Seismic Expression of Depositional Systems Tracts and Application to Hydrocarbon Exploration in Bredasdorp Basin, Offshore South Africa

Gareth W. J. Beamish

Postrift Cretaceous sequences of Bredasdorp basin, offshore South Africa, were rigorously analyzed using the unified application of the latest seismic-stratigraphic, sequence-stratigraphic, and depositional systems concepts. Using 101 seismic profiles totaling 5,600 km, we identified ten cyclic depositional sequences bounded by nine type 1 and two type 2 unconformities. Component depositional systems tracts exhibit a distinct seismic expression and can be delineated using truncation and lap-out relationships. Lowstand systems tracts developed on type 1 unconformities, which resulted from relative sea level fall below the shelf edge. In a terrigenous clastic basin such as Bredasdorp, these tracts are interpreted as being composed of basin-floor turbidite fans, channels, an /or sheets. These features formed contemporaneously with the erosion of incised valleys and submarine canyons, followed by channelized slope fans and deltaic/coastal lowstand wedges that prograded during a relative sea level rise. Subsequent flooding of the shelf as relative sea level rise accelerated resulted in poorly defined transgressive systems tracts. With the relative sea level at a highstand, extensively developed deltaic/coastal systems prograded basinward, exhibiting well-defined clinoforms.

The major hydrocarbon plays in the lowstand tracts occur as mounded basin-floor turbidite fans, channel fills, and draped sheets and are found in the updip pinch-out of deltaic/coastal sandstones.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91022©1989 AAPG Annual Convention, April 23-26, 1989, San Antonio, Texas.