Sequence Stratigraphy Application

SEQUENCES, SYSTEM TRACTS AND PARASEQUENCES

PARASEQUENCE

HIGHSTAND
SYSTEMS TRACT

100S
OF FEET

COASTAL PLAIN

TRANSGRESSIVE
SYSTEMS TRACT

LOWSTAND
SYSTEMS TRACT

FLUVIAL AND ESTUARINE

SHALLOW MARINE
SHELF AND SLOPE
SUBMARINE FAN

TYPE 1 SEQUENCE
BOUNDARIES
PARASEQUENCE SET
(SYSTEM TRACT)BOUNDARIES
MITCHUM & VAN WAGONER, 1990

Source : MORA

Where are we?

Lowstand Time

Highstand Time

Modern Highstand Delta

Lowstand System Tract

LOWSTAND SYSTEM TRACTS

EXPLORATION APPLICATION
1.
2.
3.
4.

BASIN FLOOR FAN (BFF)

SLOPE FAN COMPLEX
PROGADING COMPLEX
SHELF MARGIN WEDGE

LOWSTAND SYSTEM TRACT - SILICLASTICS

mfs
TST
TS
ivf

SB

POSSIBLE RESERVOIR SANDS

tsfs

sf

lsw

tbfs

bf

INCISED VALLEY FILL SANDS

OVERBANK SANDS

COASTAL BELT SANDS

BASIN FLOOR FAN

CHANNEL/OVERBANK CHANNEL SANDS

SHINGLED TOE OF LOWSTAND

PROGRADING WEDGE SANDS
Vall et al, 1987

BASIN FLOOR FAN (BFF)

Deposition During Low Sea Level

Coastal Plain: Fluvial Channel
Sands and Shale

Lowstand Delta: Sand/ Shale Complex

Slope: Amalgamated Channel Sands
& Channel-Levee Sands and Shale

Basin-Floor Fan: Sheet

Sands & Channel-Levee
Sands and Shale

Lowstand Depositional Model

SLOPE FAN
COMPLEX

WELL LOG CHARACTERISTICS OF BASIN FLOOR FANS

SP OR GAMMA

UPPER BOUNDARY
PELAGIC SHALES ABOVE SANDBODY RESULTS IN EXELENT SEAL
CHANNEL-OVERBANK SANDS OF SLOPE FAN FORM A POOR SEAL
IF THEY REST DERECTLY ON BASIN FLOOR FAN

PELAGIC HIGHSTAND
SYSTEM TRACT

BASIN
FLOOR FAN

THE TOP OF THE BASIN FLOOR FAN TYPICALLY HAS A THIN TRANSITION
ZONE, BUT AN ABRUPT TOP MAY INDICATE POSTDEPOSITIONAL
SUBMARINE CURRENT EROSION.

INTERVAL

TYPICALLY CONSIST OF A MASSIVE SAND BODY THIN

PELAGIC SHALES CAN OCCUR INTERBEDDED WITH THE SANDS

AT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE SAND BODY INTERBEDDED

SHALES MAY BECOME COMMON AND FORM LOCAL BARRIERS TO
VERTICAL FLOW.

INDIVIDUAL SAND LAYERS TYPOCALLY COALESCE IN THE CENTRAL

SANDBODY, RESULTING IN A SINGLE HYDROCARBO-WATER CONTACT.

SEQUENCE BOUNDARY
TYPICALLY MASSIVE SAND REST DIRECTLY ON PELAGIC SHALES,
MARLS OR CALCILUTITES
BIDIRECTIONAL DOWNLAP MAY BE RECOGNIZED FROM LOG
CORRELATION.
EROSION ON THE BOUNDARY IS UNCOMMON. WHEN IT OCCURS
IT CAN INDICATE PROXIMITY TO THE SLUICEWAY DOWN WHICH SANDS
ARE TRANSPORTED TO THE CENTRAL BASIN.

