reconstruct the migration architecture of the meandering channels. The results showed that the average ancient bankfull width(Wc) was approximately 100 m, a single meandering belt was800 m, the radius of the curvature was 250 m, the length of the channel bend was 700 m, the average meander wavelength was 1300 m, the sinuosity was 3.0, and the annual average discharge rate was 450 m3/s. Furthermore, we compared the results from empirical equations, which verified that our reconstruction is both feasible and potentially widely applicable.

Role of flood discharge in shaping stream geometry:Analysis of a small modern stream in the Uinta Basin,USA

This small modern river system is located on a retativety flat （about 1°-2°）, unconsotidated sandy pediment surface in the Uinta Basin of Utah, USA, and it is with a scare of about 30 m tong and 0.4-0.8 m wide, simitar as a natural flume experiment modet. The smart stream is informatty divided into upstream, midstream and downstream. The anatysis shows that flood discharge influences channet sinuosity and morphology to produce an initiat meandering pattern which is tater changed to a braided and then a straisht pattern in the downflow direction. The upstream segment has a hish sinuous geometry dominated by both erosion （cutbanks） and deposition （point bars）. In the resistance of sporadic vegetation rooting in banks, the upstream flood deviates its original direction, which resutts in the powerful flood intensively eroding the cutbank and accreting clastics to build point bars, and thus producing a high sinuous channet. The midstream is dominated by deposits （many smart bars） with a moderate to tow sinuosity. Due to the bad drainage of the high sinuous channel in the upstream, the strong flood can cut off the point bar comptetely or even surmount the tevee in the fast meandering upstream, which widens the channel suddenty with a quick decreasing current power. Then, the ctastics from the upstream are untoaded in the midstream and form many smart bars. Untoaded sediments protect the bank, and the tow-power current brings a moderate erosion to the bank, which forms a moderate to tow sinuous channel in the midstream. The downstream shows multistage erosionat terraces in its retativety straight channets. After the midstream water drops its toad, it becomes ＂dear＂ and reaches downstream, the tower current power is hetptess to reform channet 8eometry. Thus, the downstream channel sesment keeps a tower sinuous geometry, evenstraight partially. Small amounts of fine clastics are deposited, and simultaneously multistage terraces are formed due to regressive flood erosion. This stream example demonstrates the subtleties of stream flow and the importance of flood discharge in shaping the channel geometry. Although it is difficult to scale up this example to a large river system that carves geomorphic landscape, this case shows how river geometries vary from the traditional patterns due to different gradient.