南海珠江口盆地深水区混合沉积类型及其形成机制

珠江口盆地是研究深水沉积过程和南海油气勘探的热点区域。利用地震、测井和钻井岩屑等资料,发现珠江口盆地深水区晚渐新世至中中新世期间,发育混合沉积体系。该混合沉积体系岩相主要表现为碳酸盐岩与硅质碎屑以不同比例的混合堆积,垂向岩相变化存在突变式、渐变式和交互式三种递变类型。根据地震反射以及岩相特征,混合沉积体系可划分为4个沉积阶段：第1阶段主要为原位混合沉积,形成渐变式或突变式混合沉积;第2阶段为相缘混合,产生渐变式混合沉积层系;第3、4阶段为间断混合,形成交互式混合沉积。在硅质碎屑沉积为主的背景下,混合沉积由于碳酸盐碎屑的加入,可能会形成潜在的油气储层,对今后深水油气勘探有一定的启示意义。     

Seismic geomorphology,architecture and genesis of Miocene shelf sand ridges in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

Multiple stages of large-scale shelf sand ridges, including the shoreface-attached and the offshore types, have developed in the Miocene successions on the mid-shelf region of the Pear River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. Utilizing a high-quality 3D seismic data set, accompanying 2D seismic profiles and well logs, the morphology, architecture and genesis of these shelf sand ridges have been systematically investigated in this study. The ridges are of very large scale, with the largest one having a maximum height of 64 m, a width of more than 20 km and a length of 37 km within the 3D survey area. Being mound-shaped, they also display obvious asymmetry character, with the ridge crest preferentially located on the SE side. Three main internal components, including the ridge front, central ridge and the ridge tail, have been recognized through careful anatomy analysis of the two most well-imaged ridges, each displaying distinct expressions on seismic amplitudes and geometries. In the plan view, most of the shelf sand ridges are generally NE–SW oriented and widening to the SW direction. Scouring features can also be clearly observed along the SW direction, including scour depressions and linear sandy remnants. On well logs, the shelf sand ridges are represented by an overall coarsening-upward pattern. Intervals with blocky sandstones are preferentially present on higher locations due to a differential winnowing process controlled by shelf topography.Plenty of evidence indicates that these ridges were primarily formed by the reworking of forced regressive or lowstand deltaic deposits under a persistent southwesterly flowing current during the subsequent transgression. This very current is a composite one, which is speculated to consist of winter oceanic current, SCSBK (South China Sea Branch of Kuroshio) intrusion onto the shelf and internal waves propagating from the Luzon Strait. Tidal currents might have contributed to the SE growth of the ridge. In response to the reglaciation of Antarctic ice-sheet and the closure of Pacific-Indian ocean seaway in the middle Miocene, the intensification of the North Pacific western boundary current was considered to have potential links to the initiation of the shelf sand ridges at ∼12 Ma. The development of shelf ridges was terminated and replaced by rapid deltaic progradation at ∼5.5 Ma.     

南海北部珠江口盆地深水区碳酸盐岩发育特征及地震识别

由于南海的多次扩张、拉伸、消减运动,在珠江口盆地白云深水区发生了陆架裂陷和海水入侵等地质现象,形成了海相碳酸盐岩生长发育的基础地质条件。对珠江口盆地深水区碳酸盐岩的发育地质背景、地质特征、发育规律、地震响应特征以及深水区灰岩发育的主控因素进行了探讨,结果表明白云深水区主要发育两种类型的碳酸盐台地;古隆起镶边台地以及火山建隆孤立台地。台地沉积主要发育在古隆起周缘、构造高部位、火山隆起周缘,并被钻井所证实。在白云深水区东沙隆起西南缘、云荔低凸起、荔湾凹陷北缘、荔湾凹陷南缘及顺鹤隆起发育典型的生物礁,钻井证实有珊瑚、红藻、苔藓虫等造礁生物。生物礁地震特征具有强的连续反射顶、底界面,丘状反射外形,内部结构或空白、或杂乱,具有前积、加积、退积等层序结构。     

