Coal petrology,sedimentology and depositional environment of the Parvadeh coais in the Upper Triassic,Tabas Block of Central-East Iran

Peat forming environment strongly influences the economic value of any coal seam and coal-bearing strata.Hence,pal-aeoenvironmental studies provide important information for coal resource exploration.In this context,detailed studies on selected coals from the Parvadeh Area,Iran,were conducted using sedimentology,coal petrology,X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analyzer(SEM-EDX),and proximate analysis.The sedi-mentary facies above and below the coal seams are mainly marine or marine-influenced facies,supporting that the coal-forming mires in the Parvadeh Area developed in a paralic environment,where the base level must be closely related to sea level.Sulfur contents are moderate to high and mark the influence of brackish/marine water,especially during transgres-sion after peat growth in a lower delta plain environment.The peat-forming mires extended on coastal/delta plain lobes.The lower delta plain/coastal plain coals are characterized by lateral continuity and substantial thickness,whereas few coals possibly representing the upper delta plain are thin and more discontinuous.The detrital nature and composition of the numerous partings and the overall high ash yield in the coal seams indicate an active tectonic area with high rates of creation of accommodation space over peat growth.Coal petrology and coal facies analysis exhibits a permanently high water table within a forest swamp and mostly rheotrophic conditions,sometimes with connection to the seawater.Accord-ing to paleoenvironmental reconstructions,it seems that coal layers may be thicker,with less sulfur(pyrite),but more clastic minerals and partings toward the western part of the area.Although these coal seams presently have low economic potential for the mining operation,partly due to great depth,this humic,high-volatile to medium-volatile bituminous coal may be suitable for exploration of coal bed methane resources.

Application of seismic sedimentology in characterization of fluvial-deltaic reservoirs in Xihu sag, East China Sea shelf basin

The fluvial-deltaic reservoirs of the Oligocene Huagang Formation in the Xihu sag of the East China Sea shelf basin reflect rapid lateral change in sedimentary facies and poor morphology of conventional slice attributes,which bring difficulties to the reservoir prediction for subsequent exploration and development of lithologic reservoirs.The traditional seismic sedimentology technology is optimized by applying the characteristic technologies such as frequency-boosting interpretation,inversion-conventional–90°phase shift joint construction of seismic lithologic bodies,nonlinear slices,paleogeomorphology restoration,and multi-attribute fusion,to obtain typical slice attributes,which are conducive to geological form description and sedimentary interpretation.The Huagang Formation developed three types of sedimentary bodies:braided river,meandering river and shallow water delta,and the vertical sedimentary evolution was controlled by the mid-term base-level cycle and paleogeomorphology.In the early–middle stage of the mid-term base-level ascending cycle,braided channel deposits were dominant,and vertical superimposed sand bodies were developed.In the late stage of the ascending half-cycle and the early stage of the descending half-cycle,meandering river deposits were dominant,and isolated sand bodies were developed.In the middle–late stage of the descending half-cycle,shallow-water delta deposits were dominant,and migratory medium–thick sand bodies were developed.Restricted paleogeomorphology controlled the sand body distribution,while non-restricted paleogeomorphology had little effect on the sand body distribution.Based on reservoir characterization,the fault sealing type and reservoir updip pinch-out type structural lithological traps are proposed as the main directions for future exploration and development in the Xihu sag.

Unconventional Petroleum Sedimentology:A Key to Understanding Unconventional Hydrocarbon Accumulation

The commercial exploitation of unconventional petroleum resources(e.g.,shale oil/gas and tight oil/gas)has drastically changed the global energy structure within the past two decades.Sweet-spot intervals(areas),the most prolific unconventional hydrocarbon resources,generally consist of extraordinarily high organic matter(EHOM)deposits or closely associated sandstones/carbonate rocks.The formation of sweet-spot intervals(areas)is fundamentally controlled by their depositional and subsequent diagenetic settings,which result from the coupled sedimentation of global or regional geological events,such as tectonic activity,sea level(lake level)fluctuations,climate change,bottom water anoxia,volcanic activity,biotic mass extinction or radiation,and gravity flows during a certain geological period.Black shales with EHOM content and their associated high-quality reservoir rocks deposited by the coupling of major geological events provide not only a prerequisite for massive hydrocarbon generation but also abundant hydrocarbon storage space.The Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng-Longmaxi shale of the Sichuan Basin,Devonian Marcellus shale of the Appalachian Basin,Devonian-Carboniferous Bakken Formation of the Williston Basin,and Triassic Yanchang Formation of the Ordos Basin are four typical unconventional hydrocarbon systems selected as case studies herein.In each case,the formation of sweet-spot intervals for unconventional hydrocarbon resources was controlled by the coupled sedimentation of different global or regional geological events,collectively resulting in a favorable environment for the production,preservation,and accumulation of organic matter,as well as for the generation,migration,accumulation,and exploitation of hydrocarbons.Unconventional petroleum sedimentology,which focuses on coupled sedimentation during dramatic environmental changes driven by major geological events,is key to improve the understanding of the formation and distribution of sweet-spot intervals(areas)in unconventional petroleum systems.

Sedimentology and Ichnology of Upper Montney Formation Tight Gas Reservoir, Northeastern British Columbia, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

Several decades of conventional oil and gas production in Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) have resulted in maturity of the basin, and attention is shifting to alternative hydrocarbon reservoir system, such as tight gas reservoir of the Montney Formation, which consists of siltstone with subordinate interlaminated very fine-grained sandstone. The Montney Formation resource play is one of Canada’s prime unconventional hydrocarbon reservoir, with reserve estimate in British Columbia (Natural Gas reserve = 271 TCF), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG = 12,647 million barrels), and oil reserve (29 million barrels). Based on sedimentological and ichnological criteria, five lithofacies associations were identified in the study interval: Lithofacies F-1 (organic rich, wavy to parallel laminated, black colored siltstone);Lithofacies F-2 (very fine-grained sandstone interbedded with siltstone);Lithofacies F-3A (bioturbated silty-sandstone attributed to the Skolithos ichnofacies);Lithofacies F-3B (bioturbated siltstone attributed to Cruziana ichnofacies);Lithofacies F-4 (dolomitic, very fine-grained sandstone);and Lithofacies F-5 (massive siltstone). The depositional environments interpreted for the Montney Formation in the study area are lower shoreface through proximal offshore to distal offshore settings. Rock-Eval data (hydrogen Index and Oxygen Index) shows that Montney sediments contains mostly gas prone Type III/IV with subordinate Type II kerogen, TOC ranges from 0.39 - 3.54 wt% with a rare spike of 10.9 wt% TOC along the Montney/Doig boundary. Vitrinite reflectance data and Tmax show that thermal maturity of the Montney Formation is in the realm of “peak gas” generation window. Despite the economic significance of the Montney unconventional “resource-play”, however, the location and predictability of the best reservoir interval remain conjectural in part because the lithologic variability of the optimum reservoir lithologies has not been adequately characterized. This study presents lithofacies and ichnofacies analyses of the Montney Formation coupled with Rock-Eval geochemistry to interpret the sedimentology, ichnology, and reservoir potential of the Montney Formation tight gas reservoir in Fort St. John study area (T86N, R23W and T74N, R13W), northeastern British Columbia, western Canada.

Some problems on dynamical sedimentology in sea area near Huanghe Seaport

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Thin-interbedded reservoirs prediction based on seismic sedimentology

Interference of thin-interbedded layers in seismic reflections has great negative impact on thin-interbedded reservoirs prediction.To deal with this,two novel methods are proposed that can predict the thin-interbedded reservoirs distribution through strata slices by suppressing the interference of adjacent layer with the help of seismic sedimentology.The plane distribution of single sand bodies in thin-interbedded reservoirs can be clarified.(1)The minimum interference frequency slicing method,uses the amplitude-frequency attribute estimated by wavelet transform to find a constant seismic frequency with the minimum influence on the stratal slice of target layer,and then an optimal slice corresponding the constant frequency mentioned above can be obtained.(2)The superimposed slicing method can calculate multiple interference coefficients of reservoir and adjacent layers of target geological body,and obtain superimposed slice by weighted stacking the multiple stratal slices of neighboring layers and target layer.The two proposed methods were used to predict the distribution of the target oil layers of 6 m thick in three sets of thin-interbedded reservoirs of Triassic Kelamayi Formation in the Fengnan area of Junggar Basin,Northwestern China.A comparison with drilling data and conventional stratal slices shows that the two methods can predict the distribution of single sand bodies in thin-interbedded reservoirs more accurately.

Sedimentology, Structure and Depositional Environments of the Subsurface Cretaceous, North Sinai, Egypt Using Well Logs

A complete set of well logs was used to study the sedimentology, structural and depositional environments of the subsurface Cretaceous rocks of northern Sinai, as a promising hydrocarbon province in Egypt. The sedimentological interpretations of well logs show sedimentary sequence of the Early Cretaceous, represented by the Neocomian, Aptian and Albian, which is composed mainly of shales and marls with minor carbonate and sandstone intercalations. Based on the Th/K ratios, the argillaceous sediments are composed of illite, montmorillonite and micas with little amounts of glauconite and chlorite. The environmental interpretations revealed sedimentological environments vary from estuarine to lagoonal and backreef of the Barremian-Aptian rocks, and from continental to estuarine in the Aptian-Albian. By contrast, the Late Cretaceous rocks, represented by the Cenomanian, Turonian, Santonian and Maastrichtian, are mainly composed of carbonates with few shale and marl intercalations. This sequence was accumulated under lagoonal to neritic and bathyal environments. The structural interpretations of well logs show that the Cretaceous section attains a wide range of dip magnitudes and dispersed azimuths all over the study area, which is probably attributed to tectonic and sedimentological processes. The inherited structural complexities indicate possible rejuvenations along old fault planes and rotation of the faulted blocks.

Late Cretaceous-Paleogene Formation of the Bekrit Syncline, Middle Atlas, Morocco: Sedimentology, Geochemistry, Palynology and Paleoenvironments

Globally, the Paleogene period experienced several events marking the Paleocene-Eocene transition which is especially to one of the hottest periods that the Earth has ever known (Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, PETM), followed by the biological crisis that affected benthic foraminifera. The Bekrit Syncline, subject of this study, shows three Formations of range from the Cretaceous to the Eocene ages (the El Koubbat, Irbzer and Bekrit-Timahdite Formations). Sedimentological, palynological and geochemical analyses of collected samples, in the Bekrit syncline, were studied to determine the paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental conditions of the Middle Atlas. The carbonate rocks were analyzed by microscopic study and geochemical analysis by X-ray Fluorescence (XF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICP). The results obtained highlight the sedimentary events that took place during the Paleogene. Thus, the Maastrichtian is characterized by a closed euxinic marine environment shared by a more open and oxidizing environment. On the other hand, the Paleocene was a restricted marine environment with evaporitic sedimentation, while the Eocene sees the installation of a carbonate platform with a bioclastic Shoal.

Silica oxygen isotope record of core PC10 diatoms from the Bransfield Strait,Antarctica and its application in sedimentology

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Sedimentology and Mineralogy of Surface Formations of the Mossendjo Area (Republic of Congo): Paleoenvironmental and Paleoclimatic Implications

Studies undertaken at several sites in the Congolese basin and in the Chaillu massif are helping to reinterpret the sedimentological formations known as cover formations, which are widely exposed in Central Africa. This article presents the results of granulometric, morphoscopic, mineralogical and chemical analyzes obtained at three sites in the Chaillu. Gronulometric analysis indicates that the sands at the three sites are rated medium to high. The cumulative curves are essentially sigmoidal with regular and spreading slopes. This facies indicates that the deposition took place due to a banal and moderate variation in the competence of the carrier current. The morphoscopy of the quartz grains shows that they are mainly angular and shiny. These data reflect a relatively close source and transport by water. The synthesis of lithological, granulometric, petrographic and geochemical analyzes allowed us to highlight three episodes of deposits in the Mossendjo area: the first is characterized by a channel-type fluvial system marked by deposits from the hospital borehole and from the station;the second, which is alluvial, corresponds to the clogging of the channel. These two alluvial phases are overcome by a third, fluvial, channel-type episode, the end of which is marked by the establishment of the yellow formation. The vertical and lateral organization at the outcrop of this yellow formation has the same characteristics as those described earlier and in the sub-region where it was attributed to the wind-generated cover formation. This study thus highlights the existence of a wet phase during which two fluvial systems of non-contemporary channel types developed which overlap.

MY WORK ON PIONEERING NEW FRONTIERS IN SEDIMENTOLOGY

In 1953, I graduated from a university and completed curricular courses for a post-graduate program in 1956.

Sedimentary Characteristics,Ages,and Environmental Significance of Gravel Deposits and Loess in Shandong,Eastern China:Regional Response to Global Change Since the Last Glacial Period

Investigation of rarely studied gravel layers found in the loess in Shandong Province,eastern China,reveals the fabric characteristics of two gravel layers(G1,G2)and the sedimentary characteristics of loess at the typical and well-preserved Heiyu section(HY),where,to determine the paleoclimatic changes during Marine Isotope Stage 3a.Optically stimulated luminescence dates of the HY formation range from 0.26±0.02 ka to 39.00±2.00 ka.In addition,the ages of G1 and G2 were estimated using the Bayesian model to be 39.60-40.50 and 29.00-29.50 ka.G1 and G2 are mainly composed of fine and medium gravel,both of which were subangular to subrounded limestone,with gravel directions to NE and E.The average flow velocity,average depth,and flood peak flow of G1 are 1.10 m/s,0.49 m,and 37.04 m^(3)/s,respectively,calculated using the flow energy method,whereas those of G2 are 0.98 m/s,0.38 m,and 18.38 m^(3)/s,respectively.Analysis of climate proxy indices show that the sedimentary environment of the gravel and loess in HY might be a regional response to global change.

Sedimentology and foraminiferal paleoecology of the exposed Oligocene-Miocene Ogwashi-Asaba Formation in Issele-Uku area,Anambra Basin,southern Nigeria:A paleoenvironmental reconstruction

Sedimentological and foraminiferal paleoecological studies were carried out for the Oligocene-Miocene Ogwashi-Asaba Formation of the Anambra Basin at the Issele-Uku area in southern Nigeria,to reconstruct paleoenvironments.The pattern of rock successions and textural characteristics suggest the prevalence of fluvio-deltaic setting during the formation of lignites and clastic rocks of Ogwashi-Asaba Formation.Agglutinated benthic foraminiferal species such as Ammotium sp.,Textularia sp.,Gavelinella sp.,Milliamina sp.,Reophax sp.,Bolivina sp.,Eponides sp.,Pseudobolivina sp.and Lenticulina sp.dominate the shale units whereas the planktonic forms are absent.All these species have very low population and diversity in the shales,which could be due to the presence of harsh conditions such as low oxygen level and scarcity of food,leading to poor survival.The assessments of benthic foraminifera's habitat suggest middle-to-inner neritic marine environment for the shales.Granulometric results suggest fluvial environment for the sandstone and deltaic for the lignite.The Ogwashi-Asaba Formation in Issele-Uku area of Anambra Basin,southern Nigeria,therefore,have records of shallow marine,and fluvio-deltaic paleoenvironments.

Sedimentological Study of Alluvial Deposits on the Congolese Coast: Highlighting the Erosive Character of the Holocene Wet Climatic Phases

A granulometric, mineralogical, morphoscopic and exoscopic study and Rock-Eval analysis carried out on samples taken in the Loango Bay and at Kivesso on the Congolese coast have made it possible to highlight the highly erosive character of the well-documented wet phases ca 9000 - 3000 years B.P. and ca 320 B.P. in the sub-region. Supported by carbon-14 dating, total organic carbon analyses highlight two major phases of peat deposit emplacement. The first, ca. 7000 years B.P., corresponds to the beginning of the deposition of the yellow formation in the entire Loango Bay;the second, ca. 320 years B.P., is contemporary with the deposition of peat in the Kivesso sector. The granulometric analysis of the sediments shows that they are essentially sandy-clay and very poor in silt, alternating with beds of silty clay sometimes rich in organic matter. These sands have a predominant mode of 0.200 mm and an average varying between 0.150 and 0.300 mm. They constitute the flood phase of the carrier current. They are associated with a population of mode 0.125 mm sometimes 0.050 mm with an average varying between 0.100 mm and 0.126 mm which corresponds to the settling phase. Morphoscopic examination showed several varieties of quartz that argue for a source of supply close to the depositional sites.

Evidence of the Albo-Cenomanian Unconformity Using Chemical Elements Case Study of Sediments from the Eastern Abidjan Margin

Sedimentological and chemostratigraphical studies using accessory elements on 322 samples of cuttings from oil wells located in the submerged sedimentary basin (offshore) of Côte d’Ivoire. This basin covered the chronostratigraphic interval from the Upper Albian to the top of the Maastrichtian. The aim of this study was to determine the major accident, the Albo-Cenomanian unconformity, using chemical elements. To achieve this goal, we had to count the accessory elements glauconite, pyrite and carbonaceous debris, and identify all the chemical elements present in each cuttings sample. The results clearly indicate that: the sediments are essentially composed of carbonaceous debris and pyrite, with a high potassium content for sediments dating from the Abian period;and glauconite, carbonaceous debris, pyrite, and a sharp decrease in potassium content for sediments dating from the Cenomanian to the Maastrichtian period. Threshold values for ratios of source-indicating chemical elements (Zr, Ti, Y, Th) and paleoenvironmental elements (K, Rb, Mg, Al,) highlighted the MS1 and MS2 mega-sequences in the study area. The difference observed in the threshold values of these ratios can be explained by changes in sedimentary dynamics. The depositional environment varies from an inner continental shelf with strong littoral influence (Upper Albian) to an increasing subsidence outer continental shelf (Cenomanian-K/Pg boundary).

Using a modern analogue to interpret depositional position in ancient fluvial-tidal channels:Example from the McMurray Formation,Canada

The fluvial-tidal transition(FTT)is a complex depositional zone,where fluvial flow is modified by tides as rivers approach a receiving marine basin.Variations in the relative importance of tidal versus fluvial processes lead to a distinctive distribution of sediments that accumulate on channel bars.The FTT generally consists of three broad zones:(1)a freshwater-tidal zone;(2)a tidally influenced freshwater to brackish-water transition:and(3)a zone of relatively sustained brackish-water conditions with stronger tides.A very common type of deposit through the fluvial-tidal transition,especially on the margins of migrating channels,is inclined heterolithic stratification(IHS).At present,a detailed account of changes in the character of IHS across the FIT of a paleo-channel system has not been reported,although a number of modern examples have been documented.To fill this gap,we quantitatively assess the sedimentology and ichnology of IHS from seven cored intervals in three geographic areas situated within the youngest paleovalley("A"Valley)in the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation of Alberta.Canada.We compare the data to trends defined along the FTT in the present-day Fraser River in British Columbia.Canada to interpret paleo-depositional position in the ancient fluvial-tidal channels.Analysis determined that the mean mudstone thickness is 8.2 cm in the southern study area(SA).Mean thickness increases to 11 cm in the central study area(CA),and decreases again to 4.4 cm in the northern study area(NA).The proportion of mudstone is 31%in SA,44%in CA,and 27%in NA.Thicknessweighted mean bioturbation intensity in sands varied from 0.29 in SA and CA.to 0.28 in NA.On the other hand,thickness-weighted mean bioturbation intensity(Bl)in mudstone increases from 1.46 in SA.to 1.77 in CA.and is 1.94 in NA.The ichnological diversity also increased from south to north.Sedimentological results show sinilar trends to those of the Fraser River,enabling the identification of a freshwater to brackish-water transition zone with tidal influence.The interpreted position of the transition is underpinned by the bioturbation intensity and trace-fossil diversity trends,indicating periodic brackish-water conditions throughout SA in the McMurray Formation during low river flow conditions.Together,these data suggest that a broad FTT existed in the"A"Valley,with fluvial-dominated channels to the south that experienced seasonal brackish-water inundation during base flow,and channels experiencing increasing brackish-water influence lying further north towards a turbidity maximun zone.The FIT zone appears to have extended for several hundred kilometers fron south to north.Based on the sedimentological and ichnological data,as well as estimations of lateral accretion rates,we refute the colmonly applied Mississippi River depositional analogue for McMurray Formation channels.Rather,we show that while not a perfect fit,the tidally influenced Fraser River shows much greater agreement with the depositional character recorded in McMurray Formation IHS.Future work on the McMurray system should focus on characterizing tide-dominatecl deltaic and estuarine systems,such as the Ganges-Brahmaputra,and on forward-modeling the evolution of tide-dominated and tideinfluenced river systems.

Quantitative Expression of Paleogeographic Information Based on Big Data

Paleogeographic analysis accounts for an essential part of geological research,making important contributions in the reconstruction of depositional environments and tectonic evolution histories(Ingalls et al.,2016;Merdith et al.,2017),the prediction of mineral resource distributions in continental sedimentary basins(Sun and Wang,2009),and the investigation of climate patterns and ecosystems(Cox,2016).

Early Paleozoic Ocean Plate Stratigraphy of the Beishan Orogenic Zone, NW China: Implications for Regional Tectonic Evolution

The Beishan orogenic zone is a key area to understand evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt that is an accretionary factory well-enough preserved in the Paleozoic. In early Paleozoic, the tectonic mélange zone containing the coherent unit and mélange unit is triggered by the complicated accretionary process of the Beishan area. The early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Beishan orogenic zone is investigated in this study using sedimentology and stratigraphic correlations of the lowe Paleozoic deposits. From the Cambrian to the middle Ordovician, this region was characterized by geographically extensive, flat-bedded siliceous mudstone, indicating the existence of a large ocean basin. The oceanic plate entered the convergence phase in terms of the Wilson Circle during the Middle Ordovician, when numerous magmatic arcs formed along two opposite sides of the ocean. The magmatic arcs became the widest during the Silurian, suggesting that the Hongliuhe-Niujuanzi-Xichangjing Ocean(HNX;a southern branch of the Paleo Asian Ocean) was reduced to a small residual ocean in the central Beishan region by that time, and probably lasted till the Carboniferous or later by newly published data.

Comparing the Upper Triassic Deep-sea Flysch of the Shannan Terrane with the Coeval Shallow Shelf Sediments of the Tethys Himalaya,Southern Tibet

The provenance and paleogeography of the Upper Triassic deep-sea flysch Langjiexue Group(LG)of the Shannan Terrane in the northeastern Himalaya orogen,south of Yarlung Zangbo,have been disputed in recent years since its affinity to the Tethys Himalaya was suspected during the early 2000 s.Based on the earlier discoveries of the Upper Permian–Triassic basalts and mafic dykes from the LG and of coeval detrital zircons from the Qulonggongba Formation(QF)in shallow shelf sediments of the Tethys Himalaya,the previous viewpoints on the basin and tectonics of the LG have been recently rejected.We compared the two units of the Upper Triassic,and our results reveal a number of differences,discrepancies,and inconsistencies in the debate,raising crucial questions on the postulation and provenance model of the remote Gondwanide Orogen for the LG.It is suggested that more observations and evidence are needed to further improve the paleogeographic understanding and relationship of the two units.

Sedimentological/Palaeogeographic Data as Fundamental Building Blocks of the DDE Project:Critical Underpinning of Reconstructing Deep-time Earth Systems

1 Introduction Sedimentary rocks archive important information for understanding how the earth system operates and how life and environments have evolved through earth history.Properly identifying characteristics of sedimentary rocks,along with the subsequent interpretation of depositional processes and sedimentary environments in a basin or locality.