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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
AAPG Bulletin, V.
2015. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1306/01311513229
Shelf-edge trajectories and stratal stacking patterns: Their sequence-stratigraphic significance and relation to styles of deep-water sedimentation and amount of deep-water sandstone
Chenglin Gong,1 Yingmin Wang,2 David R. Pyles,3 Ronald J. Steel,4 Shang Xu,5 Qiang Xu,6 and Dong Li7
1State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China; present address: Jackson School of Geosciences, the University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C1100, Austin, Texas; [email protected]
2State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China; present address: Ocean College of the Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; [email protected]
3Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Chevron Center of Research Excellence, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado; present address: EOG Resources, Denver, Colorado; [email protected]; [email protected]
4Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C1100, Austin, Texas; [email protected]
5State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Fuxue Road No. 18, Changping, Beijing 102249, China; [email protected]
6CNOOC Research Center, Beijing 100027, China; [email protected]
7CNOOC Research Center, Beijing 100027, China; [email protected]; [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Using a seismic database from the Qiongdongnan Basin in the South China Sea, this study demonstrates that shelf-edge trajectories and stratal stacking patterns are reliable, but understated, predictors of deep-water sedimentation styles and volumes of deep-water sand deposits, assisting greatly in locating sand-rich environments and in developing a more predictive and dynamic stratigraphy. Three main types of shelf-edge trajectories and their associated stratal stacking patterns were recognized: (1) flat to slightly falling trajectories with negative trajectory angles () (−2° to 0°) and negative shelf-edge aggradation to progradation ratios (
) (−0.04 to 0) and associated progradational and downstepping stacking patterns with low clinoform relief (
) (150–550 m [492–1804 ft]) and negative differential sedimentation on the shelf and basin (
) (−0.6 to 0); (2) slightly rising trajectories with moderate
(0°–2°) and medium
(0–0.04), and associated progradational and aggradational stacking patterns with intermediate
(250–400 m [820–1312 ft]) and intermediate
(0–0.6); and (3) steeply rising trajectories with high
(2°–6°) and high
(0.04–0.10) and associated dominantly aggradational stacking patterns with high
(350–650 m [1148–2132 ft]) and high
(1–2). Each trajectory regime represents a specific stratal stacking patterns, providing new tools to define a model-independent methodology for sequence stratigraphy.
Flat to slightly falling shelf-edge trajectories and progradational and downstepping stacking patterns are empirically related to large-scale, sand-rich gravity flows and associated bigger and thicker sand-rich submarine fan systems. Slightly rising shelf-edge trajectories and progradational and aggradational stacking patterns are associated with mixed sand/mud gravity flows and moderate-scale slope-sand deposits. Steeply rising shelf-edge trajectories and dominantly aggradational stacking patterns are fronted by large-scale mass-wasting processes and associated areally extensive mass-transport systems. Therefore, given a constant
sediment supply, then
,
,
, and
are all proportional to intensity of mass-wasting processes and to amounts of mass-transport deposits, and are inversely proportional to the intensity of sand-rich gravity flows and to amounts of deep-water sandstone. These relationships can be employed to relate quantitative characteristics of shelf-edge trajectories and stratal stacking patterns to deep-water sedimentation styles.
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