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Composite Sand Bodies Architecture of Deep‐Water Turbidite Channels in the Niger Delta Basin
Author(s) -
LIN Yu,
WU Shenghe,
WANG Xing,
LING Yun,
LU Yao,
ZHANG Jiajia,
YU Zhi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/1755-6724.12348
Subject(s) - sinuosity , turbidite , geology , channel (broadcasting) , geomorphology , structural basin , petrology , engineering , electrical engineering
Deep‐water turbidite channels have attracted much attention as a focused issue in petroleum exploration and development. Extensive studies have been performed on the architecture of turbidite channels, and most researches have focused on their geometric shapes, sedimentary processes and controlling factors. However, little attention has been paid to the distribution patterns, distribution laws and quantitative studies of composite sand bodies of turbidite channels. Taken one slope area of the Niger Delta Basin as an example, this study conducted a semi‐quantitative to quantitative analysis on architecture of composite sand bodies of turbidite channels based on cores, well logging and seismic surveys. It is shown that turbidite channel systems can be classified as confined and unconfined channel systems. For confined channel systems, the vertical evolution process involves four stages. The sinuosity of a channel system is controlled by slope, with a negative power function relationship between them. When slope gradient reaches four degrees, the channel system is nearly straight. Based on the migration direction and migration amount of single channels within channel complexes, channel composite patterns can be divided into four classes (the lateral composite, en‐echelon composite, swing composite and vertical composite) and several subclasses. Various channel composite patterns show specific distribution laws spatially. For meandering channel complexes at the middle‐late evolution stage of confined channel systems, the lateral migration amongst single channels shows the features of integrity and succession. The sinuosity of single channels in the late period is greater than that in the early period, and cut‐offs may occur locally when the sinuosity is larger than five degrees. This study provides a better understanding for the geological theory of deep‐water sedimentary, and also improves exploitation benefits of this type of reservoirs.