KUTEI BASIN NEW SEQUENCE FRAMEWORK

Channel-Levee Complex

Amalgamated Channels

Transgressive Systems Tract

End of rapid sea-level rise & transgression
Condensed shale and shelf carbonates

Early/Middle Progradation
High sea level and Slow sea-level fall,
subsidence & progradation

Basin-Floor
Fan
Late Progradation/ Early Lowstand
Sand-rich delta progrades past shelf edge

Latest Progradation/ Late Lowstand

Mud-rich channel-levee complexes
dominate on slope & basin floor

Early Lowstand: Sand-rich

Late Lowstand: Mud-rich

Shelf Edge/
Lowstand Delta

Shelf Edge/
Lowstand Delta

Delta Front
Channels
Coarse-Grained
Slope Channel Fills

Channel/Levee
Complex

Channel/Levee

Sand-rich
Basin Floor Fan

Blue - High Amplitude, Sandy;

Yellow - Low Amplitude, Shaly

Basin
Floor
Fan

RMS amplitude on Structure

2.5

Strike Line showing 2 Main Parts of the Pleistocene Kutei Fan

3.0

Depth Below Mudline

1.
2.

Lower Basin Floor Fan Deposited as Shifting Fan Lobes (HARPs) ,

Upper Aggrading/ Prograding Channel/ Levee System (HARs)
Feeding Distal Sheet Sand Lobes (HARPs)

N
J
Channel

HARP (High Amplitude

Reflection Packets)

S
J

HAR (High Amplitude

Reflections within channel)

Low Reflectivity
Levee/Overbank Deposits

0
200

SHALE

450
3.5

SHALE

725
1025

HARP

HAR

Channel

Levee/Overbank

Time

1325
2 km

High-Amplitude, Lower Fan Lobe Complex is ~200 feet thick, 18 km wide

LOBE N (17)

Internal Channels
1 km

Thickness * RMS Amplitude

Lobe
Elements

PGC

Top Baong

PROGRADING COMPLEX
(UPPER BAONG)

Top MBS
SF
SLOPE FAN COMPLEX
(UPPER PART MBS)

BFF
BASIN FLOOR FAN
(LOWER PART MBS)

SEQUENCE STRAT MODEL FOR MIDDLE TO UPPER BAONG UNITS

Sequence Strat marker position for middle and upper Baong

Inner MBS (AE_CIP_Attributes BFF)

MBS (AE_CIP_Attributes, Slope Fan Complex)

Low Stand Systems Tract: Basin Floor Fan

SP or GR
UPPER BOUNDARY

SF

CONDENSED
SECTION

INTERVAL

Unamalgamated
Turbidite Sands

(tbfs)

BF

Amalgamated
Turbidite Sands
Winnowed Sands or
Contourite Sands

(SB)

HST/TST
Hemipelagic Shale

Hemipelagic shale or channel / overbank apron facies

above boundary
Sharp boundary with minimal transition

Turbidite sands
Amalgamated massive turbidite sands
Unamalgamated massive turbidite sands,
with shale breaks
Minor erosional surfaces within sand
Commonly a major erosional surface at top of fan
May be remnant fan mounds
Redeposited massive shingled sands bordering
fan mounds
Contourite sands
Redeposited massive sands in separate mounds

SEQUENCE BOUNDARY
Massive sand above hemipelagic shale
(railroad track shale)
Sharp boundary
No erosion at base except sometimes at proximal
portion of fan

Vail and Wornard, 1990

BASIN FLOOR FAN: LOWSTAND SYSTEM TRACT

EXPLORATION APPLICATIONS
RESERVOIR

SOURCE

SEAL

RESERVOIR POROSITY
AND PERMEABILITY IS
GENERALLY EXELENT.

MOST PRODUCING
EXAMPLES RELY UPON
DEEP-SEATED
HYDROCARBON
SOURCE BEDS.

SEISMIC EVIDENCE OF
CONTINUOUS PELAGIC
SHALE SEALS INDICATE
LOW SEAL RISK.

CONTEMPORANEOUS
PELAGIC SHALES ARE
POTENTIAL SOURCE
BED, IF MATURE

EVIDENCE OF
SAND-PRONE
CHANNEL-OVERBANK
FACIES RESTING ON THE
FAN INCREASES SEAL RISK.