珠江口盆地第三纪古地理及沉积演化

珠江口盆地第三纪以来经历了断陷、拗陷两个构造演化阶段,具有“南北分带”、“东西分块”的构造格局和先陆后海的沉积特征。本文根据前人资料进行综合整理,编制了珠江口盆地古近纪神狐组、文昌组、恩平组、珠海组地层和新近纪珠江组地层的岩相古地理图。神狐组发育有冲积扇和河湖相,主要分布在珠三坳陷南断裂的狭长地带。文昌组沉积半深湖—深湖相,恩平组水深变浅,河沼相广泛分布。珠海组岩相古地理发生了较大的变化,为海陆过渡相沉积。随后海平面振荡上升,珠江口盆地处于陆架—陆坡环境,发育浅海—半深海沉积。对整个珠江口盆地岩相古地理图的编制为详细研究盆地内各区块的岩相古地理演变提供了区域背景,也为区域构造演化和油气地质条件的研究提供了基础依据。     

南海珠江口盆地深部烃类微渗漏的分子地球化学揭示

对南海珠江口盆地Site4B站位柱状沉积物可溶有机质中正构烷烃进行详细分析,结果显示海底以下65~70cm、80~85cm和85~90cm存在明显的似成熟烃类分布。在气相色谱质谱图上(GCMS),该处存在明显的UCM分布;在烃类分布上,该处以可溶有机质中高碳数正构烷烃奇偶优势趋于消失为特征,CPI为1.15~1.45。同时,整个剖面其他层段沉积有机质中可溶烃类仍以典型的近/现代沉积有机质输入为标志。结合区域地质背景,以及该区域天然气水合物的勘探发现事实,推断Site4B站位海底以下65~70cm、80~85cm和85~90cm烃类异常可能系深部烃类微渗漏所致。     

Applying seismic geomorphology to delineate switched sequence stratigraphic architecture in lacustrine rift basins: An example from the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

Switched sequence stratigraphic architectural units were developed in the Eocene Wenchang Formation stratigraphic section of the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), northern South China Sea. Utilizing a high-quality 3D seismic data set, well logs and restored paleogeomorphology, the architecture and genesis of switched sequence stratigraphic units have been systematically investigated. The Wenchang Formation, a second-order sequence, can be subdivided into seven third-order sequences (from base to top: SQ1, SQ2, SQ3, SQ4, SQ5, SQ6, and SQ7). The sequence stratigraphic architecture of the Wenchang Formation is characterized by continuous lateral stacking patterns from sequences SQ1 to SQ7. Sequences SQ1–SQ4 mainly developed in the HZ26 sag, whereas sequences SQ5–SQ7 mainly developed in the XJ24 sag. The depositional centres of the Wenchang Formation appear to have migrated from the HZ26 sag to the XJ24 sag-along the northwest direction from sequences SQ1 to SQ7. Multiple tectonic activation episodes or alternating tectonic subsidence of the HZ26 and XJ24 sags resulted in the distinctive geomorphological features that effected the development of the switched sequence stratigraphic architecture in the study area. The switched sequence stratigraphic architecture presented in this study may provide new insights into a better understanding of sequence stratigraphic stacking patterns in continental lacustrine rift basins.     

Characteristics and genesis of the polygonal fault system in southern slope of the Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

Based on 3D seismic data, the polygonal fault system (PFS) discovered in the southern slope of the Qiongdongnan (QDN) Basin was studied through fine seismic interpretation and coherent cube analysis. The results show that: ① the PFS is mostly composed of small plate-type faults, with fault length of 1–3 km, maximum fault throw of 20–40 m and dip angle of 25°–45°; ② the PFS is mainly observed in the Huangliu Formation, deposited in the early stage of fast slope depression; ③ the PFS is layer-bound and can be separated into two tiers by T31′ interface with obvious channel incision features; ④ the PF of tier2 exhibit “y” structural style, including two parallel faults, master fault and associated fault, dipping in opposite directions. Their intersection relationship can be divided into three classes, and 14 sub-classes based on the fault intersection relationship of master fault and its associated fault; ⑤ the PFS is dominated by two strikes: NE60° and NW150°, indicating that it was controlled by tensile stress produced by differential settlement between the Xisha uplift and QDN basin; and ⑥ its genesis was jointly controlled by the syneresis of clay minerals and overpressure cyclical dehydration.     

