--> Abstract: Mass-Transport-Complexes (MTCs) in the Western Offshore Nile Delta: Morphology, Distribution, Controls and Implications for Ex; #90063 (2007)
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Mass-Transport-Complexes (MTCs) in the Western Offshore Nile Delta: Morphology, Distribution, Controls and Implications for Exploration

 

Hansen, Previous HitDortheTop Moeller1, Jonathan Redfern2 (1) University of Manchetser, Manchester, United Kingdom (2) University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

 

This research focuses on MTCs in the Plio-Pleistocene section of a large (>5,000km2) 3D seismic survey from the offshore Nile Delta. MTCs occur throughout the survey area and are particularly abundant in the shallowest section. They vary from small (a few km3), often frontally emergent MTCs that exhibit simple internal deformation to much larger (several tens of km3), typically frontally confined MTCs, that exhibit highly variable and largely chaotic internal characters reflecting a high degree of internal deformation.

 

Detailed seismic mapping allows analysis of the controls on development and location of MTCs. Some MTCs are initiated in the hangingwall of a NE-SW trending segment of the Rosetta Fault, and some are laterally confined by N-S trending segments of the fault. Timing of fault movement is coincident with MTC development. Local erosion and collapse of the footwall indicates multiple episodes of considerable fault scarp development. In the central part of the study area MTCs show a clear spatial relationship with the underlying Nile Delta Offshore Anticline, whilst to the west, recent mass-wasting is attributed to shelf-break collapse.

 

Constructive and destructive MTC and channel-levee-system (CLS) relationships are evident throughout the study area and we provide a catalogue of styles of MTC-CLS interaction and consider their implications for hydrocarbon exploration. This research offers analogue data to provide a better understanding of slope processes, their controls and interaction, emphasizing the key importance this has for exploration in similar settings along the North Africa margin and the generic importance to exploration of slope systems worldwide.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California