Characterization of fluvial and aeolian reservoirs: problems and approaches

North, Colin P.; Prosser, D. J.

doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.1993.073.01.01

Cited by 24 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Depositional models of fluvial clastic basins are difficult to develop and often incomplete because correlation on a basin-wide scale is barred by frequent irregular lateral and vertical facies changes, common secondary alteration that obscures original depositional features, and indistinguishable lithologies coupled with a shortage and limited extent of distinctive marker beds (Swinehart, 1974;North and Prosser, 1993;Sweet, 1999;Newell, 2001). The lenticular, indistinct units and frequent absence of viable marker beds often hinders detailed stratigraphic investigations in these basins, which is critical to the understanding of depositional causes and timing, stratigraphic context of fossil assemblages, and the three-dimensional extent of contained mineral or water resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Ogallala Formation Deposition Revealed by U-Pb Zircon Geochronology

Hallman¹,

McLean²,

Möller³

et al. 2016

Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs

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Difficulties in correlation within continental clastic basins arise from the common shortage of reliable marker beds, which limits characterization of geological relationships. In the High Plains of the central United States, an improved understanding of the stratigraphic architecture of the terrestrial Ogallala Formation can be used to improve management of depleted groundwater resources, illuminate the causes of fluvial aggradation, enhance the western US climatic record, and strengthen the temporal precision of the North American Land Mammal Ages. Such relationships can be derived from chronostratigraphic information provided by abundant, dateable, volcanogenic zircon in volcanic ashes and fluvial beds, which provide the first highprecision (ca. 1-5% uncertainty) radioisotopic dates for the Ogallala Formation. These zirconbearing ashes appear to have travelled ~1350 km from their interpreted sources within the Bruneau-Jarbidge and Twin Falls volcanic centers in Idaho, suggesting that volcanogenic zircon has the previously unappreciated potential to time-stamp terrestrial surfaces at great distances from contemporaneous magmatic centers. Volcanic ash depositional ages are consistent with fluvial maximum depositional ages, indicating that deposition of common lithologies within the Ogallala Formation, including sands, paleosols, and volcanic ashes can be reliably dated with modern, high-precision techniques. Zircon U-Pb LA-ICP-MS results suggest diachronous aggradation of the Ogallala Formation in Kansas, particularly deposition of an inferred Norton lobe in northern Kansas that initiated prior to ~12.5 Ma and aggraded to near-modern levels by 11.7 Ma, measurably earlier than the ~8-9.5 Ma deposition of an inferred Ellis lobe over a bedrock high in central Kansas. The observed diachronous relationships predict aquifer anisotropy that could inform efforts to develop numerical groundwater models designed to forecast aquifer response to different conservation strategies. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Ogallala Formation Deposition Revealed by U-Pb Zircon Geochronology

Hallman¹,

McLean²,

Möller³

et al. 2016

Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs

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“…The three-dimensional (3D) architecture of sandstone bodies is not only the most 40 complex and unpredictable but also the most important fluvial attribute that must be taken 41 into account when characterizing reservoirs located within ancient fluvial sedimentary 42 successions (North and Prosser, 1993). As noted by Miall (1996), these deposits are difficult 43 to map in detail because of the high lateral heterogeneity of their facies and the poor 44 definition of individual beds in successions consisting of repeated channel and overbank 45 units.…”

Section: Introduction 34mentioning

confidence: 99%

Unlocking the correlation in fluvial outcrops by using a DOM-derived virtual datum: Method description and field tests in the Huesca fluvial fan, Ebro Basin (Spain)

Calvo

Ramos

2015

Geosphere

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8Adequate characterization of depositional architecture is of great importance when 9 studying fluvial outcrops as reservoir analogs. The complex three-dimensional (3D) 10 distribution and lateral/vertical relationships of sandstone bodies require a high degree of 11 stratigraphic control in order to make a proper assessment of the distribution and connectivity 12 of the reservoir facies. This demands the use of reliable correlation datums. Unfortunately, 13 clear marker beds (e.g., ash/coal layers and paleosols) are not always available in fluvial 14 outcrops, and when present they are often covered by vegetation or debris that prevents their 15 tracking over long distances. 16A new method to achieve highly accurate and semiautomatic correlations within 17 fluvial DOMs (Digital Outcrop Model) is presented in response to the need for further 18 correlation procedures, especially in the absence of suitable datums. The method is based on 19 the hypothesis that the average depositional paleosurface of a sedimentary system can be 20represented by a plane at outcrop scale. If this assumption is valid, this plane can be used as a 21Virtual Datum to identify along the DOM the sediments that were deposited simultaneously. 22The method was tested and applied successfully within two kilometer-scale outcrops 23 of the Huesca Fluvial Fan (Early Miocene, N Spain), where the Virtual Datum provided 24 accurate correlations regardless of stratigraphic or topographical complexities. Moreover, the 25 entire sedimentary successions were automatically subdivided into the desired stratigraphic 26 intervals by only moving the Virtual Datum vertically. These intervals can be subsequently 27 isolated to facilitate the detection of subtle variations and trends of their fluvial properties. 28

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“…Within these often-complex reservoirs, fluid distribution and flow are ultimately controlled by the architecture of the depositional system and the internal fabric and geometry of the sedimentary bodies (North and Prosser 1993). It is, therefore, essential to define the variability and geological discontinuities in these systems to accurately characterize the reservoir and consequently be able to better understand and predict fluid distribution and flow (Alexander 1993;North and Prosser 1993;Doherty et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seismic reflection data can only resolve the large-scale architecture, and well data provides a widely spaced dataset that describes less than 0.1% of the reservoir (North and Prosser 1993). Hence, in the majority of oil and gas fields the available data offers little information on the architecture and spatial relationship (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The traditional methods of observation are, however, largely paper-based for both data collection and interpretation, which provide predominantly qualitative data (Jones et al 2004;McCaffrey et al 2005). There are limitations in how this abundant descriptive data, that lacks a spatial attribute (Miall and Tyler 1991), can be utilized in reservoir models as an aid to geostatistical modelling (Bryant and Flint 1993;North and Prosser 1993;Caers and Zhang 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applications of digital outcrop models: two fluvial case studies from the Triassic Wolfville Fm., Canada and Oukaimeden Sandstone Fm., Morocco

et al. 2009

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The application and benefits of employing digital outcrop models (DOMs) are discussed using two Triassic fluvial case studies to demonstrate data collection and integration methods. Developments in data analysis techniques are examined to demonstrate their utility for collecting meaningful and reliable statistical information needed to build realistic stochastic reservoir models. To establish a significant geostatistical dataset a large number of accurate observations are required. It is difficult to get the necessary statistics using subsurface data alone, due to the limited resolution and/or areal coverage of respectively seismic and well data. Outcrop studies are, therefore, commonly utilized to provide analogue statistical information (e.g. channel width, length, thickness and thickness vs. width ratio). Traditional data collection methods used in the field are however largely restricted to areas with (easy) physical access, or using remote observations with limited accuracy, such as photographic methods.Digital data collection techniques such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and differential GPS allow more accurate measurements, as well as from previously inaccessible locations, to be taken of sedimentary architecture. The technique generates much larger volumes of measurements, as the area from which accurate data can be extracted is increased. This offers a more meaningful statistical dataset, hence reducing uncertainty in the final reservoir model.Both case studies, the Oukaimeden Sandstone Formation (OSF), Morocco and Wolfville Formation, Canada, are from Late Triassic braided fluvial systems. The OSF dataset has been used to illustrate how geometric information of channel width versus thickness relationships (W:T) are collected using a projection plane technique. The results show W:T variations between 3.49:1 in the Lower Oukaimeden member, 1.54:1 in the Middle Oukaimeden member and 3.75:1 in the Upper Oukaimeden member, demonstrating the observed architectural evolution of the fluvial system. The Wolfville Formation case study shows how DGPS in combination with LiDAR data has been used to more accurately map faults to obtain statistical information on fault orientation (NE-SW) and length (mean ¼ 38.3 m and median ¼ 18.2 m). Another applied analysis technique utilizes a facies classified point-cloud to aid surface correlations between sedimentary logs and construct a log based correlation panel from which estimates of facies frequencies are derived.

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Characterization of fluvial and aeolian reservoirs: problems and approaches

Cited by 24 publications

References 22 publications

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Ogallala Formation Deposition Revealed by U-Pb Zircon Geochronology

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Ogallala Formation Deposition Revealed by U-Pb Zircon Geochronology

Unlocking the correlation in fluvial outcrops by using a DOM-derived virtual datum: Method description and field tests in the Huesca fluvial fan, Ebro Basin (Spain)

Applications of digital outcrop models: two fluvial case studies from the Triassic Wolfville Fm., Canada and Oukaimeden Sandstone Fm., Morocco

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