MIGRATION

TRAP TYPES

MOST EXAMPLES
REQUIRE VERTICAL
LEAKAGE VIA FAULTS
OR MICROFRACTURES.

STRATIGRAPHIC
PINCHOUTS LIMIT MOST
EXAMPLES.
STRUCTURES ENHANCES
PAY STACKING.

RESERVOIR CONTINUITY
CAN BE A PROBLEM IN
MULTIPLE-LOBE FANS.
MOST BASIN FLOOR FANS
CONSIST OF QUARTZ SAND.
THERE ARE A FEW
EXAMPLE OF
CARBONATE SAND
RESERVOIRS.

SLOPE FAN COMPLEX

WELL LOG CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SLOPE FAN COMPLEX

SLOPE FAN COMPLEX

BFF

LOWSTAND YSTEM TRACT

PGC

SP OR GAMMA

UPPER BOUNDARY
NERVOUS LOG CHARACTER BEGINS: SIGNIFIERS A SHIFT FROM
OVERLYING PELAGIC SHALE TO LAMINATED SAND-SHALE OF THE
SLOPE FAN. OVERLYING SHALE TYPICALLY HAS A FAUNAL
ABUNDANCE PEAK.

INTERVAL

CHANENEL-OVERBANK UNITS SHOW A CRESCENT SHAPED

LOG CHARACTER.
UPPER PART OF UNIT CONSIST OF OVERBANK SANDS THAT
THIN AND BECOME SPARE UPWARD.
LOWER PART OF UNIT CONSIST OF ATTACHED-LOBE SANDS
THAT THICKEN AND BECOME MORE ABUNDANT UPWARD.
WELLS IN THE CENTRAL LOBE MAY SHOW COARSENING
UPWARDCHANNEL SANDS OR MULTI-STORY HIGHLY
SANDY INTERVALS.
SUB-PARALLEL FACIES POORLY UNDERSTOOD, BUT MAY
CONSISTOF SHEET-LIKE ATTACHED LOBE FACIES IN AREAS OF
ABUNDANT SAND SUPLLY.
6 TO 10 CHANNEL-OVERBANK UNITS MAY STUCK IN ONE
LOWSTAND SYSTEM TRACT.

LOWER BOUNDARY
LIES OF SEQUENCE BOUNDARY OR ON A BASIN FLOOR FAN.
FAUNAL ABUNDANCE PEAK MAY SEPARATE UNITS AND MAY
SEAL BASIN FLOOR FAN.

Early Lowstand: Sand-rich

Late Lowstand: Mud-rich

Shelf Edge/
Lowstand Delta

Shelf Edge/
Lowstand Delta

Delta Front
Channels
Coarse-Grained
Slope Channel Fills

Channel/Levee
Complex

Channel/Levee

Sand-rich
Basin Floor Fan

Blue - High Amplitude, Sandy;

Yellow - Low Amplitude, Shaly

Basin
Floor
Fan

RMS amplitude on Structure

Upper Slope Turbidite Channel

Leveed
Channel
on
Slope
Leveed Channel on Slope

Interval Attribute (Sea Floor + 80 msec)

Maximum Negative Polarity

one km
Note Slump Scars
Note Older
Meander Loops

Isolated 100
high-sinuosity
leveed channel
msec

One km

Leveed channel feeding frontal splay (lobe

Top of Fan

E
Channel with highamplitude fill

Channel with low-amplitude fill

50 ms
Base of Fan
1 km

Figure6
Figure

Lobe K

Pleistocene Leveed Channel

with Frontal Splay (lobe)
Frontal Splay

Frontal Splay Gulf of Mexico

5 km

PGC

Top Baong

PROGRADING COMPLEX
(UPPER BAONG)

Top MBS
SF
SLOPE FAN COMPLEX
(UPPER PART MBS)

BFF
BASIN FLOOR FAN
(LOWER PART MBS)

SEQUENCE STRAT MODEL FOR MIDDLE TO UPPER BAONG UNITS

MBS (AE_CIP_Attributes, Slope Fan Complex)

Low Stand Systems Tract: Slope Fan

UPPER BOUNDARY

SP or GR
S.P. or G.R.

