Palaeogeography
and Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Palaeo-Earth Systems Modelling: Application for
the Prediction of Reservoir Facies in Frontier Basins
Harris, J. P.1, R. Crossley2,
N. J. Stronach2, T. Hudson3, PJ Valdes4, R.
Proctor5 (1) Fugro-Robertson Ltd, LLandudno, United Kingdom (2)
Fugro-Robertson Ltd, Llandudno, United Kingdom (3) Fugro-Robertson, Llandudno,
United Kingdom (4) Bristol University, Bristol, United Kingdom (5) Proudman
Oceanographic Laboratory, Liverpool, United Kingdom
In the last decade a methodology based on
detailed global palaeogeographic mapping as the basis for state-of-the-art
palaeo-Earth systems modelling (HadCM3 palaeoclimate model) has been devised
and successfully applied to the prediction of source rock environments. Here
the modelling of clastic sediment flux (drainage basin dynamics) and coastal,
shelf, and off shelf sediment dynamics has been extended and adapted for the
prediction clastic reservoir environments. Palaeotectonics and palaeoenvironments
maps underpinned by a global geological, palaeoenvironmental and lithofacies
database were prepared for a series of Mesozoic - Cenozoic time slices and a
new method relating topography and bathymetry to plate tectonic environments
was used as the basis for deriving palaeo digital elevation models (DEMs).
These were gridded in GIS and used to provide the topographic and bathymetric
boundary conditions for coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation models
(GCMs), and a barotropic model to simulate palaeotides. An extensive database
of climate proxies were used to test the veracity of the modelling results,
before the models were used to predict clastic reservoir distribution. Clastic
influx and shelfal to basinal redistribution has been modelled. Palaeogeography
and in particular the mapped width and bathymetry of continental shelves is an
important control. Predictions in coastal, shelf and off-shelf cascade sites
have been validated against isopachs and a database of clastic facies data
points.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California