Sedimentological Processes Modeling

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Sedimentological Processes Modeling

• Christopher G. St.C. Kendall

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Outline of Presentation

• Data - Outcrops, well log seismic cross
  sections
• Sequence stratigraphy modeling
• Relative sea level 2D/3D sedimentary
  simulations
• Inverse conceptual simulation models versus
  numerical forward modeling
• Short-term, high-resolution, local versus
  long-term basin wide
• Holocene data particularly carbonates
• Sedimentary simulation movies modeling.

Interconnected modules of numerical process
simulations of sedimentary basins evolution - the
future
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Sequence Stratigraphy History

• 1791 - William Smith established relationship of
  sedimentary rocks to geologic time
• 1962 - Hess proposed the theory of sea-floor
  spreading
• 1963 - Vine Matthews identified deep ocean
  paleomagnetic "stripes
• 1965 - Wilson began developing the theory of
  plate tectonics
• 1977 - Vail proposed the discipline of sequence
  stratigraphy

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Types of Simulations

• Sedimentary modeling
• Carbonates vs. clastics
• Stochastic vs. deterministic
• Fuzzy vs. empirical
• Small vs large oceanic basins

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Traditional Use of Sedimentary Simulations
Sedimentary process models from outcrops, well
log seismic cross sections used to

• Understand complexities of clastic or carbonate
  stratigraphy
• Identify model sedimentary systems.
• Quantify models that explain predict stratal
  geometries within sequences.
• Used by specialized experts who design build
  the simulations.

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Sedimentological Processes Modeling
2D 3D sedimentary simulations, relative sea
level, physical processes, sedimentation
erosion

• Inverse conceptual simulation models
• Numerical forward modeling advanced.
• Short-term, high-resolution local events vs a
  long-term regional events

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Approaches to modeling Geometric models

• Fixed depositional geometries are assumed
• Conservation of mass
• Simple computations through general nonlinear
  dynamic models
• Variations in depositional geometries
• Variations in surface slope vs discharge
• More complex computationally

Chris Paola, 2002
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Some sedimentary models

• Short-term local events

• SEDSIM (Tetzlaff and Harbaugh, 1989)
• SEDFLUX (Syvitski et al., 1998a Syvitski et
  al., 1998b)

• Long-term regional events

• PHIL (Bowman et al 1999)
• SEDPAK (Eberli, et al, 1994)
• FUZZIM (Nordlund1999ab)
• CSM (Syvitski et al., 2002)
• Robinson and Slingerland, 1998
• Steckler et al., 1993.

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Geometric Model

• Ross et al., 1995
• Jervey, 1988
• Perlmutter et al., 1998

Chris Paola
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Chris Paola
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Geometric Models Jurassic Tank

• Chris Paola, 2002.

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Geometric Model
Eberli, et al, 1994
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Uses by Specialized Users

• John W. Harbaugh 3D sedimentary fill
• Carey et al., model high-resolution sequence
  stratigraphy
• Bowman Vail empirical stratigraphic
  interpretion - stratigraphy of the Baltimore
  Canyon
• Kendall et al., empirical stratigraphic simulator
  for Bahamas
• Syvitski et al., model links fluvial discharge,
  suspended sediment plume, associated turbidites,
  the effects of slope stability, debris flow, and
  downslope diffusion

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Approaches to modeling Geometric models

• Aigner - Deterministic 2D
• Bosence et al. - 3D Forward Fieldwork
• Bosscher - 2D Forward Model
• Bowman - Forward Model
• Cowell - Shoreface Model
• Cross and Duan - 3D Forward Model
• Demicco - Fuzzy Modeling

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Some of the carbonate modelers

• Aigner - Deterministic 2D
• Bosence et al. - 3D Forward Fieldwork
• Bosscher - 2D Forward Model
• Bowman - Forward Model
• Cowell - Shoreface Model
• Cross and Duan - 3D Forward Model
• Demicco - Fuzzy Modeling

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Further carbonate modelers!