LPW
CS
AF

ICES
ICES

CHANNEL/
OVERBANK
UNIT 2

ICES
ICES

MULTISTORY

SANDS
CHANNEL
FILL

BCES

SF

AF
OB

CHANNEL/
OVERBANK
UNIT 1

INTERVAL

AL
A

Downward shift from hemipelagic shale to laminated

fine grained turbidites
Fining upward digitated log character below boundary
Faunal abundance peak

AL
AL
CF

Crescent shape to individual channel / overbank units

Within channel / overbank units, sands thicken, then thin
upward
1-10 channel / overbank units within each slope fan
Proximal facies may be highly sand-prone near source
Channel fill facies may be :
Massive turbidite sands
Massive turbidite sands fining upward with sharp
bases
Mudstone-fine grained turbidites

LOWER BOUNDARY

BF

S.B.
LEGEND
AF - Abandonment Facies
CF - Channel Fill
OB - Overbank
AL - Attached Lobes
A - Apron

ICES -

Interval Channel
Erosional Surface

Basal Channel
BCES - Erosional Surface

Hemipelagic shale with faunal abundance peak commonly

at base of slope fan
Lies on Sequence Boundary or on Low Stand Systems
Track Basin Floor Fan
Boundary commonly conformable in basin and erosional on
slope

Vail and Wornard, 1990

SLOPE FAN CHANNEL-OVERBANK FACIES

EXPLORATION APPLICATIONS

RESERVOIR
CHANNEL SANDS CAN BE
5-230 M THICK. CHANNEL
SANDS CAN BE ISOLATED
BY ABANDONMENT.

SOURCE
TYPICALLY DEEPER THAN
THE RESERVOIR.

INTERNAL SEALS ARE

PELAGIC AND HEMIPELAGIC
SHALES.
CHANNEL AND OVERBANK
SANDS ARE SEALED BY
LEVEES.
SUBPARALLEL FACIES SANDS
ARE POORLY SEALED.

OVERBANK SANDS ARE THIN

(1-30cm). OVERBANK SANDS ARE
DIFFICULT TO
RECOGNIZE AND EVALUATE.
OVERBANK AND
SUBPARALLEL FACIES CAN
FORM THICK SECTIONS OF
THINBEDDED SHEETLIKESANDS.

SEAL

MIGRATION
TYPICALLY VERTICAL VIA
FAULT CONDUITS.

TRAP TYPES
STRATIGRAPHIS TRAPS ARE
COMMON IN CHANNEL AND
OVERBANK SANDS.
STRUCTURAL ENHANCEMENT
CREATES MULTIPLE PAYS.

PROGRADING COMPLEX

LOWSTAND SYSTEMS TRACT

LOWSTAND PROGRADING WEDGE
(FLUVIAL DOMINATED DELTA)
STREAM PROFILE POSITION 4
STREAM PROFILE POSITION 3
SOIL

DELTA PLAIN

DELTA FRONT
RELATIVE SEA LEVEL POSITION 4

BRAIDED STREAM
RELATIVE SEA LEVEL POSITION 3
SHINGLED BASIN FLOOR TURBIDITIES

DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS
1) SOIL
2) INCISED VALLEY FILLS
3) LOWSTAND DELTAS
(VERY HIGH SEDIMENTATION RATES)
4) SLUMPS

DOMINANT DEPOSITIONAL
AND EROSIONAL PROCESSES
1) SOIL FORMATION
2) FLUVIAL
3) DELTAIC
4) SLUMPING OFF DELTA FRONT

MAJOR LITHOFACIES
1) SOIL
2) BRAIDED STREAMS
3) DELTAIC
DELTA PLAIN

INTERDISTRIBUTARY BAY MUD AND SILT

MARSH

CREVASSE SPLAY SANDS

DELTA FRONT

DISTRIBURATY MOUTH BAR SANDS

DISTAL (SUSPENSION) BAR SANDS

PRODELTA TURBIDITE SANDS

PRODELTA MUDS
4) SLUMP BLOCKS OF LOWSTANDS DELTA
SHINGLED BASIN FLOOR TURBIDITE SANDS
VAIL, et al., 1989

WELL LOG CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROGRADING COMPLEX

PROGRADIN
G COMPLEX
SLOPE FAN

LOWSTAND SYSTEMS TRACT

TST

SP OR GAMMA LOG

UPPER BOUNDARY
TOP OF THE PROGRADING COMPLEX MARKS THE TRANSITION FROM
UPWARD SHALLOWING TO UPWARD DEEPENING SEDIMENTS
TOPLAP COMMON BELOW BOUNDARY
TRANGRESSIVE SURFACE OF EROSION (RAVINEMENT) AT THE
BOUNDARY.

INTERVAL

THICK INTERVAL OF COARSENING UPWARD SANDS MAY OCCUR

NEAR THE TOP THINNER BLOCKY SANDS MAY UNDERLIE.
SHORELINE AND DELTAIC SANDS OCCUR NEAR TH ETOP AND
GRADE DOWNWARD INTO PRODELTA AND PELAGIC SHALES.
THE PROGRADING COMPLEX PINCHES OUT AGAINTS THE OFFLAP
BREAK (SHELF EDGE) OF THE PREVIOUS HIGHSTAND SYSTEM TRACT.
SHINGLED-TURBIDITE SANDS MAY OCCUR AT THE BASE.

LOWER BOUNDARY
CLINIFORM TOE PELAGIC SHALES REST ON NERVOUS LAMINATED
SILTS, SANDS AND SHALES OF THE SLOPE FAN COMPLEX.
A SIGNIFICANT FAUNAL ABUNDANCE PEAK COMMONLY OCCURS
IN THE BASAL PELAGIC SHALES.

PROGRADING COMPLEX: SYSTEM TRACT

EXPLORATION APPLICATIONS
RESERVOIR

SOURCE

SEAL

SILICLASTIC RESERVOIRS
INCLUDE COASTAL PLAIN,
DELTAIC AND SHOREFACE
SANDS WITH POOR TO
GOOD CONTINUITY.

DEEPER SOURCES ARE

TYPICAL

TOPSEAL DEPENDS ON
NATURE OF THE OVERYING
TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEM
TRACT SEDIMENTS..

CLINOFORM SLOPE
SEDIMENTS ARE SHALES.
SAND-RICH DEP[OCENTERS
CAN PRODUCE SHINGLED
TURBIDITE SANDS.
CARBONATE RESERVOIRS
INCLUDE REEF, BANK, AND
SHELF FACIES.

CLINOFORM SHALES ARE

GENERALLY LEAN AND
GAS PRONE.

MIGRATION
PROBABLY DEPENDS
UPON LEAKAGE FROM
DEEP-SEATED SOURCE
BEDS OR FROM LEAKAGE
FROM BASINAL SOURCES.

LATERAL SEAL AGAINST

HIGHSTAND CLINOFORMS
CAN BE GOOD.

TRAP TYPES
MOST SHELF AND SHINGLED
TURBIDITE SANDS TRAPS ARE
CLOSED STRUCTURES.
STRATIGRAPHIC TRAP CAN
PINCHOUT AT OFFLAP
BREAK

SUBMARINE CANYON FILL

Hudson Incised
Valley and Canyon

Mid-Slope Staging Area Gulf of Mexico

Middle to Upper Slope

Data proprietary to VeritasDGC

Low Stand Systems Tract:

Prograding Complex
TRANSGRESSIVE SURFACE

SPS.P.or
GR
or G.R.

