GEOL 553: Marine Sediments

University of South Carolina Fall 2005

The Tools of Subsurface Analysis

Professor Chris Kendall EWS 304 kendall@sc.edu 777.2410
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

The Tools of Subsurface Analysis

Facies analysis of subsurface data depends on tools which delimit of surfaces and provide clues as to the sediments they contain:
Well logs Cores

Seismic
Gravity & magnetics
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Well Logs Versus Seismic

Well logs Great vertical resolution Delimit bounding surfaces

Establish lithology of sediments penetrated

Seismic Great lateral continuity and resolution Define gross sediment geometry

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Tools are Keys to Allostratigraphy & Sequence Stratigraphy

Allostratigraphy: bounding discontinuities

including erosion surfaces, marine flooding surfaces, tuffs, tempestite, and/or turbidite boundaries etc. as time markers Sequence Stratigraphy: higher level allostratigraphic model which interprets depositional origin of sedimentary strata as products of "relative sea level change"
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

The Tools of Subsurface Analysis

Facies analysis of subsurface data depends on tools which delimit of surfaces and provide clues as to the sediments they contain:
Well logs Seismic

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Well Logs
Delimit of surfaces & identify sediments penetrated
Resistivity Logs Spontaneous Potential (SP) Logs Gamma Ray Logs Neutron Logs

Density Logs
Sonic (acoustic) Logs

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Resistivity Logs
The most commonly used logs:
Measures resistance of flow of electric

current Is function of porosity & pore fluid in rock Frequently used to identify lithology

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Spontaneous Potential (SP) Logs

Next most common log
Measures electrical current in well Result of salinity differences between

formation water and the borehole mud Separates bed boundaries of permeable sands & impermeable shales.

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Gamma Ray Logs

Another common log
Records radioactivity of a formation Shales have high gamma radioactive response Gamma ray logs infer grain size (and so

subsequently inferred depositional energy) Gamma ray logs are most commonly used logs for sequence stratigraphic analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553&Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis After Harris Saller 1999

Neutron Logs
Another common log
Measures porosity of formation Uses quantity of hydrogen present Measures lithology when used with Density

Log

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Density Logs
A common log
Measures formations bulk density Used as a porosity measure Differentiates lithologies with Neutron Log Used with Sonic Logs to generate synthetic

seismic traces to match to seismic lines

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Sonic (Acoustic) Logs

Another common log
Measures of speed of sound in formation Tied to porosity and lithology Used with Density Logs to generate

Synthetic Seismic traces to match to Seismic lines

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

The Tools of Subsurface Analysis

Facies analysis of subsurface data depends on tools which delimit of surfaces and provide clues as to the sediments they contain:
Well logs Seismic

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Seismic
Seismic stratigraphic interpretation used to: Define geometries of genetic reflection packages that envelope seismic sequences and systems tracts Identify bounding discontinuities on basis of reflection termination patterns and continuity

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Seismic Boundaries
Termination below discontinuity, or upper sequence boundary : Toplap termination Truncation of sediment surface Often channel bottom Above a discontinuity defining lower sequence boundary:
Onlap over surface

Downlap surface
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Seismic Boundaries
Below Boundary - Toplap termination

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Seismic Boundaries
Below Boundary - Truncation of surface

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Seismic Boundaries
Channeled Surface Below Boundary

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Seismic Boundaries
Over Boundary - Onlap onto surface

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Seismic Boundaries
Over Boundary- Downlap onto surface

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Sequence Stratigraphy
Subdivision & interpretation of sedimentary record using a framework surfaces seen in outcrops, well logs, & 2-D and 3-D seismic. Include: Surfaces of erosion & non-deposition (sequence boundaries) Flooding (trangressive surfaces [TS] &/or maximum flooding surfaces [mfs]) & high stand condensed surfaces

This framework used to predict the extent of sedimentary facies geometry, lithologic character, grain size, sorting & reservoir quality
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Tools Define Bounding Surfaces

These surfaces subdivide sedimentary rock & provide: Relative time framework for sedimentary succession Better understanding of inter-relationship of depositional settings & their lateral correlation Conceptual models follow that link the processes that formed the sediments and enable the prediction of their gross geometries
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Hierarchy of Geometries

