Academic literature on the topic 'Distributary fluvial system'

ABSTRACT Distinguishing trunk channels and delta-plain distributary channels in ancient systems can be difficult due to poor or incomplete data (e.g., limited outcrop or sparse well data). Accurate channel classification is required to reconstruct the plan view of channel networks in a paralic fluvio-deltaic system and to quantify source-to-sink systems. Channel formative mechanisms, such as allogenic versus autogenic and avulsion versus bifurcation, also remain equivocal. In this paper we classify channel types and quantify their discharge and dimensions in an ancient paralic depositional system of the Late Cretaceous Gallup system, New Mexico, in a recently developed high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework. Six key facies associations are identified and integrated into a detailed facies architectural analysis using bedding diagrams from two outcrop cliffs. Backwater lengths are calculated and used for interpretation of channel forming mechanisms and classification of channel types. Two types of channels are interpreted in the study area: meandering fluvial avulsive distributary channels formed in the upstream backwater region in an upper delta plain with a paleodischarge of 280–410 m3/s, and terminal distributary channels in a subaqueous lower delta plain with a paleodischarge of 80–190 m3/s. The results show that upper-delta-plain fluvial distributary channels are formed by erosive avulsion and resemble fluvial meandering rivers characterized by laterally accreting point bars and a wide range of paleocurrents, whereas terminal distributary channels are formed by both avulsion and bifurcation and show more aggradation with lateral confinement and relatively larger width-to-depth ratios of individual channel stories. The quantification of channels and their depositional system provides new data from a well-known ancient system for the global database and comparison with other modern and ancient systems.

Based on ten well cores, seventeen hundred logging data and initial potential data, sedimentary characteristics and mode of shallow lacustrine fluvial-dominated delta of Putaohua oil layer in the east of Sanzhao depression were analyzed. It is realized that distributary channel sandbodies as sand body framework of this delta system, which is abundant, closely and narrow, and the framework of sand body is in a large number of narrow banded shape (mostly 200 ~ 300m), and can extend hundreds of kilometers of continuous, dense, overall was SW, and combines well with other types sand surface to become a better distributary channel sand body. Based on understanding of sedimentary background, developmental process, sedimentary characteristics and sedimentary facies type of Putaohua oil layer in Sanzhao depression, sedimentary mode of shallow lacustrine fluvial-dominated delta is established in the study area, and sedimentary mode of five subfacies is further divided: Delta distributary plain subfacies is mode of fluvial-dominated belt body; Transition region of front-distributary plain is mode of inshore; Inner front is mode of fluvial-dominated belt body; Transition region of inner front-outer front is mode of fluvial-dominated sheet sand; Shallow lacustrine fluvial-dominated delta outer front is mode of tide-dominated sheet sand; Also pointed out that overall shows NE –SW trending submerged distributary channel sandbodies which is abundant, closely and narrow is the main reservoir of the study area. It provides the solid geological basis for the establishment of spatial distribution pattern of reservoir; identify the causes of mainly monosandbody and further tapping the potential of oil field.

A delta is a type of sedimentary system that is closely related to oil and gas. Shallow-lake delta deposits in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic strata of China are of particular interest. This delta has significant oil and gas reserves that are developed widely. Based on a numerical simulation of the sand body of the shallow-lake delta, this study analyzes the influence of various sediment conditions on the sand-body development. The formation and distribution rules of the sand body are concluded and verified, and the results can effectively guide the exploration and development of oil and gas resources. Unlike traditional flume experiments, this study adopts sediment numerical simulation technology. This approach is borrowed from the advanced achievements of computational fluid dynamics, and Delft3D is used to establish a three-dimensional numerical model of the delta. The calculation field was 20.5 km in length by 10 km in width. With the Mor-Factor set to 60, the simulation time was 45 days. The formation and the avulsion of the mouth bar, as well as the extension, migration and bifurcation of distributary channels, have been observed and studied through analysis of the simulation results. The vertical cross-section shows that the distributary channel was filled multiple times. According to distributary channel evolution characteristics combined with quantitative methods, the terminal distributary channels can be extremely developed under ideal conditions. Due to the cross-cutting and reform effort of distributary channels, sediments were spread widely and continuously. The results show that the numerical model works well in explaining the process of evolution in fluvial-dominated delta distributary channels. This study not only enables us to quantitatively understand the dynamic processes of terminal distributary channels in fluvial-dominated delta systems, but also provides a reference model for numerical simulation of hydrodynamics in sedimentology study.