Transition from upward shallowing to upward deepening

Toplap common below boundary
Transgressive surface of erosion (ravinement surface)
on the shelf

HST
TST

INTERVAL
pc

LST
CS

st

Thick intervals of coarsening upward sands common near top

Shoreface and deltaic sands typical
Progrades laterally into bathval hemipelagic shale
Pinches out near offlap break of underlying highstand
May contain shingled turbidite mounds at base

LOWER BOUNDARY
Condensed Section
Maximum clay-shale point
Faunal abudance peak
Downlap common above boundary

Vail and Wornard, 1990

SUBMARINE CANYON FILL: LOWSTAND SYSTEM TRACT

EXPLORATION APPLICATIONS

RESERVOIR

SOURCE

SEAL

PROGRADING COMPLEX:
DISCONTINUOUS
COASTAL-PLAIN AND
ESTUARINE SANDS WITH
NERITIC SHALES, THESE
OVERLIE SLOPE SHALES.

UNCERTAIN, PROBABLY
THE SAME LATERAL OR
DEEP-SEATED SOURCE
AS MORE BASINAL
SEDIMENTS.

MULTIPLE INTERNAL SHALE

SEALS.
THE CHANNEL FILL ITSELF
CAN SEAL OLDER
ERODED RESERVOIRS.

MIGRATION

TRAP TYPES

VERTICAL MIGRATION
VIA FAULTS IS
COMMON, BUT
LATERAL MIGRATION FROM BASIN
EQUIVALENTS IS
POSSIBLE.

SMALL STRATIGRAPHIC
PINCHOUTS PREDOMINATE.

CARBONATE ARE
TYPICALLY PLATFORM AND
BANK, THESE OVERLIE
DEBRIS-FLOW AND
CALCILUTITE OR SHALE
SLOPE SEDIMENTS.
SLOPE FAN COMPLEX:
COMPLEX MIX OF
CHANNEL AND
OVERBANK SANDS WITH
HEMIPELAGIC SHALES.

INCISED VALLEY FILL

Incision may be absent in the high subsidence

rate area
Incision taken place:
Aggradational fluvial constrained within the valley
Until base profile rises above the valley

In the area incision has not occurred

Rate of aggradation
low to moderate
High bed load
coarse-grained

Fluvial sandstone may

form, amalgamated,
sheet like bodies.

Lowstand Systems Tract

- Incised and Unincised
A)

High-Amplitude Relative Sea-Level Fall

H ig h s t a n d
S h o r e lin e

L o w s t a n d S h o r e lin e
( S h e lf E d g e )

In c is e d V a lle y
E x te n t
L o w s ta n d
B ypass
C hannel

B)

In c is e d V a lle y
E x te n t

Low-Amplitude Relative Sea-Level Fall

Base-Level Control of Incised

Valleys

Uncommon

Normal Regression

Relative
Sea Level Rise

Sea level rise

Normal Regression

Forced
Regression

Sea level drop

Relative
Sea Level Fall

INCISED VALLEY PLAY

Forced Regression and Exploration Plays

Incised Valley Mosaic from 3D Seismic Time Slices

Offshore Northwest Java

Incised Valley Fill

Muddy Fm - Colorado

Incised Valley Fill

County Clare - Ireland

Incised Valley ?

INCISED VALLEY FILL

EXPLORATION APPLICATIONS

RESERVOIR

SOURCE

SEAL

THE BEST RESERVOIRS

ARE TYPICALLY BRAIDED
STREAM AND ESTUARINE
SANDS. THESE FACIES
CAN ALTERNATE IN A
SERIES OF BACKSTEPPING
PARACYCLES.

UNCERTAIN, PROBABLY
THE SAME LATERAL OR
DEEP-SEATED SOURCE
AS MORE BASINAL
SEDIMENTS.

TOPSEALS ARE
TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEM
TRACT MARINE SHALES.

CHANNEL SANDS USUALLY

HAVE AN ABRUPT BASE
AND BECOME THINNER
BEDDED AND MORE
SHALEY TOWARD THE
TOP.

MIGRATION

ABANDONDED CHANNELS
CAN BEFILLED WITH
MARSH CLAY OR
COALS.

VERTICAL MIGRATION
VIA FAULTS IS
COMMON, BUT
LATERAL MIGRATION FROM BASIN
EQUIVALENTS IS
POSSIBLE.

