On the
Connectivity of Point Bars
Donselaar, Marinus Eric1,
Irina Overeem1 (1)
Point bar deposits form an important
architectural element in fluvial reservoir models. Point bar geometry and
permeability distribution are well constrained by detailed lithofacies studies.
However, it is remarkable that point bar sandstone bodies are typically
considered as isolated reservoir elements, because they are not the exclusive
locus of sand accumulation in meandering rivers. Inherent to the process of bed
load sediment transport, the entire channel floor of a meandering river is
covered with sandy megaripples.
Outcrop studies of Miocene fluvial
deposits in the
Our outcrop results stress the
preservation potential of channel floor sandstone bodies and their importance
in connecting point bar units in a downstream direction. It is of vital
importance to develop new functionality in fluvial reservoir architecture
modeling which allows the connectivity between channel floor and point bar
architectural elements in reservoir realizations, because this may greatly impact
the estimated reservoir volumes.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California