Numerical Modeling of Turbidity Current Hydrodynamics and Sedimentation in a Faulted-Margin Setting

Groenenberg, Remco M.¹, Wiebke Athmer¹, Marinus E. Donselaar¹, Dimitrios Sokoutis², Ernst Willingshofer² (1) Delft University of Technology, 2628RX, Delft, Netherlands (2) Free University Amsterdam, 1081HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Deep-marine reservoirs in the Vøring Basin (Norwegian Sea) have been in focus for exploration during the past decade. The basin margins are characterized by an intricate step-wise pattern of soft-linked extensional faults connected by relay ramps. Recent studies suggest that the gravity flow paths and reservoir architecture of the deep-marine reservoir sands are conditioned by syn-sedimentary fault movement during the Maastrichtian-Palaeocene rifting phase at the continental break-up of NW Europe and Greenland.

To gain insight into the influence of the synsedimentary evolution of the extensional faults on the geometry, internal composition and spatial distribution of potential reservoir sands in the Vøring Basin a process-based numerical model is used, which simulates turbidity current hydrodynamics and sedimentation in a faulted-margin setting in three dimensions. Model input consists of parameters defining initial topography and evolution thereof, as well as parameters related to the composition of the flows (grain size distribution, density, magnitude and recurrence frequency). The evolution of faulted-margin bathymetry is constrained using results from sandbox modeling.

Results will be presented of simulations in which turbidity currents interact with faulted-margin topography to produce deposits which are shown to differ in thickness, grain size and spatial distribution depending on fault topography and magnitude and density of the flows. Understanding of the influence of syn-sedimentary extensional faulting on the distribution of reservoir sands is important in optimizing future exploration efforts in the Vøring Basin.