Contourite porosity, grain size and reservoir characteristics

Abstract

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Contourite characterization and its discrimination from other deep‐water deposits in the Gulf of Cadiz contourite depositional system

“…The distinctive grain-size trend from F1 to F3, depicted in Figs 5 and 13, coincides with the contourite depositional trend defined by Brackenridge et al (2018) and recently studied in detail by Yu et al (2020). However, the presence of relics (Fig.…”

“…In contrast to F1 and F2, the inverse relationship between sorting and grain size in this facies occurs approximately at 50 to 60 µm (Fig. 5A), indicating an increase in bedload transport by saltation and the onset of significant winnowing, as suggested by Brackenridge et al (2018) and Yu et al (2020). This is also observed in the cumulative frequency curve: the gradient shift marks a decrease in deposition from suspension, with a greater fraction of sediment coming from the saltation load (Fig.…”

“…4B), suggests that F2 was deposited through settling from weak bottom currents (0.1 m s À1 ) with a dominantly fine suspension load (Fig. 7B) (Brackenridge et al, 2018;Yu et al, 2020). The alternating Planolites horizons and Thalassinoides isolated burrows (Fig.…”

First Evidence of Contourite Drifts in the North-Western Sicilian Active Continental Margin (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

“…Evidence of large contourite drifts (or sediment drift) was documented and accurately described for the first time in the Northern and Southern Atlantic in the early 1960s [11], and since then similar drifts successively have been discovered in several oceans, seas, and even in lakes [12]. A growing number of studies focus on contourite drifts [1] since they can provide significant insights for paleo-oceanographic and paleo-climatic reconstructions [4,13], hydrocarbon exploration [14,15], slope stability/geological hazard assessment [6,[16][17][18], and recently for microplastic accumulation in deep-water [19].…”

A mixed turbidite – contourite system related to a major submarine canyon: The Marquês de Pombal Drift (south‐west Iberian margin)

“…Finally, the identification of contourite deposits is of paramount importance for offshore geohazard assessment (Laberg & Camerlenghi, 2008;Rebesco et al, 2014;Casas et al, 2015;Miramontes et al, 2016a). Climatic variations modify the intensity and depth of contour current pathways, producing an alternation of poorly sorted, low-permeability, fine-grained sediments with coarser sand beds (Laberg et al, 2005;Rebesco & Camerlenghi, 2006;Knutz, 2008;Miramontes et al, 2016bMiramontes et al, , 2018Brackenridge et al, 2018;de Castro et al, 2020;Yu et al, 2020). Such alternation favours the generation of weak layers (Laberg et al, 2005;Laberg & Camerlenghi, 2008;Nicholson et al, 2020) and overpressure (Solheim et al, 2005), which increase the likelihood of failure.…”