Sequence geometries are subdivided and defined by

Maximum Flooding Surfaces (mfs) Transgressive Surfaces (TS) Sequence Boundaries (SB)

Define how vertical succession or stacking patterns of unconfined sheets are arranged
Prograde (step seaward) Retrograde (step landward) Aggrade (build vertically)

Sheets and unconfined lobes may contain

Non-amalgamated bodies

Amalgamated, multi-storied bodies

Incised topographic fill of valleys Unconfined but localized lobes from point & multiple up dip sources
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Hierarchy of Geometries

Sequence geometries are subdivided and defined by

Maximum Flooding Surfaces (mfs) Transgressive Surfaces (TS) Sequence Boundaries (SB)

Define how vertical succession or stacking patterns of unconfined sheets are arranged
Prograde (step seaward) Retrograde (step landward) Aggrade (build vertically)

Sheets and unconfined lobes may contain

Non-amalgamated bodies

Amalgamated, multi-storied bodies

Incised topographic fill of valleys Unconfined but localized lobes from point & multiple up dip sources
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Hierarchy of Geometries

Sequence geometries are subdivided and defined by

Maximum Flooding Surfaces (mfs) Transgressive Surfaces (TS) Sequence Boundaries (SB)

Define how vertical succession or stacking patterns of unconfined sheets are arranged
Prograde (step seaward) Retrograde (step landward) Aggrade (build vertically)

Sheets and unconfined lobes may contain

Non-amalgamated bodies

Amalgamated, multi-storied bodies

Incised topographic fill of valleys Unconfined but localized lobes from point & multiple up dip sources
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Hierarchy of Geometries

Sequence geometries are subdivided and defined by

Maximum Flooding Surfaces (mfs) Transgressive Surfaces (TS) Sequence Boundaries (SB)

Define how vertical succession or stacking patterns of unconfined sheets are arranged
Prograde (step seaward) Retrograde (step landward) Aggrade (build vertically)

Sheets and unconfined lobes may contain

Non-amalgamated bodies

Amalgamated, multi-storied bodies

Incised topographic fill of valleys Unconfined but localized lobes from point & multiple up dip sources
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Hierarchy of Geometries

Sequence geometries are subdivided and defined by

Maximum Flooding Surfaces (mfs) Transgressive Surfaces (TS) Sequence Boundaries (SB)

Define how vertical succession or stacking patterns of unconfined sheets are arranged
Prograde (step seaward) Retrograde (step landward) Aggrade (build vertically)

Sheets and unconfined lobes may contain

Non-amalgamated bodies

Amalgamated, multi-storied bodies

Incised topographic fill of valleys Unconfined but localized lobes from point & multiple up dip sources
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Ebb Ooid Delta - UAE

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Delta Mouth Bar - Kentucky

Note Incised Surface

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Channel Gulf Coast

Note Incised Surface

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Flood Deltas & Channels - Kty

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Tidal Channels Khor al Bazam UAE

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Tidal, Storm or Tsunami Channel

Note Incised Surface

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Tsunami Load & Drape - Kty

Note Uniform Thickness of Layer

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Clastic Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Channels & Shelves

Both have unique processes & structures that can be used to identify their setting
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Tools Enable Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis

This analysis involves
Subdivision of section into sequences, parasequences and beds. Link conceptual models with mix of components of the individual sequence, parasequence or beds Use these to explain the depositional setting in terms of their lithology, grain size, sedimentary structures, contacts character (gradational, abrupt) etc

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

End of the Lecture

Can it be supper time?

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis

Unconfined Flow - Not in a Channel

Unique Processes
Flow is in all directions No lateral boundaries, only upper and lower boundaries Velocity changes: high to low

Sediment responses
Decrease in grain size: Fining outward (coarse to fine) Erosional/sharp/gradational contacts Accretion: Downstream, upstream and vertical Decrease in sedimentary structures away from source

Geometries
Sheets Thin in direction of flow
GEOL 553 Lecture 3; Subsurface Analysis