LATERAL SEAKS INCLUDE

THE ENCLOSING
HIGHSTAND SYSTEM
TRACT SHALES AND
INTERNAL PARASEQUENCE
SEALS.
TRAP TYPES
LATERAL SEALS CAN EXIST
WITHIN THE CHANNEL,
BUT MOST LARGE TRAPS
REQUIRE STRUCTURAL
CLOSURE.

TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEM TRACT

WELL LOG CHARACTERISTICS OF

THE TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEM TRACT
HST

SP OR GAMMA

MAXIMUM FLOODING SURFACE

LOWEST RESISTIVITY AND HIGHEST GAMMA VALUES INDICATE
THE MOST CLAY RICH SHALE.
A FAUNAL ABUNDANCE PEAK IS COMMON AT BOUNDARY.
DISCONTUNUITY SURFACE: DOWNLAP ABOVE AND APPARENT
TRUNCATION BELOW.

HST OR PGC

TRANSGRASSIVE
SYSTEM TRACT

INTERVAL
BECOMES FINER GRAINED AND THINNER BEDDED UPWARD.
NERITIC SHALES FORM THE BEST NEAR THE TOP.
ESTUARINE, BEACH AND SHOREFACE SANDS ACCUR NEAR BASE.
BASINAL EQUIVALENT IS A PELAGIC SHALE.
RAVINEMENT SURFACE BACKSTEP ON SUCCESSIVE PARASEQUENCE
BOUNDARIES AND MAY UNDERLINE BEACH-SHOREFACE SAND BODIES.
BARRIER ISLAND AND SHOREFACE SANDS CAN BE WELL PRESERVED
AND MORE PERMEABLE THAN HIGHSTAND SYSTEM TRACT SANDS.

SEQUENCE BOUNDARY
LOWSTAND INCISED-VALLEY EROTION COMMOM.
EROTIONAL TRUNCATION COMMON BELOW BOUNDARY.

Transgressive Systems Tract

-BudgetSediment Sources:
1. Hinterland - fluvially
delivered
2. Substrate Cannibalization transgressive shoreface
erosion
Site of Deposition:
1. Estuaries, Incised Valleys,
back barrier lagoons
2. Backstepping Barrier
Beaches
2. Trangressive Lag
2. Healing Phase

Trangressive System Tract

Transgressive Lag
Healing Phase
Backstepping Phase

Exploration Significance of
Transgressive Lag
d
Go Seawar

Transgressive Lag
Ravinement
Surface

Sand-Prone
Lowstand Deposits

Transgressive Shelf Ridges

Highstand
Systems Tract

Shelf Ridges

Flooded Lowstand
Delta/Coastal Plain
Lowstand
Systems Tract

EZE-1

EZE-4

E-10

ETB-4

ETA-4 ETA-1

ETA-3

800

900

one km

Transgressive
Shelf Ridge
one km

Transgressive Shelf Ridge

ETA-4
EZE-1

EZE-4

E-10

Leading Edge

ETA-3
ETA-1

ETB-4

15 ma

Trailing Edge

2480 Shelf Ridge

Trangressive System tract

Transgressive Lag
Healing Phase
Backstepping Phase

Gironde Estuary,
SW France

Estuary Fill Model

Crystal Field Incised Valley

30 m

Shelf Muds

Wave Ravinement
Inlet Ravinement
Bayline
Sequence Boundary

Shelf Muds
Inlet Sands
Estuarine Muddy Sands
Fluvial Coarse Sands/
Conglomerates

Trangressive System Tract

Transgressive Lag
Healing Phase
Backstepping Phase

North

Healing-Phase Wedge II
or
Sea Flo

Healing-Phase Wedge I

Lowstand Prograding Wedge

one km

(c. 80 m)

one mi

100 msec

South

Shelf Edge Gulf of Mexico

Sea Level

500
msec

5 km

Progradational Phase
Healing Phase
Progradational Phase
Healing Phase

Transgressive Systems Tract

MAXIMUM FLOODING SURFACE

SP or GR
HST

Commonly lowest resistivity-highest gamma

Most clay rich shale (most starved)
Faunal abundance peak
Apparent truncation common below boundary
Downlap common above boundary

