--> Abstract: The Quest to Build Robust Stratigraphic Models for Shallow Marine Systems: Lessons from the Holocene, by Boyan Vakarelov and Bruce R. Ainsworth; #90078 (2008)

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The Quest to Build Robust Stratigraphic Models for Shallow Marine Systems: Lessons from the Holocene

Boyan Vakarelov and Bruce R. Ainsworth
Australian School of Petroleum, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Geomorphologic and oceanographic studies of shallow marine systems typically show levels of heterogeneity that are not described in their ancient counterparts. We have identified a number of attributes that hold true for Late Holocene and modern environments, but are not yet incorporated in predictive stratigraphic models:

(i) Late Holocene systems have been affected by numerous localized pulses of regression and transgression, caused by short term changes in sediment supply, physical oceanographic conditions or minor changes of relative sea level.

(ii) Late Holocene systems appear to be dominated by depositional elements (e.g., mouthbar sets, beach ridges, tidal bars, distributary channels) that occur on scales of hundreds of metres to kilometres rather than tens of kilometres.

(iii) Modern shorelines are primarily mixed-influence and are rarely dominated by a single river, wave, or tide end member processes.

(iv) Processes dominating a shoreline are best reflected in the frequency of occurrence of depositional elements rather than presence of an individual element. Individual depositional elements can occur across a large span of physical oceanographic conditions.

(v) Wave energy and tidal range show reciprocal behaviour relative to shelf width. Narrower shelves are prone to be wave-dominated, while wider shelves tend to be tide-dominated.

(vi) There is a clear distinction of clinoform gradients between wave- and tide-dominated shelves, with wave-dominated gradients predominantly being steeper.

We present a series of 2D and 3D models and case studies that illustrate how such findings can aid in the prediction of stratigraphic architecture in ancient systems, improve field development planning and ultimately reservoir performance.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas