Characterization of mass transport deposits using seismic attributes: Upper Leonard Formation, Permian Basin

Abstract

The Permian Basin is a structurally complex sedimentary basin with an extensive history of tectonic deformation. As the basin evolved through time, sediments dispersed into the basin floor from surrounding carbonate platforms leading to various mass movements. One such mass movement is observed on a 3D seismic survey in the Upper Leonard interval (Lower Permian) of the Midland Basin that is characteristic of a mass transport deposit (MTD). The 350 ft thick MTD mapped in the study area is 5 mi wide, extends up to 14 mi basinward, and covers only the translational and compressional regime of the mass movement. A unique sedimentary feature, unlike those observed previously, is mapped and interpreted as gravity spreading. MTDs have been extensively studied in the Delaware Basin of Permian-aged strata; however, only a few works have been published on the geomorphological expression of MTDs using seismic and seismic attributes to delineate the shape, size, and anatomy of this subsurface feature. The MTD in the study area exhibits an array of features including slide, slump, basal shear surface, and MTD grooves. In cross section, the MTD is characterized as chaotic with semitransparent reflectors terminating laterally against a coherent package of seismic facies, or the lateral wall. Sobel filter-based coherence, structural curvature, dip magnitude, and dip azimuth attributes are used to map thrust faults within the discontinuous MTD. Kinematic evidence provided by the Upper Spraberry isopach suggests that this MTD was sourced north of the Midland Basin and deposited on the basin floor fairway. Slope strata are interpreted from well-log analysis showing MTD as a mixture of carbonates and siliciclastics with a moderate to high resistivity response.

Seismic Diffraction Imaging to Characterize Mass‐Transport Complexes: Examples From the Gulf of Cadiz, South West Iberian Margin

“…Seismic discontinuity attributes are routinely computed as part of a traditional geohazard interpretation workflow in order to screen for, characterize, and delineate MTCs (e.g., Alves et al., 2014; Bhatnagar et al., 2019). Here, we calculate the similarity and chaos attributes of the full‐wavefield seismic image to compare to the diffraction image (Figure 8).…”

“…Seismic attributes can highlight discontinuities and identify areas of disrupted seismic reflectors by deriving statistical properties within data windows of seismic images. Such approaches have been applied to discriminate MTCs from background sedimentation (when they have chaotic internal seismic character) as well as to characterize the flow direction and assess the degree of internal disaggregation (e.g., Alves et al., 2014; Bhatnagar et al., 2019). Seismic attributes, however, are typically derived from full‐wavefield seismic images, which suffer from the lateral resolution limits outlined above, and data windowing can reduce their effective resolution with respect to the original image.…”

Seismic diffraction imaging to better characterise mass-transport complexes: examples from the Gulf of Cadiz, south west Iberian Margin

“…Seismic discontinuity attributes are routinely computed as part of a traditional geohazard interpretation workflow in order to screen for, characterise and delineate MTCs (e.g., Alves et al, 2014;Bhatnagar et al, 2019). Here, we calculate the similarity and chaos attributes of the full-wavefield seismic image to compare to the diffraction image (Fig.…”

“…Seismic attributes can highlight discontinuities and identify areas of disrupted seismic reflectors by deriving statistical properties within data windows of seismic images. Such approaches have been applied to discriminate MTCs from background sedimentation (when they have chaotic internal seismic character) as well as to characterise the flow direction and assess the degree of internal disaggregation (e.g., Alves et al, 2014;Bhatnagar et al, 2019). Seismic attributes, however, are typically derived from full-wavefield seismic images, which suffer from the lateral resolution limits outlined above, and data windowing can reduce their effective resolution with respect to the original image.…”

Mass transport processes, injectites and styles of sediment remobilization

“…The notion that mass transport complexes (MTCs) and deposits (MTDs) can be associated with hydrocarbon accumulations is not novel among explorationists (Fairbridge, 1946). Such deposits have historically been considered as a depositional facies to avoid from a viewpoint of hydrocarbon exploration (Posamentier and Kolla, 2003;Weimer and Slatt, 2004), but it is now understood that MTCs and MTDs can contain hydrocarbon source intervals (Tanavsuu-Milkeviciene and Sarg, 2012;Johnson et al, 2015), reservoirs (Shanmugam et al, 2009;Meckel, 2011;Bhatnagar et al, 2019), or constitute competent seal units (Godo, 2006;Alves, 2010a;Algar et al, 2011;Cardona et al, 2016Cardona et al, , 2020bKessler and Jong, 2018;Amy, 2019) see Chapter 7 in this book. In addition, the relief created by the emplacement of MTCs and MTDs on the seafloor can influence the pathways of post-emplacement turbidite flows (Armitage et al, 2009;Jackson and Johnson, 2009;Kneller et al, 2016;Ward et al, 2018;Henry et al, 2018) creating space on the seafloor for "healing phase" top-fill reservoir targets (Wood et al, 2015).…”