Turbidite Dynamics and Hydrocarbon Reservoir Formation in the Tano Basin: A Coastal West African Perspective

This study examines the turbidite dynamics and hydrocarbon reservoir formation in Ghana’s Tano Basin, which is located in coastal West Africa. Through an exploration of geological processes spanning millions of years, we uncover key factors shaping hydrocarbon accumulation, including source rock richness, temperature, pressure, and geological structures. The research offers valuable insights applicable to exploration, management, and sustainable resource exploitation in coastal West Africa. It facilitates the identification of exploration targets with higher hydrocarbon potential, enables the anticipation of reservoir potential within the Tano Basin, and assists in tailoring exploration and management strategies to specific geological conditions of the Tano Basin. Analysis of fluvial channels sheds light on their impact on landscape formation and hydrocarbon exploration. The investigation into turbidite systems unveils intricate interactions involving tectonics, sea-level fluctuations, and sedimentation patterns, influencing the development of reservoirs. An understanding of sediment transport and depositional settings is essential for efficient reservoir management. Geomorphological features, such as channels, submarine canyons, and distinct channel types, are essential in this situation. A detailed examination of turbidite channel structures, encompassing canyons, channel complexes, convex channels, and U-shaped channels, provides valuable insights and aids in identifying exploration targets like basal lag, channel levees, and lobes. These findings underscore the enduring significance of turbidite systems as conduits for sediment transport, contributing to enhanced reservoir management and efficient hydrocarbon production. The study also highlights how important it is to examine the configuration of sedimentary layers, stacking patterns, and angular laminated facies to identify turbidites, understand reservoir distribution, and improve well design. The dynamic nature of turbidite systems, influenced by basin characteristics such as shape and slope, is highlighted. The research provides valuable insights essential for successful hydrocarbon exploration, reservoir management, and sustainable resource exploitation in coastal West Africa.

Sedimentary architecture models of deepwater turbidite channel systems in the Niger Delta continental slope,West Africa

This paper studied an architecture model of turbidite channel systems based on the shallow- layer high resolution 3D seismic information in the deepwater area in the Niger Delta continental slope, West Africa as a prototype model. Different types of channel systems were identified and the corresponding architecture models were established. The controlling factors, evaluation criteria and spatial distribution of different channel systems were analyzed. This study shows that turbidite channel systems of West Africa could be classified into three types; confined, semi-confined and unconfined, according to the condition of canyon and the levees on both sides. Oil one hand, along the transport direction, channel system evolves from confined to unconfined. Within channel systems, channel complexes, including two types of incised and enveloped, are the most important reservoir bodies. On the other hand, there is a channel complex evolution from incised to enveloped vertically. The geological factors exert impacts of different levels on the architecture of the turbidite channels in different sedimentary systems or even within the same system.

Depositional Patterns and Oil／Gas Accumulation Features of Sha-3 Member Turbidites in Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin

Recent exploration results indicate that a significant exploration potential remains in the Dongying Depression of the Bohai Bay Basin and the undiscovered oil and gas are largely reservoired in subtle traps including turbidite litholigcal traps of the Sha-3 Member. In order to effectively guide the exploration program targeting turbidites, this study will focus on the depositional models of the Sha-3 Member turbidites and oil/gas accumulation characteristics in these turbidites. Two corresponding relationships were found. One is that the East African Rift Valley provides a modern analog for the depositional systems in the Dongying Depression. The other is that the depositional models of line-sourced slope aprons, single point-source submarine fan and multiple source ramp turbidite, established for deep-sea turbidites, can be applied to interpret the depositional features of the turbidite fans of three different origins: slope turbidite aprons, lake floor turbidite fans and delta-fed turbidite fans in the Sha-3 Member. Updip sealing integrity is the key factor determining whether oil/gas accumulates or not in the slope aprons and lake floor fans. The factors controlling oil/gas migration and accumulation in the delta-fed turbidite fans are not very clear. Multiple factors rather than a single factor probably played significant roles in these processes.

Composite Sand Bodies Architecture of Deep-Water Turbidite Channels in the Niger Delta Basin

Deep-water turbidite channels have attracted much attention as a focused issue in petroleum exploration and development. Extensive studies have been performed on the architecture of turbidite channels, and most researches have focused on their geometric shapes, sedimentary processes and controlling factors. However, little attention has been paid to the distribution patterns, distribution laws and quantitative studies of composite sand bodies of turbidite channels. Taken one slope area of the Niger Delta Basin as an example, this study conducted a semi-quantitative to quantitative analysis on architecture of composite sand bodies of turbidite channels based on cores, well logging and seismic surveys. It is shown that turbidite channel systems can be classified as confined and unconfined channel systems. For confined channel systems, the vertical evolution process involves four stages. The sinuosity of a channel system is controlled by slope, with a negative power function relationship between them. When slope gradient reaches four degrees, the channel system is nearly straight. Based on the migration direction and migration amount of single channels within channel complexes, channel composite patterns can be divided into four classes（the lateral composite, en-echelon composite, swing composite and vertical composite） and several subclasses. Various channel composite patterns show specific distribution laws spatially. For meandering channel complexes at the middle-late evolution stage of confined channel systems, the lateral migration amongst single channels shows the features of integrity and succession. The sinuosity of single channels in the late period is greater than that in the early period, and cut-offs may occur locally when the sinuosity is larger than five degrees. This study provides a better understanding for the geological theory of deep-water sedimentary, and also improves exploitation benefits of this type of reservoirs.

Deepwater Turbidite Lobe Deposits:A Review of the Research Frontiers

Deepwater/deep-marine turbidite lobes are the most distal part of a siliciclastic depositional system and hold the largest sediment accumulation on the seafloor. As many giant hydrocarbon provinces have been discovered within deepwater lobe deposits, they represent one of the most promising exploration targets for hydrocarbon industry. Deepwater exploration is characterized by high cost, high risk but insufficient data because of the deep/ultra–deepwater depth. A thorough understanding of the deepwater turbidite lobe architecture, hierarchy, stacking pattern and internal facies distribution is thus vital. Recently, detailed outcrop characterizations and high–resolution seismic studies have both revealed that the deepwater lobe deposits are characterized into four–fold hierarchical arrangements from ＂beds＂, to ＂lobe elements＂, to ＂lobes＂ and to ＂lobe complex＂. Quantitative compilations have shown that hierarchical components of lobe deposits have similar length to width ratios but different width to thickness ratios depending on different turbidite systems. At all hierarchical scales, sand–prone hierarchical lobe units are always separated by mud–prone bounding units except when the bounding units are eroded by their overlying lobe units thus giving rise to vertical amalgamation and connectivity. Amalgamations often occur at more proximal regions suggesting high flow energy. A mixed flow behavior may occur towards more distal regions, resulting in deposition of ＂hybrid event beds＂. These synthesized findings could（1） help understand the lobe reservoir distribution and compartmentalization therefore benefit the exploration and development of turbidite lobes within the deep marine basins（e.g. South China Sea） and（2） provide rules and quantitative constraints on reservoir modeling. In addition, the findings associated with deepwater turbidite lobes might be a good starting point to understand the sedimentology, architecture and hierarchy of turbidites in deep lacustrine environment.

Hydrocarbon Accumulation in Lacustrine Turbidite in the Rift Basin, Bohai Bay

Three types of turbidites are identified in the studied area, including proximal turbidite along the northern steep slope （alluvial fans, fan delta, and subaqueous fans via short-distance transportation）, distal turbidites along the southern gentle slope （stacked sliding of delta and fan delta front）, and fluxoturbidite in the central depression. Detailed studies of several case histories and the relationship between sedimentary facies and faults suggest a significant role of tectonic setting and faults in the development of turbidite, which created source areas, effected slope topography, controlled the climate and paleo-environment, and formed enough slope angle and slope break for sedimentary instabilities and massive block movement to form turbidite. According to statistics, 0.86%, with an average value of 40.3%, of the trap volumes in the 69 identified Tertiary lacustrine turbidites in the Jiyang Superdepression in the Bohai Bay Basin are filled with oil. The porosity and permeability of turbidite sands vary widely. The productive reservoirs are generally those from the braided channels of both distal and proximal turbidite, and from the main channel of proximal turbidite, with a low carbonate content and the porosity and permeability higher than 12% and 1 mD respectively. Most of the lithologic oil pools in the Jiyang Superdepression are enveloped by the effective source rocks, and the percentage of the trap volume generally increases with the hydrocarbon expulsion intensity of source rocks. This is in contrast with structural-lithologic traps （i.e. proximal turbidite along the steep slope and distal turbidite along the gentle slope）, in which, graben-boundary faults play an important role in oil migration, as the turbidites are not in direct contact with effective hydrocarbon source rocks.

