Study on the Cretaceous turbidite and reservoir features in the Qingshankou Formation in northern Songliao Basin,NE China

Based on analysis of well and drilling data, cores, sediment grains and 3D seismic data, four types of turbidites–slope fan, channelized, laminated and sublacustrine fan turbidite–are identified in Members 1 and 2 of the Qingshankou Formation in northern Songliao Basin. The slope fan turbidite is located in Members 1 and 2 of the Qingshankou Formation. It is dominated by silt and fine sand and is distributed in an SN-trending ribbon zone along the slope break at delta front in the western part of the basin. The channelized turbidite is located at the bottom of Member 1 of the Qingshankou Formation. It is dominated by silt and fine sand and is distributed in an SN-trending strip-shaped zone along the Qijia-Gulong sag, with funnel-shaped sublacustrine fans at the end. The laminated turbidite body is located in Member 2 of the Qingshankou Formation. It is dominated by siltstone and argillaceous siltstone and is distributed continuously in a tongue-shaped zone along the northern delta front towards the lacustrine region, with belt-like distributaries at the central part and sublacustrine fans at the end. Low-permeability and low-yield lithologic reservoirs are formed near the delta front within the slope fan turbidite and channelized turbidite. There are “sweet spots” in local regions, where reservoir reform techniques are required to attain high industrial yields. Laminated turbidite and sublacustrine fans can form unconventional and continuous reservoirs that generally have no natural productivity; industrial production is impossible until horizontal drilling and multistage volume fracturing are employed. Therefore, the research results are important to the exploration of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs in northern Songliao Basin.     

Small turbidite systems in a complex tectonic setting (SW Mediterranean Sea): morphology and growth patterns

Three small turbidite systems (Almeria, Sacratif, and Guadiaro), each tens of kilometres long, are developed in the complex morpho-structural setting of the northern Alboran Sea and have similar primary architectural elements (canyons, channel-levee systems, lobes). However, comparison reveals differences in the axial gradients of their canyons, depth/physiographic location, morphological framework, and lateral and longitudinal sedimentary shifts of turbidite deposition. The depositional architecture and sedimentary evolution from late Pliocene to Quaternary seems to be conditioned by number of submarine feeding sources (canyons), sea-level fluctuations and local tectonic (e.g. margin/canyon-channel gradients, faults). We group the Alboran turbidite systems into two models: mud/sand-rich submarine point-source and mud/sand-rich multiple submarine source ramp.     

A hypothesis for the formation of a mud bank in the Gulf of Papua

The riverine mud that escapes retention in the estuaries and enters the Gulf of Papua appears to be transported southeastward, across depth contours, by the prevailing currents in a series of wind-driven events. The mud deposits to the southeast of the rivers, at the mid-shelf region within a depth range of 40–60 m. Mud transported farther eastward is carried down the continental rise. Coarser riverine sediment (silt and sand) is deposited closer inshore. On the outer shelf (depth >60 m) relict carbonate debris dominates. The area of mud has maximum rates of pelagic and benthic productivity in the gulf.     

Geometry and architectural associations of co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds in basin-margin strata, Carboniferous Ross Sandstone (Ireland): Applications to reservoirs located on the margins of structurally confined submarine fans

Co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds are most commonly found in distal basin-plain settings and basin margins. This study documents the geometry, architectural association and paleogeographic occurrence of co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds in the Carboniferous Ross Sandstone with the goal of reducing uncertainty in the interpretation of subsurface data in similarly shaped basins where oil and gas is produced.The Ross Sandstone of western Ireland was deposited in a structurally confined submarine basin. Two outcrops contain co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds: Ballybunnion and Inishcorker. Both of the exposures contain strata deposited on the margin of the basin. An integrated dataset was used to characterize the stratigraphy of the Ballybunnion exposure. The exposure is divided into lower, middle, and upper units. The lower unit contains laminated shale with phosphate nodules, structureless siltstone, convolute bedding/slumps, locally contorted shale, and siltstone turbidites. The middle unit contains co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds, siltstone turbidites, and structureless siltstone. Each co-genetic debrite–turbidite bed contains evidence that fluid turbulence and matrix strength operated alternately and possibly simultaneously during deposition by a single sediment-gravity-flow event. The upper unit contains thin-bedded sandy turbidites, amalgamated sandy turbidites, siltstone turbidites, structureless siltstone, and laminated shale. A similar vertical facies pattern is found at Inishcorker.Co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds are only found at the basin-margin. We interpret these distinct beds to have originated as sand-rich, fully turbulent flows that eroded muddy strata on the slope as well as interbedded sandstone and mudstone in axial positions of the basin floor forming channels and associated megaflute erosional surfaces. This erosion caused the axially dispersing flows to laterally evolve to silt- and clay-rich flows suspended by both fluid turbulence and matrix strength due to a relative increase in clay proportions and associated turbulence suppression. The flows were efficient enough to bypass the basin center/floor, physically disconnecting their deposits from coeval lobes, resulting in deposition of co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds on the basin margin. The record of these bypassing flows in axial positions of the basin is erosional surfaces draped by thin siltstone beds with organic debris.A detailed cross-section through the Ross Sandstone reveals a wedge of low net-to-gross, poor reservoir-quality strata that physically separates sandy, basin-floor strata from the basin margin. The wedge of strata is referred to as the transition zone. The transition zone is composed of co-genetic debrite–turbidite beds, structureless siltstone, slumps, locally contorted shale, and laminated shale. Using data from the Ross Sandstone, two equations are defined that predict the size and shape of the transition zone. The equations use three variables (thickness of basin-margin strata, thickness of coeval strata on the basin floor, and angle of the basin margin) to solve for width (w) and trajectory of the basinward side of the low net-to-gross wedge (β). Beta is not a time line, but a facies boundary that separates sandy basin floor strata from silty basin-margin strata. The transition zone is interpreted to exist on lateral and distal margins of the structurally confined basin.Seismic examples from Gulf of Mexico minibasins reveal a wedge of low continuity, low amplitude seismic facies adjacent to the basin margin. Strata in this wedge are interpreted as transition-zone sediments, similar to those in the Ross Sandstone. Besides defining the size and shape of the transition zone, the variables “w” and “β” define two important drilling parameters. The variable “w” corresponds to the minimum distance a well bore should be positioned from the lateral basin margin to intersect sandy strata, and “β” corresponds to the deviation (from horizontal) of the well bore to follow the interface between sandy and low net-to-gross strata. Calculations reveal that “w” and “β” are related to the relative amount of draping, condensed strata on the margin and the angle of the basin margin. Basins with shallowly dipping margins and relatively high proportions of draping, clay-rich strata have wider transition zones compared to basins with steeply dipping margins with little draping strata. These concepts can reduce uncertainty when interpreting subsurface data in other structurally confined basins including those in Gulf of Mexico, offshore West Africa, and Brunei.     

