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