Turbidite Events Recorded in Deep-sea Core IR-GC1 off Western Sumatra： Evidence from Grain-size Distribution

Sediment core IR-GC1, from the abyssal basin of the Indian Ocean off Sumatra, may provide important information on depositional events related to earthquakes and tsunamis. In this study, based on a combination of grain-size analysis with lithological studies and oxygen isotope stratigraphy, seven deep-sea turbidite layers were identified, corresponding to seven turbidity events that occurred at 128- 130, 105-107, 98-100, 86-87, 50-53, 37-41 and 20-29 ka. The sediments of the turbidite deposits are characterized by coarse grain sizes, poor sorting, wide kurtosis, bimodal frequency distributions and clear depositional variations. Particle size grading is also an important signature of deep-sea turbidite deposits and can be used as an indicator to identify turbidite layers. Possible triggering mechanisms for the turbidite events include tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and sea-level changes.

Formation of Hengchun Accretionary Prism Turbidites and Implications for Deep-water Transport Processes in the Northern South China Sea

Located at the end of the northern Manila Trench,the Hengchun Peninsula is the latest exposed part of Taiwan Island,and preserves a complete sequence of accretionary deep-sea turbidite sandstones.Combined with extensive field observations,a’source-to-sink’approach was employed to systematically analyze the formation and evolutionary process of the accretionary prism turbidites on the Hengchun Peninsula.Lying at the base of the Hengchun turbidites are abundant mafic normal oceanic crust gravels with a certain degree of roundness.The gravels with U-Pb ages ranging from 25.4 to23.6 Ma are underlain by hundreds-of-meters thickness of younger deep-sea sandstone turbidites with interbedded gravels.This indicates that large amounts of terrigenous materials from both the’Kontum-Ying-Qiong’River of Indochina and the Pearl River of South China were transported into the deep-water areas of the northern South China Sea during the late Miocene and further eastward in the form of turbidity currents.The turbidity flow drastically eroded and snatched mafic materials from the normal South China Sea oceanic crust along the way,and subsequently unloaded large bodies of basic gravel-bearing sandstones to form turbidites near the northern Manila Trench.With the Philippine Sea Plate drifting clockwise to the northwest,these turbidite successions eventually migrated and,since the Middle Pleistocene,were exposed as an accretionary prism on the Hengchun Peninsula.

CHARACTERIZATION OF FINE-GRAINED TURBIDITE DEPOSITS FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA SEDIMENT CORES

Two depositional processes controlled the muddy sediments in the South China Sea Basin. Bathyal sediments depositional rate was 7.66 cm/la in the northern continental slope of the Basin where turbidity current was almost nonexistent. In the northern margin of the Basin, abyssal sediment depositional rate was 5.05cm/ka and turbidity current occurrence averaged 0.22 per 1000 years. Turbidite was found in the middle of the Basin. Over half of the muddy sediments in the deep sea basin were deposited by turbidity currents, and had typically graded bedding, and contents of organic matter, calcareous material and micropaleontologic species inconsistent with the environment.

Characteristics of the turbidite fan in the Wenchang Formation of the Enping Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin, China and its hydrocarbon significance

A turbidite fan in the Eocene upper Wenchang Formation in the Enping Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin （PRMB） has been studied using seismic, logging and borehole data. The fan is characterized by parallel progradation on the dip seismic profile and is mound-shaped or lenticular-shaped on the strike seismic profile. The study of the core and logging data from well EP17-3-1, which is located in the front side of the turbidite fan, shows that this fan is a set of normal grading sand beds, interbedded within thick dark grey mudstones of semi-deep to deep lake deposits in the Wenchang Formation. The fan is interpreted as a sand/mud-rich turbidite fan that has an area of over 140 km2 and a maximum thickness of over 340 m. Combined with a study of the regional geological background and previous provenance analysis of the Eocene Wenchang Formation, the main potential provenances for the turbidite fan are considered to be the Panyu low-uplift and northern fault terrace zone. The Enping Sag is considered to be a half graben-like basin whose north side is faulted and whose south side is overlapped. Basement subsidence in the Eocene was mainly controlled by boundary faults which dip relatively steeply on the north side, causing the subsidence center of the Enping Sag in this stage to be close to the north boundary faults. Sustained faults developed in the Enping Sag during the Eocene caused an increase of the relative height difference between the north and the south uplift zone in the Enping Sag. Affected by the second episode of the Zhuqiong movement （39-36 Ma） in late Eocene, sediments which had accumulated on the Panyu low-uplift zone were triggered and moved toward the subsidence center of the Enping Sag and formed the turbidite fan. The second episode of the Zhuqiong movement is the most important triggering factor for the formation of the turbidite fan in the Wenchang Formation. Seismic attribute characterization shows that the low frequency energy is enhanced and high frequency energy is weakened when seismic waves propagate through the oil-bearing zone in this fan. Amplitude versus offset （AVO） anomalies are observed in the seismic data and abnormally high pressure is encountered. The turbidite fan in the Wenchang Formation has provided important information for sedimentary evolution in deep layers of the Enping Sag and pointed to a new direction for the hydrocarbon exploration in the study area.

Turbidite Reservoirs in the Dongying Sag,Bohai Bay Basin:Interactions between Carbonate Cementation and Hydrocarbon Charge

Turbidite sandstones have become increasingly significant in hydrocarbon exploration.Carbonate cementation occur commonly in turbidite reservoirs developing within the Paleocene lacustrine basins,Northeastern China.This study utilizes core data,thin section data and production data to investigate the interaction between the carbonate cementation and hydrocarbon charge within turbidite reservoirs in the Niuzhuang Sub-sag of the Dongying Sag,Bohai Bay Basin,East China.The results reveal that the carbonate cementation is mainly developed at the top and bottom of the turbidite sandbodies,and even forms carbonate cement shells.Three stages of hydrocarbon accumulation are identified based on fluid inclusion analysis:stage I(27.5–24.6 Ma),stage II(14.0–5.0 Ma),and stage III(5.0–0 Ma).The interaction between the carbonate cementation and hydrocarbon charge has significant controls on the formation of a turbidite reservoir.The temporal relations and intensity relations between the two factors should be considered significantly.Moreover,hydrocarbon charge during the early stage can inhibit the carbonate cementation,favoring the hydrocarbon accumulation in turbidite reservoirs.Many deep-lacustrine turbidite sandbodies surrounded by source rocks with abnormal high pressure,are also favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation.These results suggest that some deeply buried turbidite sandbodies with similar geological settings have high potential for hydrocarbon exploration.

3D modeling of deepwater turbidite lobes:a review of the research status and progress

Deepwater turbidite lobe reservoirs have massive hydrocarbon potential and represent one of the most promising exploration targets for hydrocarbon industry.Key elements of turbidite lobes internal heterogeneity include the architectural hierarchy and complex amalgamations at each hierarchical level leading to the complex distribution of shale drapes.Due to limitation of data,to build models realistically honoring the reservoir architecture provides an effective way to reduce risk and improve hydrocarbon recovery.A variety of modeling techniques on turbidite lobes exist and can be broadly grouped into pixel-based,process-based,process-oriented,surface-based,object-based and a hybrid approach of two or more of these methods.The rationale and working process of methods is reviewed,along with their pros and cons.In terms of geological realism,object-based models can capture the most realistic architectures,including the multiple hierarchy and the amalgamations at different hierarchical levels.In terms of data conditioning,pixel-based and multiple-point statistics methods could honor the input data to the best degree.In practical,dif?ferent methods should be adopted depending on the goal of the project.Such a review could improve the understanding of existing modeling methods on turbidite lobes and could benefit the hydrocarbon exploration activities of such reservoirs in offshore China.

