Experimental Study of the Formation and Development of Sediment Waves

Gareth Keevil¹, Jeff Peakall¹, Kathryn Amos¹, Will Bradbury², and Jim Best^1
1 University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
² Rock Deformation Research, Leeds, United Kingdom

Sediment waves have been observed in many modern turbidite channel systems, the presence of which is often associated with the processes of overspill and flow-stripping as turbidity currents escape the confines of a channel. However, very little is known about the process of initiation and wave migration and how these relate to the fluid dynamics of channel overspill and flow-stripping.

This paper will present results from a series of new experiments where saline gravity currents were run through a submerged, fixed form, sinuous channel model over a bed of low-density polymer sediment. This resulted in the deposition of sediment waves on the overbank area, sub-parallel to the channel axis. High resolution ultrasonic bed profiling was used to provide a detailed bathymetric record of the sediment waves. A series of experiments, each of the same duration and magnitude allowed investigation of the initiation, growth and migration of the waves. Previous work on the same channel system has yielded a good understanding of the intra-channel processes and how these control overspill and flow-stripping from the channel model.

This work provides a novel insight into sediment wave formation and will improve our understanding of these processes. These results are of importance as hydrocarbon production from sediment wave sand bodies becomes increasingly important (Normark et al. 2002). Understanding the formation and migration of sediment waves and linking this to the processes of channel overspill, will lead to a better insight into the distribution of facies and thus the reservoir characteristics of such systems.

Reference:

Normark, W.R., Piper, D.J.W., Posamentier, H., Pirmez, C. and Migeon, S. (2002). Variability on form and growth of sediment waves on turbidite channel levees. Marine Geology 192, 23-58.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005