Module 6 Sequence stratigraphy of mixed-influence shallow marine deposits
Duration 2-4 days
Coastal Cliff Exposures in southern New South Wales, Australia offer superb outcrop high-resolution outcrop examples of a range of shallow marine depositional settings including wave and storm dominated facies, estuarine and tidal deposits.
The strata form part of the large Permian retro-arc foreland basin complex of the Sydney-Gunnedah-Bowen Basins, stretching some 2000km northwest from these exposures. Deposition of the section outcropping here occurred during an early extensional phase in the basin history.
The succession comprises numerous stratigraphic surfaces accessible in outcrop, including sequence boundaries, regressive surfaces of erosion, transgressive surfaces of erosion, wave and tide ravinement surfaces and flooding surfaces. Associated facies are exposed in exquisite detail on wave-cut platforms and in coastal cliffs.
This module is recommended for geoscientists and engineers working on reservoir characterisation and modelling of shallow marine, tidal and estuarine reservoirs, and their sequence stratigraphy.
Key Objectives:
- Stratigraphic architecture and facies of shallow marine successions
- High resolution sequence stratigraphy, identification of key stratigraphic surfaces and the implications for reservoir continuity
- Sedimentary structures and processes; application of ichnology to depositional environment and stratigraphic correlations
- Lateral variability and correlation of environments
- Reservoir modelling: what are suitable reservoir modelling strategies to use for these facies?
Transport by tour bus or Toyota Tarago mini-vans. Participants will work in groups to log stratigraphic sections of outcrops, present interpretations and compare results with other groups. Implications for reservoir characterization will be discussed.
