Relationship between energy dissipation rate and channel morphology in the development of the model braided channel

A certain pattern of channel is the product of its self-adjustment under given boundary, discharge and sediment conditions. Based upon the principle of process-response model, an experimental study with 18 runs is carried out in LESRC. This paper is focused on the variation of the energy dissipation versus the channel morphology during and after the bedmaking process of braided channel. The results show that there exists a good empirical relationship between the energy dissipation rate and channel morphology. According to this relationship and the theory of minimum rate of energy dissipation, the authors explain the metamorphosis of the model channel with the development of the braided river.

Reservoir architecture patterns of sandy gravel braided distributary channel A case study of Triassic Upper Karamay Formation,Xinjiang oilfield

The purpose of this study was to discuss shape,scale and superimposed types of sandy gravel bodies in sandy-gravel braided distributary channel.Lithofacies analysis,hierarchy bounding surface analysis and subsurface dense well pattern combining with outcrops method were used to examine reservoir architecture patterns of sandy gravel braided distributary channel based on cores,well logging,and outcrops data,and the reservoir architecture patterns of sandy gravel braided distributary channels in different grades have been established.The study shows:(1)The main reservoir architecture elements for sandy gravel braided channel delta are distributary channel and overbank sand,while reservoir flow barrier elements are interchannel and lacustrine mudstone.(2)The compound sand bodies in the sandy gravel braided delta distributary channel take on three shapes:sheet-like distributary channel sand body,interweave strip distributary channel sand body,single strip distributary channel sand body.(3)Identification marks of single distributary channel include:elevation of sand body top,lateral overlaying,“thick-thin-thick”feature of sand bodies,interchannel mudstone and overbank sand between distributary channels and the differences in well log curve shape of sand bodies.(4)Nine lithofacies types were distinguished in distributary channel unit interior,different channel units have different lithofacies association sequence.

Sequence Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Facies in the Lower Member of the Permian Shanxi Formation, Northeastern Ordos Basin, China

The Lower Permian Shanxi （山西） Formation is one of the main gas-bearing stratio graphic units in northeastern Ordos （鄂尔多斯） Basin, China. Based on an integrated investigation of well logs, cores, and outcrop, we delineated the sedimentary facies of the lower member of the Shanxi Formation and divided the succession into three third-order sequences from base to top as SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3. The lower region of Shanxi Formation was deposited in the following sedimentary facies or subfacies： subaqueous braided channel, subaqueous interdistributary, mouth bar, swamp and shelf in the Daniudi （~z~=J~） Gas Field and braided channel, and shelf and lake at Heidaigon （~J） outcrop. Braided-river deposits form the lowstand systems tract （LST） in each sequence. Braided channels mark the sequence boundaries at Heidaigou outcrop. A shelf and lake depositional environment with dark gray mudstone forms the transgressive systems tract （TST）. The location where dark gray mudstone first appears above the braided channel marks the first flooding surface （FFS）, and the end of that marks the maximum flooding surface （MFS）. The highstand systems tract （HST） deposits are fine-grained sediments with an aggradational parasequence at Heidaigou outcrop and swamp coalbed in the Daniudi Gas Field. Mouth-bar sand bodies in braided delta front, which form the LST in each sequence, form excellent reservoirs in the Daniudi Gas Field.

1977年以来黄河临河段河岸冲淤面积变化及河道萎缩速率（英文）

Quantitative studies on river channel lateral erosion/accretion area changes over time can reveal the characteristics of channel evolution. Taking the 213-km-long Linhe reach braided channel of the Yellow River as an example, area changes in channel bank ero- sion/accretion in four sub-reaches （S1, S2, S3 and S4） over 19 different periods were evalu- ated on the basis of remote sensing images captured since 1977. Mean channel shrinkage rate for the whole river reach was also obtained. Results show that the left and right banks of the Linhe reach were dominated by lateral net accretion between 1977 and 2014. The channel area of this section of the Yellow River was characterized by reduction between 1977 and 2001, while periods of alternate erosion and accretion occurred subsequent to 2001. Mean channel shrinkage rate in the Linhe reach braided channel was 6.15 km2/yr between 1977 and 2014, while the most remarkable changes in channel planform occurred in the 1990s. Compared to 1995, channel length and sinuosity increased by 5.8% and 6.6% by 2000, while channel area and mean width decreased by 39.4% and 42.8%, respectively. Significant changes in channel planform and shrinkage of the Linhe reach occurred in the 1990s, mainly as a result of the joint-operation of the Longyangxia and Liujiaxia reservoirs since 1986, which caused substantial reductions in runoff and sediment flux during the annual flooding season. In addition, bank erosion/accretion in the four sub-reaches was affected by the physical properties of local banks, engineering emplaced to protect channel banks, and hydrodynamic differences. However, since the implementation of integrated river manage- ment measures from 2000 onwards, these changes have been significantly mitigated and the health of the Linhe reach braided channel of the Yellow River has been restored.

Basin-Scale Sand Deposition in the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation of the Sichuan Basin, Southwest China: Sedimentary Framework and Conceptual Model

The Upper Triassic Xujiahe （须家河） Formation in the Sichuan （四川） Basin, Southwest China is distinctive for the basin-scale sand deposition. This relatively rare sedimentary phenomenon has not been well interpreted. Here we addressed this issue by discussing sedimentary framework and conceptual model. Analysis of sedimentary setting implied that the basin received transgression during the deposition. It had multiple provenance supplies and river networks, as being surrounded by old- lands in multiple directions including the north, east and south. Thus, the basin was generally charac-terized by coastal and widely open and shallow lacustrine deposition during the Late Triassic Xujiahe period. This is similar to the modern well-known Poyang （鄱阳） Lake. Therefore, we investigated the framework and conceptual model of the Sichuan Basin during the Xujiahe period with an analogue to the Poyang Lake. Results show that the conceptual model of the deposition can be divided into transgressive and regressive stages. The first, third and fifth mem- bers of the formation are in transgressive stage and the deposits are dominated by shore and shallow lacustrine mud. In contrast, the deposition is mainly of braided river channel sand deposits during the regressive stage, mainly including the second, fourth and sixth members of the formation. The sand deposited in almost the entire basin because of the lateral migration and forward moving of the cross networks of the braided rivers. The multiple alternations of short and rapid transgression and relatively long regression are beneficial to the basin-scale sand deposition. Thus, the main channel of the braided river and its extensional areas are favorable for the development of hydrocarbon reservoir. This provides practical significance to the reservoir evaluation and exploration. In addition, the results also justify the relatively distinctive sedimentary phenomenon in the study area and may also have im- plications for understanding the large-scale sand deposition elsewhere.