The Influence of Topography on Subaqueous Sediment Gravity Flows and the Resultant Deposits: Examples from Deep-water Systems in Offshore Morocco and Offshore Trinidad
Abstract
Submarine topography has a fundamental control on the movement of sediment gravity flows as well as the distribution, morphology, and internal heterogeneity of resultant overlying, healing-phase, deep-water reservoirs. Some of the most complex deep-water topography is generated through both destructive and constructive mass transport processes. A series of numerical models using Sedflux software have been constructed over high resolution mass transport complexes (MTCs) top paleobathymetric surfaces mapped from 3D seismic data in offshore Morocco and offshore eastern Trinidad. Morocco's margin is characterized by large, extant rafted blocks and a flow perpendicular fabric. Trinidad's margin is characterized by muddier, plastic flows and isolated extrusive diapiric buttresses. In addition, Morocco's margin is a dry, northern latitude margin that lacks major river inputs, while Trinidad's margin is an equatorial, wet climate that is fed by the Orinoco River and delta. These models quantitatively delineate the interaction of healing-phase gravity flows on the tops of two very different topographies and provide insights into healing-phase reservoir distribution and stratigraphic trap development. Slopes roughness, curvatures, and surface shapes are measured and quantified relative to input points to quantify depositional surface character. A variety of sediment gravity flow types have been input and the resultant interval assessed for thickness and distribution relative to key topography parameters. Mathematical relationships are to be analyzed and compared with seismic data interpretation of healing-phase interval character, toward an improved model of gravity sedimentation and topography interactions.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFMEP43B0953D
- Keywords:
-
- 1824 Geomorphology: general;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 1862 Sediment transport;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 4219 Continental shelf and slope processes;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERALDE: 4558 Sediment transport;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICAL