Controls of accommodation to sediment-supply ratio on sedimentary architecture of continental fluvial successions

The applicability of sequence stratigraphic models to continental fluvial successions has long been topic for debate. To improve our understanding of how fluvial architectures record responses to changes in the ratio between accommodation rate and sediment-supply rate (A/S), two case studies are analyzed, including a densely drilled subsurface fluvial reservoir imaged with a seismic cube, and an outcropping fluvial succession. The subsurface dataset provides a larger, three-dimensional perspective, whereas the outcrop dataset enables observation at higher resolution. On the basis of both datasets, channel-body density, channel-body stacking patterns and their formative river types are interpreted at different scales, and how these may reflect responses to A/S change (the rate of accommodation creation relative to the rate of sediment supply) are discussed. The results indicate that (i) channel-body stacking patterns undergo four evolutionary stages along with the A/S increase, i.e., multi-story, mixed multi- and two-story, two-story, and isolated patterns;(ii) channel-body density decreases along with the channel-body stacking patterns varying from multi-story to isolated;(iii) formative rivers types are interpreted as evolving from braided planforms to braided-meandering planforms and then to meandering ones, with the increase of A/S.

Gradual Evolution from Fluvial Dominated to Tide Dominated Deltas and Channel Type Transformation: A Case Study of MPE3 Block in the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt of the Eastern Venezuelan Basin

Based on the data of core description and sporopollen analysis,the gradual evolution of deltas in vertical direction and transition of channel types in the MPE3 block of the eastern Venezuela Basin have been surveyed by seismic phase and well logging facies interpretation.The results show that due to the great sea level rise,the sedimentary system of the Miocene Oficina Formation in the MPE3 block shifted from the distal-source sandy braided river delta to tide-affected delta,and eventually to tide-dominated delta.Vertically,during the early stage of sedimentation of Oficina Formation,the distributary channels of the delta were dominated by braided river channels.While in the later stage,as the tidal effect was gradually intensified,the channel changed from braided channel to meandering channel.On plane,as a result of differential transgression,sedimentary framework and distribution of sand bodies vary across the study area.Compared with the eastern part,the western part has more braided channels,larger channel bars,less developments of distributary bay and higher ratio of sand to mud.Whereas the braided channels in the south are larger than those in the north.It is the first time we pointed out the impact of marine transgression differences on the sedimentary facies distribution and river type transition in the study area.Factors like the structural and paleogeomorphological change,sea level variation,supply of sediments have strong influence on the evolution of sedimentary system and distribution of sandbodies.It is predicted that the major sandbody is more developed in the central south,which can guide the subsequent horizontal well development.

3-D Seismic Identification and Characterization of Ancient Channel Morphology

It is easy to identify ancient fluvial morphologic types by the outcrop,log and core data.However,the horizontal distribution and geometry of the channels can only be identified and predicted by relying on the 3-D seismic data.The 3-D seismic horizon slices,especially,can play an important role in the sandstone prediction of meandering rivers,distributary channels and low-sinuosity channels.Every microfacies unit,including main channels,such as sinuous or branching channels,levee,crevasse channels,ligule crevasse splay and floodplain etc.can be identified.Braided channel sandstones are planar tabular lateral-connected sandbodies and the distribution of thick main channel belts can only be identified from 3-D seismic data.As the braided sandstones are ubiquitous,their occurrence and distribution do not need to be predicted.Generally,the coal velocity is so low that it can create a strong amplitude reflection in coal strata.It consequently conceals the amplitude respondence to anastomosing channel sandstone which could be identified from 3-D seismic inversion data sometimes.Case studies of mud-rich low-sinuosity rivers identified with 3-D seismic data indicate that the scales and width-to-thickness ratio of such sandbodies are small,laterally unconnected,and generally occurred on distant or further parts of an alluvial fan under dry climate conditions.Sometimes extraction of seismic attributes of every reflection event along horizons is expected to maximize expression of the spatial evolutions of ancient channels.