Distribution Patterns of Calcite Cement in the Turbidite Sandstones of the Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Depression,Eastern China

Calcite cements are volumetrically dominant among the most diagenetic constituents in turbidite sandstones of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Depression.The results show carbonate cements mainly occur in three phases:Calcite I(pre-compaction),Calcite II(post-compaction)and ankerite in the turbidite sandstone.The isotopic composition of Calcite I and Calcite II range from−4.3‰to 4.4‰,−3.5‰to 4.3‰PDB,respectively,suggesting that the calcite cements are mainly derived from the interbedded shales.The early calcite cement precipitated from the mixing of lacustrine and meteoric waters at 38-69℃.The late-phase calcite precipitated from pore waters modified by water-rock interactions at 64-126℃.Two distribution patterns of calcite cements can be identified,depending on their position within the sandstone.The peripheral cementation of the sandstones is near the sand-shale contact.The development of cement is controlled by sandstone thickness and the properties of the interbedded shale.For scattered cementation,the distribution of the calcite cement is not controlled by the sand-shale contact.Calcite cement was preferentially distributed in coarse-grained sandstones,indicating that sandstones with high original permeability are the preferred pathway for the migration of early diagenetic fluids.

Characteristics and evolution of lacustrine turbidite of Chang-7 Member of Yanchang Formation in northern Shaanxi

Lacustrine turbidite of Chang-7 Member in the studied area consists of sihstone and fine sandstone with respect to grain size, which is feldspathic lithie sandstone, syrosem arkose and arkose with respect to mineral constitution affected by provenance. There are such apparent signatures as lithology, sedimentary structure, sedimentary sequence and well logs, to recognize turbidite. During the paleogeographic evolution of Chang-7 Member, lake basin and deep lake are both at their maximum extent during Chang-73 stage, resulting in the deposition of Zhangjiatan shale with widespread extent and of turbidite with fragmental-like. Deep lake line is gradually moving toward lake center and turbidite sand bodies are gradually turning better with better lateral continuity, connectivity and more thickness, from stages of Chang-73, Chang-72 and Chang-7t, which can be favorable reservoir in deep-water.

First Record of the Belemnite Genus Hibolithes from Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Turbidites from Malaysia

Discovery of the remains of belemnites referred to the Hibolithes sp.from the Jurassic–Cretaceous Pedawan Formation in Sarawak,on the island of Borneo(Malaysia)comprises four fragments of belemnite rostra.The specimens are characterized by multiple fractures and vein filling.Two fragments measuring about 130 mm are relatively intact,with only part of the alveolar region missing;a third piece represents the middle part of a rostrum,and the fourth specimen is too fragmentary to be assigned to any specific part of the rostrum.Based on specimen characteristics,a Tithonian–Hauterivian age is plausible.The sedimentary succession that yielded the belemnite material comprises thick shale that reflects the Te division of Bouma sequence.The occurrence of a Hibolithes taxon in the uppermost Jurassic to lowermost Cretaceous Pedawan Formation sediments in Borneo reflects a near to global palaeobiogeographic distribution of this genus.

Turbidite-hosted Gold, Silver and Polymetallic Ore Deposits in eastern Liaoning

There exist a large area of turbidites in eastern Liaoning occurred lead-zinc deposits. During the past years, large -scaled Au, Ag deposits were found near the lead-zinc deposits. The paper preliminarily studied the typical Au, Ag and Pb-Zn deposits and summarized the genesis of turbidite-hosted deposits. The area where turbidite is deposited in Liaohe group was thought as a good place to find Au, Ag polymetallic ore deposits.

