--> Abstract: Palaeogeography and Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Palaeo-Earth Systems Modelling: Application for the Prediction of Reservoir Facie; #90063 (2007)

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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