INTERVAL

TST

HST

Individual parasequences prograde, fine and thin upward (backstep)

Beach and shoreface sands common near base
Basinal equivalent is thin hemipelagic shale
Correlation is good, but backstepping transgressive surface of erosion
are time-transgresive
Sands often better sorted than HST
Authigenic minerals common

SEQUENCE BOUNDARY
Onlaps sequence boundary
Commonly Transgressive surface of erosion (ravinement surface)
over LST, IVF or older shelf sediments near shelf edge
Nonmarine sediments (coastal plain, coal or lake sediments) onlap
sequence boundary in more landward areas
Transgressive surface at base of TST

Vail and Wornard, 1990

TRANSGRESSIVE SYSTEM TRACT

EXPLORATION APPLICATIONS
RESERVOIR

SOURCE

SEAL

BARRIER-ISLAND,
ESTUARINE AND
SHOREFACE SANDS CAN
PERMEABLE AND POROUS
RESERVOIRS THAT OCCUR
IN LINEAR TRENDS.

CONDENSED SECTION
SHALES CAN MAKE GOOD
OIL-PRONE HYDROCARBON
SOURCE BEDS.

CONDENSED SECTION
MAKES A GOOD
TOP SEAL.

BAY AND COASTAL-PLAIN

SILICLASTIC SEDIMENTS
ARE MUCH MORE
VARIABLE.
REEF, BANK, AND
PLATFORM CARBONATES
ARE COMMONLY POROUS
RESERVOIRS WITH
VARIABLE, OFTEN LOW,
PERMEABILITY.

LATERAL SEALS CAN LEAK.

DEEP-SEATED SOURCE
BEDS MAY BE REQUIRED
TO PROVIDE A MATURE
SOURCE.

RAVINEMENT-FILL SANDS
MAY BE SEALED BY
NERITIC SHALES.

MIGRATION

TRAP TYPES

VERTICAL LEAKAGE
FROM UNDERLYING
SEDIMENTS IS
COMMON.
DOWNWARD LEAKAGE
IS POSSIBLE.

RAVINEMENT SANDS CAN

FORM STRATIGRAPHIC
TRAP,
MOST TRAP HAVE
STRUCTURAL CLOSURE.

Highstand Systems Tract

Highstand Systems Tract

SP or GR

SEQUENCE BOUNDARY
Onlap above boundary
Lowstand erosion on shelf
Incised valleys on shelf
Canyon cuts and slump scars on upper slope
Truncation or toplap below boundary
Fluvial (meandering streams, alluvial fans) below boundary
in more landward areas

TST

INTERVAL
HST

CS

Coarsening and shallowing upward sand and silt interbedded

Shoreface & deltaic sands near top
Progrades laterally into offshore shales
Basinal equivalent is hemipelagic shales
Log correlation is difficult in upper part
Reservoir continuity is fair to poor

MAXIMUM FLOODING SURFACE

TST

Commonly lowest resistivity-highest gamma

Most clay rich shale (most starved)
Faunal abudance peak
Downlap common above boundary
Apparent truncation common below boundary

Vail and Wornard, 1990

Conclusions

Conclusions
Fluctuations of sea level produce a
succession of sequences
Sequence architecture is a function of the
interaction of: eustasy, total subsidence, sediment
flux, and physiography
Development of sequences is independent of
temporal and spatial scale
Prediction of spatial and temporal distribution of
depositional systems and associated lithologies

Applicability of Sequence
Stratigraphy
Large Scale - Regional Exploration
- Lithology prediction (reservoir, source, seal facies)
- Age model prediction

Small scale - Field Production, Step-outs,

etc.
- Lithology prediction
~ Identification of stratigraphic traps
~ Identification of reservoir compartmentalization

- Supports field development

~ Definition of flow units
~ Identification of baffles and barriers to flow