Turbidite Petroleum Geology Updates in the Deepwater and Subsalt Gulf of Mexico

The past six years （2008-2014） was a prosperous time for exploration and production in the dGOM （deepwater Gulf of Mexico）. Recent exploration and production activities can be divided into three major categories： drilling new wildcat wells, appraising and developing newly discovered fields and enhanced oil recovery of mature fields. Seismic imaging, complex geology, high pressure drilling, greater depth, and higher temperature are key challenges for the exploration and production of dGOM reservoirs. Complex geology includes salt-related structures and traps, reservoir compartmentalization, and the sequence stratigraphy of turbidite reservoirs. Turbidite sequence stratigraphy helps the asset team to fred the best target intervals. Sheet and channelized sandstones with good downdip aquifer support are preferred reservoir conditions. All the drilling, development and production challenges are related to high pressure, greater depth, higher temperature and lack of existing field analogs. Various IOR （improved oil recovery） methods are studied and applied in the development stage of the Wilcox fields, which have an average primary recovery factor of 10%-15%. With ideal tabular reservoir geometry and IOR methods, recovery factor of the Wilcox reservoirs can reach up to 42% of OOIP （origional oil in place） through the field life cycle.

Architecture of deepwater turbidite lobes: A case study of Carboniferous turbidite outcrop in the Clare Basin, Ireland

Through lithofacies analysis and architecture anatomy of the Carboniferous Ross Sandstone turbidites outcropped at western Ireland,the depositional model of deepwater turbidite lobes is established.Seven types of lithofacies are recognized including goniatites-rich shale,laminated shale,laminated siltstone,massive sandstone,fine-medium sandstone with mud-clast,basal gravel,and chaotic mudstone,which can be subdivided into units of three origins,turbidite lobe,turbidite channel,and slide-slump;and four hierarchical levels,lobe complex,lobe,lobe element and single sandstone layer.The lobes show apparent compensational stacking pattern,lobe elements display typical thickening-upward cycles on vertical profile,and the higher the hierarchical level,the better the preservation of the hierarchical boundary is.In general,turbidite lobe deposits appear as tabular,parallel/sub-parallel sandstone and mudstone interbeds,and change from thick,massive sandstone in the proximal end to thinner sandstone and mudstone interbeds from axis to fringe,with the sand-shale ratio and degree of sandstone amalgamation decreasing.

沾化凹陷孤北洼陷东三段沉积体系类型及差异分布

沾化凹陷孤北洼陷东营组油气资源十分丰富,但沉积类型及其分布制约了油气勘探方向和精细勘探。文中综合孤北洼陷钻测井、岩心和三维地震资料,详细研究了东营组东三段沉积类型及其时空分布特征。结果表明:1)孤北洼陷东三段(Ed3)发育近岸水下扇、辫状河三角洲、滑塌浊积扇、滨浅湖和半深湖—深湖沉积。2)东三段沉积类型时空分布差异性特征明显。西缘陡坡带发育近源砂砾岩与暗色泥岩组合的近岸水下扇;南侧和东侧缓坡带发育辫状河三角洲;洼陷内发育湖相泥岩,断裂带附近多为滑塌浊积扇。3)沉积相带影响了储层质量。距源区越远,结构成熟度越高,则有利储层越发育;滑塌浊积扇相带储层质量优于辫状河三角洲相带,近岸水下扇相带相对较差。

南非奥特尼夸盆地构造沉积演化与油气成藏

南非奥特尼夸盆地油气勘探程度非常低,2019年与2020年连续的天然气大发现吸引了国内外油气公司广泛关注。基于IHS数据库、新项目评价及文献等资料,综合分析表明:奥特尼夸盆地经历了二叠纪以来的前裂谷、同裂谷、过渡期和裂谷后4个演化阶段;主要沉积了裂谷期陆相碎屑岩及过渡期–裂谷后的海相碎屑岩。盆地主力烃源岩为豪特里维阶和巴雷姆–阿普特阶海相页岩;发育了同裂谷期凡兰吟阶顶部浅海相砂岩和漂移早期阿尔比阶海相深水碎屑岩两套重要的储集层,储盖组合条件优越;共形成了巴雷姆–阿尔比阶砂岩、凡兰吟−豪特里维阶砂岩、上侏罗统−下白垩统砂岩和基底4套成藏组合。油气分布呈“西多东少”格局,目前应以Bredasdorp次盆大陆边缘深水区白垩系透镜状浊积砂岩为勘探重点。