Sequence stratigraphy and depositional architecture of the Pearl River Delta system,northern South China Sea: An interactive response to sea level,tectonics and paleoceanography

Using a combined dataset including 3D seismic volumes, 2D profiles and 127 industrial wells, this study systematically investigated sequence stratigraphy and depositional architecture of the Pearl River Delta system (PRDS) during the Middle Miocene. In total, six stratigraphic sequences (SQ1 to SQ6) were recognized for the Hanjiang Formation, each of which could be further subdivided into a transgressive systems tract (TST) and a regressive systems tract (RST) according to a T-R sequence stratigraphic model. Seismic geomorphologic approaches were then conducted to interpret and map the key depositional elements, including fluvial channel systems, river mouth bars, longshore bars, shelf sand ridges and shelf sand sheets. After a detailed construction of the paleogeography for each of the twelves systems tracts, it was found that the types, geometries and depositional regimes of PRDS significantly altered at ca. 13.8 Ma. Before ca. 13.8 Ma, the PRDS were dominated by well-developed fluvial systems and an overall lobate shape, indicating a fluvial-dominated process. However, after 13.8 Ma, the whole PRDS began to form enormous shoreline-parallel depositional elements such as longshore bars, shelf sand ridges and shelf sand sheets, indicating dominant shore-parallel regimes. Besides, the whole deltaic system displayed obvious southwest deflection in map view after 13.8 Ma.Detailed analysis showed that this sudden change in the evolution of the PRDS could be ascribed to an interactive response to several factors. At ca. 13.8 Ma, the sea level began to rapidly rise and caused the fluvial energy to decrease, which was likely to lead to the diversion of the fluvial systems. Besides, the gradual uplift of the Dongsha Rise resulted in the raised shelf topography in the east region, thus confining the fluvial channels to flow southwestward. What's more, a few key paleoceanographic events, including the reglaciation of the Antarctic ice-sheet and the shoaling of the Pacific-Indian Ocean Seaway, might have contributed to the intensification of the southwesterly flowing paleocurrent along the northern South China Sea, thus triggering the delta asymmetry and deflecton of the PRDS after 13.8 Ma.     

南海北部陆坡珠江口盆地东南海域GMGS2-09井孔隙水地球化学特征及其对天然气水合物的指示意义

沉积物孔隙水地球化学是天然气水合物勘探与研究的重要手段。为了探究珠江口盆地东南海域GMGS2-09钻孔的沉积物孔隙水地球化学特征及其对埋藏的天然气水合物的指示意义,我们在前人的研究和认知基础上,通过测试该钻孔沉积物孔隙水的氯离子含量、氢氧同位素和阳离子组成来识别天然气水合物的赋存层位。结果表明GMGS2-09钻孔在9~17、47以及100m处存在氯离子浓度的负异常耦合氧同位素的正异常,指示相应的天然气水合物赋存,其中9~17m层位指示结果与实际取样情况完全一致。此外,采用基于水合物晶格的排盐机理推导的经验公式计算显示水合物饱和度在浅表层(17m)最高约为50%,中间以及底层约为20%。     

南海北部陆坡琼东南盆地晚中新世以来沉积物来源及输送样式

为了更好地揭示南海北部陆坡琼东南盆地晚中新世以来的沉积物输送样式,本次研究将盆地裂后期加速沉降阶段以来的沉积物充填样式作为研究对象,基于前人对这一区域潜在物源区的分析,通过对已有勘探成果的总结和归纳,对深水沉积体的类型进行识别,建立具有成因关系或相同来源的深水沉积体组合,尝试对沉积物输送样式进行划分和归类。研究结果认为,晚中新世以来,琼东南盆地主要存在海南岛物源、莺西物源、南部隆起带物源和神狐隆起物源等4个潜在物源区,沉积物输送样式可划分为垂向沉积物输送、轴向沉积物输送和转向沉积物输送3种类型。     

Neogene igneous intrusions in the northern South China Sea: Evidence from high-resolution three dimensional seismic data