Distributary channels in large deltas can form a channel pattern similar to braided fluvial system or anastomosed fluvial system that have multichannel systems. Although both systems are of generally comparable platforms, their geometry, sedimentology, and facies associations may exhibit unique characteristics. Many ancient multichannel systems have been interpreted as braided patterns, but some are certainly anastomosed patterns. A reevaluation of ancient multichannel architectures and sedimentology patterns is needed to improve discrimination of braided and anastomosed patterns of multichannel systems. This study examines the characteristics of two modern anastomosed pattern channel systems. Those modern systems are compared to ancient examples in the lower Yanchang Formation, southwest Ordos Basin. This comparison indicates that the multichannel systems of the delta, southwest Ordos Basin, exhibit greater similarity to modern anastomosed channel systems of shallow-water deltas. Systems of low-sinuosity distributary channels and interdistributary bays or swamp islands are developed mainly between the channels, and there are no mouth bar deposits. Both modern and ancient multichannel systems suggest that low gradient slope is a significant controlling factor in the formation of anastomosed pattern channels in river-dominated deltas. The identification of anastomosed patterns plays a significant role in reservoir characterization and hydrocarbon exploration and production in delta systems.

Investigations of sedimentary sequences in a marginal part of Homelen Basin (M. Devonian, W Norway) have resulted in the interpretation of gradually established fluvial and fluviodeltaic subsystems adjacent to a major river system. A succession of 8 coarsening upward (CU) sequences (4.5---19 m thick) wad studied. Three sequence types are recognized: sequence type A, B and C. The lower part of all sequence types is composed of silty lacustrine flood basin deposits. The upper part of all sequence types is composed of sandy low sinuosity fluvial channel deposits. The middle part of the three sequence types is composed of sandy sheet splay deposits (sequence type A), crevasse splay deposits (sequence type B) and deltaic mouth bar deposits (sequence type C). The genesis og the different types of CU sequences is explained by repeated lateral establishments of fluvial and fluvio-deltaic subsystems adjacent to a major humid fan-like river system. The establishment of the subsystems occurred in four phases: I) Initial fine-grained overbank flows into flood badin lakes. II) Sheet splay flows and/or crevasse splay flows. III) Establishment of distributary channels and associated deltaic mouth bars. IV) Progradation of channel/mouth bar couplets and filling up of the flood basin lakes.

Abstract3D seismic data from the Dogger Bank, North Sea, allow the mapping of Late Pleistocene and Holocene depositional systems in unprecedented detail. The data demonstrate that glacial processes resulted in the development of incised tunnel valley systems during the Weichselian and that these were subsequently modified by fluvial processes in a pro-glacial setting. Subsequently, the Dogger Bank formed an emergent plain during the Holocene with a complex meandering river system, associated tributary or distributary channels and lakes, dominating the region. Prior to the sea level rising sufficiently to submerge the Dogger Bank around 7500 yr ago, the meandering river system was replaced by a dendritic channel network of potential fluvial, estuarine or intertidal origin. As the Holocene depositional features bear no systematic relationship to the bathymetry this study demonstrates that previously published bathymetry-based models for the Holocene palaeogeographic development of the North Sea require modification.

AbstractThe development and evolution of confined outwash fans in high Arctic regions depend on the rate of meltwater discharge, which is directly related to the glacier ablation rate, in turnassociated with climate conditions. Other factors controlling outwash fan morphology (e.g. depth and width of distributive channels) are processes of fluvial erosion, and the transport and deposition of sediments. These factors have not previously been considered together in relation to the evolution of the confined outwash fans which are commonly incised into the top of permafrost in the forefields of subpolar glaciers and in mountains in high Arctic regions. Morphology and surficial sediments of a confined outwash fan of the Waldemar River (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard) were analysed on the basis of geomorphological and sedimentological studies. The results of our investigations show multiple relations between the depth and width of distributary channels, fan slope and textural features of glaciofluvial surficial sediments supplied into the fluvial system from the glacier and from lateral fluvial erosion of permafrost

