--> Abstract: Integrated CHIRP and Water Bottom Sediment Sampling Across a Modern Carbonate Platform, Turks and Caicos, BWI; #90063 (2007)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Integrated CHIRP and Water Bottom Sediment Sampling Across a Modern Carbonate Platform, Turks and Caicos, BWI

 

Ruf, Amy S.1, Jason W. Eleson2, Bryan Motzel3, Timothy S. Dulaney4, Gregory S. Benson5, Stephen Kaczmarek6, Lisa K. Meeks4, Sean A. Guidry5, Eugene C. Rankey7, Stacy L. Reeder8, Humberto Guarin6, James R. Markello5, Jim Weber9 (1) ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, TX (2) ExxonMobil Development Company, Houston, (3) ExxonMobil Production Company, Houston, (4) ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, (5) ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, (6) N/A, N/A, (7) University of Miami, Miami, FL (8) University of Miami, Miami, (9) ExxonMobil, Houston, TX

 

Marine 2D CHIRP sub-bottom profile data and collocated water bottom sediment samples were collected along several transects on the Caicos Platform, Turks and Caicos, BWI, to evaluate roles of antecedent topography and present day physical conditions on distribution of Holocene carbonate sediments. Approximately 200 km of CHIRP data were collected over platform interior, tidal pass, tidal delta, reef lagoon, and beach to fore-reef environments. The top Pleistocene surface and intra-Holocene stratigraphy are imaged on unprocessed CHIRP lines. Reflection strength of the water bottom is strongly correlated to sediment induration, providing an indicator of surface hardness conditions along CHIRP lines. Shoals, patch reefs, channels, margins, and possible structural deformation features can be interpreted and calibrated to sediment sampling observations. Initial results show minimal correlation between Pleistocene topography and Holocene sedimentation across the platform interior and reef lagoon. Approximately 300 sediment samples were collected along CHIRP transects and from beach and platform interior shoal environments not accessible by marine CHIRP equipment. At each sample location, water depth and GPS coordinates were recorded, and detailed descriptions of biota, environment, and physical conditions were documented. Sediment sample observations were compiled into a database linked to a GIS to provide spatial context to distribution of grains, sedimentary structures, biota, and physical conditions. Evaluation of trends and spatial distribution of these features, integrated with CHIRP observations, provides insights on facies prediction and controls of carbonate sedimentation on the Caicos platform and may be used to more accurately characterize porosity and permeability trends in carbonate geomodels.

 

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