Igneous intrusions emplaced within the prospective intervals of sedimentary basins can exert a significant impact on petroleum systems and hence are of considerable interest particularly when risking exploration plays. A number of discordant high amplitude seismic anomalies (DSAs) with a range of geometries are documented in high resolution 3D seismic data in the northern South China Sea. Their distribution and seismic characteristics are analysed and compared with similar seismic anomalies documented within sedimentary basins in the Atlantic margins and other locations. The DSAs occur mainly within Early Miocene strata and are interpreted as igneous intrusions that were emplaced close to the palaeo-seabed and are dated as early Middle Miocene using seismic-stratigraphic methods. A number of vents are also identified above the intrusions within early Middle Miocene strata. Several geometrical forms are observed, referred to here as saucer-shaped, lensoid-shaped, stacked and composite intrusions. The seismic expression of these is increasing complex towards the palaeo-seabed, with a tendency for the saucer-shaped sills to be the deepest intrusive forms. The igneous intrusions observed in this study only could be identified using 3D seismic data and they are important for the future evaluations of petroleum systems, basin evolution and tectonic analysis in the Pearl River Mouth Basin.     

南海北部琼东南盆地陵水段峡谷沉积建造及勘探意义

琼东南盆地中央峡谷为一大型轴向峡谷体系,具有明显的"分段性"特征,不同区段沉积充填和内部结构均存在明显的差异,其中陵水段位于峡谷西段,具有非常好的储层物性特征,是深水区峡谷勘探的重点区域。为了进一步精细刻画陵水段峡谷内部水道复合体的沉积充填及沉积微相展布特征,本文借助新增加的三维地震资料和新钻井资料,通过峡谷三级层序界面的识别,将峡谷充填划分为3个三级层序SQ1、SQ2和SQ3,并通过古生物有孔虫化石带、钙质超微化石带及井-震结合确定了峡谷底界为中中新世晚期S40界面,陵水段峡谷自西向东依次识别出6种主要的内部充填结构,且将SQ3层序细分为5个次级层序(SSQ1~SSQ5);结合属性特征,精细刻画了陵水段峡谷内沉积微相平面展布及空间演化特征,并指出点砂坝在SSQ1层序最发育,且规模较大,横向上连片分布,将是下步勘探的有利储集体。     

Tracing of deeply-buried source rock: A case study of the WC9-2 petroleum pool in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea

The identification of a deeply-buried petroleum-source rock, owing to the difficulty in sample collection, has become a difficult task for establishing its relationship with discovered petroleum pools and evaluating its exploration potential in a petroleum-bearing basin. This paper proposes an approach to trace a deeply-buried source rock. The essential points include: determination of the petroleum-charging time of a reservoir, reconstruction of the petroleum generation history of its possible source rocks, establishment of the spatial connection between the source rocks and the reservoir over its geological history, identification of its effective source rock and the petroleum system from source to trap, and evaluation of petroleum potential from the deeply-buried source rock. A case study of the W9-2 petroleum pool in the Wenchang A sag of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea was conducted using this approach. The W9-2 reservoir produces condensate oil and gas, sourced from deeply-buried source rocks. The reservoir consists of a few sets of sandstone in the Zhuhai Formation, and the possible source rocks include an early Oligocene Enping Formation mudstone and a late Eocene Wenchang Formation mudstone, with a current burial depth from 5000 to 9000 m. The fluid inclusion data from the reservoir rock indicate the oil and the gas charged the reservoir about 18–3.5 Ma and after 4.5 Ma, respectively. The kinetic modeling results show that the main stages of oil generation of the Wenchang mudstone and the Enping mudstone occurred during 28–20 Ma and 20–12 Ma, respectively, and that the δ¹³C₁ value of the gas generated from the Enping mudstone has a better match with that of the reservoir gas than the gas from the Wenchang mudstone. Results from a 2D basin modeling further indicate that the petroleum from the Enping mudstone migrated upward along the well-developed syn-sedimentary faults in the central area of the sag into the reservoir, but that the petroleum from the Wenchang mudstone migrated laterally first toward the marginal faults of the sag and then migrated upward along the faults into shallow strata. The present results suggest that the trap structure in the central area of the sag is a favorable place for the accumulation of the Enping mudstone-derived petroleum, and that the Wenchang mudstone-derived petroleum would have a contribution to the structures along the deep faults as well as in the uplifted area around the sag.     

