Estimating
Sinuosity of an Outcropping Submarine Leveed-Channel
Complex
Slatt, Roger M.1, Staffan K. Van Dyke2, Janice M. Dodson1
(1) University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (2) Aera
Energy Co,
Detailed lithologic
variability of submarine leveed-channel deposits and
reservoirs normally cannot be determined from 3D seismic, seafloor or shallow
sub-sea imagery because of the lack of closely-spaced wells. Outcrops provide a
means to at least partially overcome this deficiency since lateral bed characteristics
can be documented. But, with very few exceptions, sinuosity is difficult-to-
impossible to document owing to the size and orientation of most outcrop belts
relative to channel trends. To partially overcome this problem we have used a
combination of techniques---including measured stratigraphic
sections, behind-outcrop drilling/logging/coring, ground-penetrating radar and
electromagnetic induction surveys, and 2D shallow seismic reflection
acquisition--- to build a partial, scaled 3D geologic model of a sinuous leveed-channel complex (Cretaceous Dad Sandstone,
This 3D model not only estimates
sinuosity, but relates it to the distribution of lithologies,
thus providing information on lithologic variability
which can be used for reservoir modeling and simulation.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California