The Xujiahe Formation of the Late Triassic in the Western Sichuan Depression contains abundant gas reservoirs. Influenced by the thrust tectonic movement of the foreland basin, the fluvial-delta sedimentary system supplied by multiple provenances formed the Xu2 Formation of the Xinchang area. We used detailed description of drilling wells and cores to define the sequence stratigraphic framework and sand body types. We used stratal slices through the seismic texture model regression (TMR) attribute volume to map the evolution of the sedimentary system and the sand body distribution. Our results indicate that the Xu2 Formation exhibits a complete long-term base-level cycle and that there are six sand body deposit types: distributary channel, interchannel, subaqueous distributary channel, interdistributary bay, mouth bar, and sheet sand. Stratal slices through the seismic TMR attribute volume at different levels map the spatial variation of sand and mudstone, which we use to construct a sedimentary filling evolution model. This model indicates that during the time of deposition of the lower submember, the main provenance supply came from the northwest direction, resulting in the sand bodies mainly being deposited in the west. During the time of deposition of the central submember, the sediment supply was large and came from the northwest and northeast directions, resulting in large, laterally extensive, thick sands. During the time of deposition of the upper submember, the sediment supply was from the northeast direction, with the sand bodies more developed in the east. The flow direction of the (subaqueous-) distributary channels indicate that they migrated from northwest to northeast. There are significant differences in the channel energy, sedimentary characteristics, and reservoir physical properties in the three submembers, which cause differences in oil and gas productivity in the reservoir of the Xu2 Formation. We believe that detailed mapping of the spatial distribution of sedimentary systems can provide critical guidance not only to explore but also to develop in high-quality oil and gas reservoirs such as the Xu2 Formation.

Based on 22 well cores and logging data of nearly 800 well, sedimentary characteristics of Fuyu oil layer in the southern Fuxin uplift was analyzed. It is shown that types of sandstone in the Fuyu oil layer are main feldspathic litharenite, debris arkose and minor litharenite. Granularity probability curve is displayed as a typical of two-stage or three-stage. A large number of parallel bedding, one-way oblique bedding, small-scale cross bedding, the bottom scour structure and syngenetic deformation structure can be seen in the Fuyu oil layer. Mudstone color is main fuchsia, grey purple massive mudstone and gray-green, gray, dark gray massive mudstone. Combined with the analysis of the sedimentary facies sign, Fuyu oil layer in the southern Fuxin uplift is large fluvial-dominated shallow water delta deposition. The skeletal sand bodies in the delta system are distributary channelsand bodies that are large, dense, narrow strip, continuous distribution. The overall is south-southwest trending. Sand body is continuous and far underwater extension until it disappears into thin sandsheet. multi-branch fluvial-dominated ribbon-like bodies are formed.

A Formação Tacuarembó (Jurássico Superior – Cretáceo Inferior), subdividida em Membro Batoví e Membro Rivera, aflora na região norte do Uruguai, nos departamentos de Rivera e Tacuarembó. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é a análise sedimentológica e estratigráfi-ca da Formação Tacuarembó, através da caracterização faciológica, a reconstrução dos modelos deposicionais e a definição das relações de contato entre os membros Batoví e Rivera. Para alcançar tal objetivo, foi realizado o levantamento, na escala 1:50, de um tes-temunho e de quarenta e uma seções colunares, estas divididas em sete transectas com base em sua distribuição espacial. Como resultado, foram detalhadas litofácies posterior-mente agrupadas em diferentes associações de fácies. O Membro Batoví é constituído por associações de fácies de (1) dunas eólicas, (2) lençóis de areia eólicos, (3) canais fluviais efêmeros, (4) canais fluviais perenes entrelaçados e (5) deltas. O Membro Rivera, por sua vez, é constituído essencialmente por associações de fácies de dunas eólicas. A intercala-ção entre depósitos fluviais, eólicos e deltaicos, com predominância de associações fluviais sugere que o Membro Batoví representa o modelo deposicional de porção distal de um sis-tema fluvial distributário Já o Membro Rivera caracteriza-se pelo sucessivo cavalgamento de dunas eólicas, sem a ocorrência de depósitos de interdunas úmidas ou encharcadas, definindo um sistema eólico seco. A mudança abrupta de sistemas deposicionais, marcada por uma superfície plana, por vezes com concentração de clastos, indica a existência de uma discordância entre os membros Batoví e Rivera. Aliado a isto, a mudança no modelo deposicional sugere uma alteração climática, passando de um clima arido a semi-árido du-rante a deposição do Membro Batoví, para um clima hiperárido ao longo da deposição do Membro Rivera.<br>The Tacuarembó Formation (Upper Jurassic - Lower Cretaceous), subdivided into Batoví Member and Rivera Member, crops in the northern region of Uruguay, in the Rivera and Tacuarembó departments. The main objective of the present work is the sedimentological and estratigraphic analysis of the Tacuarembó Formation, through the faciological charac-terization, reconstruction of the depositional models and definition of contact relations be-tween the Batoví and Rivera members. To reach such objective, a well-log and forty-one columnar sections were surveyed in a scale 1:50, and later the columnar sections were di-vided into seven transects, based on their spatial position. As a result, lithofacies were de-tailed and later grouped in different facies associations.The Batoví Member consists of associations of facies of (1) eolian dunes, (2) eolian sand sheets, (3) ephemeral fluvial channels, (4) perennial braided fluvial channels and (5) deltaic. On the other hand, the Ri-vera Member, is essentially constituted by facies associations eolian dunes. The intercala-tion between fluvial, eolian and deltaic deposits, with predominance of fluvial associations, suggests that the Batoví Member represents the depositional model of the distal portion of a distributary fluvial system. Contrastingly, the Rivera Member is characterized by the suc-cessive eolian dunes climbing, without the occurrence of wet or damp interdunes deposits, defining a dry eolian system. The abrupt change of depositional systems, marked by a flat surface, sometimes with clasts concentration, indicates the existence of an unconformity between the members Batoví and Rivera. Allied to this, the change in the depositional model suggests a climatic change, going from arid to semi-arid climate during the deposi-tion of the Batoví Member, to a hyperarid climate during the deposition of the Rivera Mem-ber.