南海琼东南深水海区地质灾害类型与特征

南海琼东南深水海区是南中国海石油天然气资源潜在储量较为丰富的地区,油气勘探开发的力度正日益加大。但是,该海区处于南海大陆坡与西沙海槽区域,海底水深大,地形变化剧烈,水体动力环境和海底地质条件复杂,引发地质灾害的触发机制丰富,稍有疏忽,将给石油钻井平台带来巨大损失。在收集有关资料的基础上,对海底的地质环境务件作了研究,发现了一些有可能发生或潜在的地质灾害类型,并对其特征作了描述,以引起有关方面在石油钻井钻前井场工程地质调查和评价时予以重视。     

南海北部琼东南盆地中央峡谷成因新认识

通过对区域构造断裂体系和逐渐连片的高分辨率三维地震资料的精细解析,认识到琼东南盆地中央峡谷的形成机制除了与晚中新世区域构造变动、大规模海平面下降、充足物源供给以及凹槽型古地形特征等因素相关之外,还存在另外一个非常重要因素:峡谷底部早期隐伏断裂带的存在。研究表明:琼东南盆地中央坳陷带发育平行于陆架坡折的大规模深水峡谷,峡谷底部发育大型走滑断层以及走滑断层派生出一系列次级断层形成的地层破碎带,认识到峡谷的形成、规模以及展布方向均受断裂带影响;相应地峡谷的充填及演化亦是受物源、海平面变化、重力流作用等多种因素共同作用和相互叠加的过程。从而为研究经历了裂陷期和坳陷期盆地演化过程形成的大型峡谷提供了科学依据。     

Hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics of Eocene source rocks in the Huilu area,northern Pearl River Mouth basin,South China Sea: Implications for tight oil potential

In recent years, new oil reservoirs have been discovered in the Eocene tight sandstone of the Huilu area, northern part of the Pearl River Mouth basin, South China Sea, indicating good prospects for tight oil exploration in the area. Exploration has shown that the Huilu area contains two main sets of source rocks: the Eocene Wenchang (E₂w) and Enping (E₂e) formations. To satisfy the requirements for further exploration in the Huilu area, particularly for tight oil in Eocene sand reservoirs, it is necessary to re-examine and analyze the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics. Based on mass balance, this study investigated the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics as well as the tight oil resource potential using geological and geochemical data and a modified conceptual model for generation and expulsion. The results show that the threshold and peak expulsion of the E₂w source rocks are at 0.6% vitrinite reflectance and 0.9% vitrinite reflectance, respectively. There were five hydrocarbon expulsion centers, located in the western, eastern, and northern Huizhou Sag and the southern and northern Lufeng Sag. The hydrocarbon yields attributed to E₂w source rocks are 2.4 × 10¹¹ tons and 1.6 × 10¹¹ tons, respectively, with an expulsion efficiency of 65%. The E₂e source rock threshold and peak expulsion are at 0.65% vitrinite reflectance and 0.93% vitrinite reflectance, respectively, with hydrocarbon expulsion centers located in the centers of the Huizhou and Lufeng sags. The yields attributed to E₂e source rocks are 1.1 × 10¹¹ tons and 0.2 × 10¹¹ tons, respectively, with an expulsion efficiency of 20%. Using an accumulation coefficient of 7%–13%, the Eocene tight reservoirs could contain approximately 1.3 × 10¹⁰ tons to 2.3 × 10¹⁰ tons, with an average of 1.8 × 10¹⁰ tons, of in-place tight oil resources (highest recoverable coefficient can reach 17–18%), indicating that there is significant tight oil potential in the Eocene strata of the Huilu area.     

Fine-grained Pleistocene deepwater turbidite channel system on the slope of Qiongdongnan Basin, northern South China Sea