• Flemmings - Meter-scale shaoling cycles
• Goldhammer - High-frequency platform carbonate
  cycles
• Granjeon - Diffusion-based stratigraphic model
• Kendall Deterministic forward model
• Ulf Nordlund - Fuzzy logic
• Read - Two-dimensional modeling
• Rivanaes - Depth-dependent diffusion models of
  erosion, transport sedimentation

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Why limited use of simulations

• Software integrates seismic, well logs, outcrops
  current depositional systems
• On site interpretations evalutation of data
  revealing origin of sediment depositional systems
• Models explain sedimentary geometries displayed
  on interpreted seismic well log sections

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Historically sedimentary modeling derived from
real data
Data Sources

• Seismic
• Wells.
• Outcrop
• But less from
• Holocene

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Seismic
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Wells
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Outcrops
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Outcrops
King 1954
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Simulation Data Needs

• Models are commonly based on subsurface
• Input variables known but values are inferred
  from geologic record
• Need to refine observations at deposition
• Complexity needs to be handled by a team approach

Need to gather data from a Holocene setting like
the Arabian Gulf
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Regional Drainage Into Basin
Restricted Entrance To Sea
Isolated linear Belt of interior drainage
Arid Tropics Air System
Wide Envelope of surrounding continents
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United Arab Emirate Coast
Arid Climate
Barrier Island Coast
Coastal Evaporite System
Reef Platform
Aeolian System
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United Arab Emirate Coast
Tidal Deltas
Arid Climate
Coastal Evaporite System
Reef Lagoon
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Power of Simulation Movies

• Annotated movies of sedimentary simulation show
  evolution of sedimentary geometries in response
  to variations in rates of
• Sedimentation
• Tectonic movement
• Sea-level position

Movies involve hypothetical real-life examples
based on outcrops, well log seismic cross
sections.
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Clastic Simulation
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Geometric Effects of Sea Level Change

• On-lap with rising sea level
• Off-lap with falling sea level
• By-pass at low stands of sea level
• Erosion at low stands of sea level
• Ravinement with sea level transgressions
• Landward continental clastics at high stands
• Seaward carbonates at high stands

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Chronostratigraphic Chart
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Chronostratigraphic Chart
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Chronostratigraphic Chart
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Chronostratigraphic Chart
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Chronostratigraphic Chart
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Chronostratigraphic Chart
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Venezuelan Example
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Example 1 Well Log Correlation
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Example 1 Well Log Correlation
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Example 1 Well Log Correlation
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Venezuelan - Example
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Sedimentary Simulations Sequence Stratigraphy

• Factors controlling sequence stratigraphic
  geometries
• Efficient interpretations of data
• Enhances biostratigraphy infers ages
• Quantifies models
• Identifies models ancient sedimentary systems
• Sharing data with others

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Potential use of sedimentary simulations

• Stratal architecture - hydrocarbon exploration
• Water storage geochemistry of hydrologic cycle
• Natural hazards assessment of risk
• Landscapes management
• Sedimentary basins as incubators of the deep
  biosphere
• Control carbon other elemental cycles from
  sedimentary basins eroded landscapes
• Tracking global regional climate change

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Sedimentary Simulations Conclusions

• Earlier sedimentary simulation modelled large
  scale processes
• Will focus on smaller scale processes, to predict
  distribution of heterogeneous sedimentary facies
  from

a)      3D perspective b)      Fluid flow
c)      Role of diagenesis
These models will probably involve combinations
of fuzzy logic, empirical, stochastic
deterministic algorithms
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Simulation Design

• The design use of sedimentary simulations
  involves
• Complexity of stratigraphic geometries and
  sedimentation
• Changes in base level
• Data sources quality
• Types of output
• Sensitivity of the results to errors in data
  input model used

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Simulations - which way?

• Sedimentary models are a mix of deterministic and
  process driven
• Input variables are know but their value has to
  inferred from the geologic record
• Sedimentary models are going 3D
• Subsurface models are commonly oil field based
• Movies are worth a thousand words

Sharpens accelerates ability to observe
interpret complex sequence stratigraphic
geometric relationships
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Future Directions
Recently emphasis within the USA by US Government
agencies associated academic institutes

• Interconnected modules of numerical process
  simulations
• Track the evolution of sedimentary basins their
  associated landscapes
• Time scales ranging from individual events to
  many millions of years

http//instaar.Colorado.EDU/deltaforce/workshop/cs
m.html).
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Community Model
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Conclusions Future

• Emphasis has been switched to whether
• One process should be coupled or uncoupled with
  respect to another
• A particular process is deterministic or
  stochastic
• Analytical solutions have yet been formulated for
  a particular process
• Processes can be scaled across time and space
• Developing adequate databases on key parameters
  from field or laboratory measurement
• Levels of simplification (1D, 2D, 3D)

Thus initially while over simple forward
conceptual empirical models were more widely
used, lately computational process driven forward
models have gained greater acceptance,
collective models may be the new wave
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