Multiscale Stratigraphic Reservoir Characterization for Flow and Storage of CO2: Roadmap for Modelling and Quantitative Understanding

This poster outlines a hierarchical, multiscale modelling approach that is adapted from proven hydrocarbon reservoir characterization workflows to determine which 3D sedimentological and stratigraphic heterogeneity types at which temporal and spatial scales and in which configurations are most important for successful long-term CO2 storage. The...

Use of forward stratigraphic modelling for the detection of sub-seismic scale heterogeneities in shallow marine environments

Many stratigraphic features occur at a scale that is at the edge or below vertical seismic resolution. Thus, they cannot be directly observed in the seismic data, while still having an important effect on the fluid flow within the system. The better understanding of these sub-seismic scale features or heterogeneities can help decrease subsurface...

Sandstone body character and river planform styles of the lower Eocene Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, USA

ABSTRACT The lower Eocene Willwood Formation of the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, USA, is an alluvial succession with a sand content varying around 25 palaeoenvironments and palaeoclimates, as well as sedimentological and stratigraphic analysis. Channel dynamics were studied at a relatively low resolution throughout the basin over the geological time...

Evaluating alluvial stratigraphic response to cyclic and non-cyclic upstream forcing through process-based alluvial architecture modelling

Formation of alluvial stratigraphy is controlled by autogenic processes that mix their imprints with allogenic forcing. In some alluvial successions, sedimentary cycles have been linked to astronomically-driven, cyclic climate changes. However, it remains challenging to define how such cyclic allogenic forcing leads to sedimentary cycles when...

Grain size fractionation by process-driven sorting in sandy to muddy deltas

Modern and ancient analogues are often consulted by geologists to help understand subsurface systems. While modern analogues provide information on the areal relationship between facies, ancient systems provide detailed data on the vertical facies variations, typically along a two-dimensional outcrop. Combining data from modern and ancient...

Predictable patterns in stacking and distribution of channelized fluvial sand bodies linked to channel mobility and avulsion processes

Despite the importance of channel avulsion in constructing fluvial stratigraphy, it is unclear how contrasting avulsion processes are reflected in stratigraphic-stacking patterns of channelized fluvial sand bodies, as a proxy for how river depocenters shifted in time and space. Using an integrated, geospatially referenced, three-dimensional...

Modelling orbital climate signals in fluvial stratigraphy

There are certain orbital cycles influencing the relative position and location of the earth towards the sun, resulting in the cyclic insolation received on the earth, which causes climate changes and subsequent environmental response in the catchment, including precipitation, temperature, and vegetation, and so on. Furthermore, such catchment...

Sediment deposition and preservation in mouth bar complexes of prograding deltas

In deltaic deposits, the largest volumes of sandy deposits occur at the delta top (as channel accretion, overbank deposits) and as distinct or amalgamated sandy mouth bars in the upper delta front. We use process-based models to study the sediment distribution in four evolving deltas, each with a different input sediment profile. We show how the...

Modelling astronomical climate signals in fluvial stratigraphy

Orbital climate forcing is demonstrated to result in cyclic changes as reflected in the catchment, including precipitation, temperature, vegetation, sediment supply and water discharge. All of these are known to largely impact alluvial architecture. Climate change related to the 21-kyr precession cycle was proposed as driver of regularly...

Differences in mouthbar complex geometry and grain size trends across systems with different sediment supply compositions

Extracting 3D grain size trends across synthetic analogues of prograding deltas created in Delft3D GeoTool

Geological models are generated by interpretation and interpolation of sparse data. To limit uncertainty, relevant analogues are used to extrapolate knowledge of previously studied, well understood systems. However, these analogues only provide a snapshot of deposition. During delta progradation, sediment will not only be deposited, but is also...