Recently, as oil exploitation has become focused on deepwater slope areas, more multi-channel high resolution 2D and 3D seismic data were acquired in the deepwater part of the Qiongdongnan Basin, northern South China Sea. Based on 3D seismic data and coherence time slice, RMS and 3D visualization, a series of deepwater channels were recognized on the slope that probably developed in the late Quaternary period. These channels trend SW–NE to W–E and show bifurcations, levees, meander loops and avulsions. High Amplitude Reflections (HARs), typical for channel–levee complexes, are of only minor importance and were observed in one of the channel systems. Most of the detected channels are characterized by low-amplitude reflections, and so are different from the typical coarse-grained turbidite channels that had been discovered worldwide. The absence of well data in the study area made it difficult to determine the age and lithology of these channels. Using a neighboring drill hole and published data about such depositional systems worldwide, the lithology of these channels is likely to be dominated by mudstones with interbedded thin sandstones. These channels are formed by turbidity currents originated from the little scale mountain river of mid-Vietnam in SW direction and were probably accompanied by a relative sea level drop in the last glacial age. These channels discovered on the northern South China Sea slope are likely to be fine-grained, mud-dominant and low N:G deposits in a deepwater paleogeographic setting.     

Characteristics of migrating submarine canyons from the middle Miocene to present: Implications for paleoceanographic circulation,northern South China Sea

Previously undocumented, migrating submarine canyons have developed in the Pearl River Mouth Basin along the northern continental margin of the South China Sea from the middle Miocene to present. A grid of high-resolution, 2-D multi-channel seismic profiles calibrated by borehole information permits documentation of these northeastward migrating submarine canyons, as the result of the interplay of gravity flows and bottom currents. The modern canyons have lengths of 30–60 km, widths of 1–5.7 km, and relief of 50–300 m in water depths of 450–1500 m. Buried ancient submarine canyon successions were originally eroded by basal erosional discontinuities and partially filled by canyon thalweg deposits. These are overlain by lateral inclined packages and hemipelagic drape deposits. Basal erosional discontinuities and thalweg deposits are probably created principally by turbidity currents and filled with turbidites. Lateral inclined packages likely were formed by along-slope bottom currents. The evolution of these migrating submarine canyons reveals that northeastward bottom currents have consistently occurred at least from the middle Miocene to present in the study area. It might further imply that thermohaline intermediate water circulation of the South China Sea has been anti-cyclonic from the middle Miocene to present. The initiation of migrating submarine canyons possibly signals commencement of strong bottom currents after the middle Miocene in the South China Sea. The intensification of bottom currents also possibly may reflect shoaling of the major ocean seaways and increased vigor in oceanic circulation forced by global cooling after the middle Miocene.     

珠江口盆地陆架坡折带海底滑坡及其影响因素

为了解海底滑坡在陆架坡折演化过程中所起的作用并分析影响海底滑坡发育的因素,以最新采集的二维和三维地震资料为基础,综合运用了地貌分析和地震解释技术,通过对滑坡的地貌形态特征及地震响应特征进行详细刻画,在珠江口盆地陆架坡折带新近纪地层中识别出多处海底滑坡,明确了其分布范围并建立了滑坡发育的地质模式。分析认为,珠江口盆地相对海平面变化和流体活动的综合作用是导致研究区海底不稳定的主要因素。海底滑坡发源于海底峡谷的朔源侵蚀,向上陆坡扩展并终止于陆架坡折带。     

A buried submarine canyon in the northwest South China Sea:architecture,development processes and implications for hydrocarbon exploration

High-resolution multichannel seismic data enables the discovery of a previous, undocumented submarine canyon(Huaguang Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northwest South China Sea. The Huaguang Canyon with a NW orientation is 140 km in length, and 2.5 km to 5 km in width in its upper reach and 4.6 km to 9.5 km in width in its lower reach. The head of the Huaguang Canyon is close to the Xisha carbonate platform and its tail is adjacent to the central canyon. This buried submarine canyon is formed by gravity flows from the Xisha carbonate platform when the sea level dropped in the early stage of the late Miocene(～10.5 Ma). The internal architecture of the Huaguang Canyon is mainly characterized by high amplitude reflections, indicating that this ancient submarine canyon was filled with coarse-grained sediments. The sediment was principally scourced from the Xisha carbonate platform. In contrast to other buried large-scale submarine canyons(central canyon and Zhongjian Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, the Huaguang Canyon displays later formation time, smaller width and length, and single sediment supply. The coarse-grained deposits within Huaguang Canyon provide a good environment for reserving oil and gas, and the muddy fillings in Huaguang Canyon have been identified as regional caps. Therefore, Huaguang Canyon is potential area for future hydrocarbon exploration in the northwest South China Sea. Our results may contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of submarine canyons formed in carbonate environment.