The fault-bounded Cianzo basin represents a Cenozoic intermontane depocenter between the Puna plateau and Eastern Cordillera of the central Andean fold-thrust belt in northern Argentina. New characterizations of fold-thrust structure, nonmarine sedimentation, and sediment provenance for the shortening-induced Cianzo basin at 23°S help constrain the origin, interconnectedness, and subsequent uplift and exhumation of the basin, which may serve as an analogue for other intermontane hinterland basins in the Andes. Structural mapping of the Cianzo basin reveals SW and NE-plunging synclines within the >6000 m-thick, upsection coarsening Cenozoic clastic succession in the shared footwall of the N-striking, E-directed Cianzo thrust fault and transverse, NE-striking Hornocal fault. Growth stratal relationships within upper Miocene levels of the succession indicate syncontractional sedimentation directly adjacent to the Hornocal fault. Measured stratigraphic sections and clastic sedimentary lithofacies of Cenozoic basin-fill deposits show upsection changes from (1) a distal fluvial system recorded by vi fine-grained, paleosol-rich, heavily bioturbated sandstones and mudstones (Paleocene‒Eocene Santa Bárbara Subgroup, ~400 m), to (2) a braided fluvial system represented by cross-stratified sandstones and interbedded mudstones with 0.3 to 8 m upsection-fining sequences (Upper Eocene–Oligocene Casa Grande Formation, ~1400 m), to (3) a distributary fluvial system in the distal sectors of a distributary fluvial megafan represented by structureless sheetflood sandstones, stratified pebble conglomerates and sandstones, and interbedded overbank mudstones (Miocene Río Grande Formation, ~3300 m), to (4) a proximal alluvial fan system with thick conglomerates interbedded with thin discontinuous sandstone lenses (upper Miocene Pisungo Formation, ~1600 m). New 40Ar/39Ar geochronological results for five interbedded volcanic tuffs indicate distributary fluvial deposition of the uppermost Río Grande Formation from 16.31 ± 0.6 Ma to 9.69 ± 0.05 Ma. Sandstone petrographic results show distinct upsection trends in lithic and feldspar content in the Casa Grande, Río Grande, and Pisungo formations, potentially distinguishing western magmatic arc (Western Cordillera) sediment sources from evolving eastern thrust-belt sources (Puna‒Eastern Cordillera). In addition to growth stratal relationships and 40Ar/39Ar constraints, conglomerate clast compositions reflect distinct lithologic differences, constraining the activation of the Cianzo thrust and coeval movement on the reactivated Hornocal fault. Finally, U-Pb geochronological analyses of sandstone detrital zircon populations in conjunction with paleocurrent data and depositional facies patterns help distinguish localized sources from more distal sources west of the basin, revealing a systematic eastward advance of Eocene to Miocene fold-thrust deformation in the central Andes of northern Argentina.<br>text