Origin of mass flow sedimentary structures in hemipelagic basin deposits: Santa Barbara Basin,California Borderland

Holocene mass flow processes produce distinctive sedimentary structures in this silled, anoxic basin characterized by high sedimentation rates of fine-grained fill. Mud flow deposits possess a 0899 1444 V 3 diagnostic vertical sequence of structures on the lower slope. Basin floor turbidites possess a variety of bed set combinations of: 1) finely laminated layers, 2) graded silt and clay layers, and 3) ungraded, massive silts and clays with floating sand grains. Massive, ungraded flood-derived suspensate deposits can be distinguished from turbidites. Turbidites and suspensate deposits constitute 30% of the sampled sediment column. Varve counting of the remaining 70% provides frequencies of turbidite and flood suspensate layer deposition.     

东海内陆架泥质沉积体研究进展

陆架海现代泥质沉积研究具有重要的地质学、环境科学和气候学意义,数十年来一直受到海洋科学家的关注,尤其是近年来在我国兴起了一股研究陆架泥质沉积体的热潮,取得一大批重要成果。本文对我国最大的东海内陆架泥质沉积体的研究进展进行回顾,作为典型区域呈献给读者。东海内陆架泥质沉积区从长江口水下三角洲向南,沿闽浙近岸浅海一直延伸到台湾海峡中部,全长800km,宽约100km,面积约80000km2,相当于两个台湾岛的大小,实属我国乃至亚洲浅海规模最大(体积排第二)的楔式泥质沉积体和现代沉积区。该区中晚全新世沉积地层厚度较大,局部厚达40—80m,总体上呈近岸厚、向海方向逐渐变薄,一般在50—60m等深线、局部可达75m甚至90m等深线附近尖灭。该区泥质沉积物粒度较细,主要由黏土和粉砂组成(大于90%),砂含量很低(小于10%),黏土和粉砂含量在泥质沉积区外缘急剧降低,而砂含量突然增加。沉积物类型为粉砂质黏土和黏土质粉砂,外侧与黏土-粉砂-砂(混合沉积)或泥质砂为界。粒度分布南北有一定差异,北段(长江口外至瓯江口外)近岸较粗外侧较细,近岸为黏土质粉砂,外侧为粉砂质黏土;而南段(自瓯江口至台湾海峡北部)...     

Core lithologies and their constraints on gas-hydrate occurrence in the East Sea, offshore Korea: Results from the site UBGH1-9

Drilling at the site UBGH1-9, offshore Korea in 2007, revealed varied gas-hydrate saturation with depth and a wide variety of core litholgies, demonstrating how the variations in the lithology are linked with those in gas-hydrate saturation and morphology. Discrete excursions to low chlorinity values from in situ background chlorinity level occur between 63 and 151 mbsf. In this occurrence zone, gas-hydrate saturations estimated from the low chlorinity anomalies range up to 63.5% of pore volume with an average of 9.9% and do not show a clear depth-dependent trend. Sedimentary facies analysis based on grain-size distribution and sedimentary structures revealed nine sediment facies which mainly represent hemipelagic muds and fine- to medium-grained turbidites. According to the sedimentary facies distribution, the core sediments are divided into three facies associations (FA): FA I (0–98 mbsf) consisting mainly of alternating thin- to medium-bedded hemipelagic mud and turbidite sand or mud beds, FA II (98–126 mbsf) dominated by medium- to very thick-bedded turbidite sand or sandy debris flow beds, and FA III (126–178 mbsf) characterized by thick hemipelagic mud without intervening discrete turbidite sand layers. Thermal anomalies from IR scan, mousse-like and soupy structures on split-core surfaces, non-destructive measurements of pressure cores, and comparison of gas-hydrate saturations with sand contents of corresponding pore-water squeeze cakes, collectively suggest that the gas hydrate at the site UBGH1-9 generally occurs in two different types: “pore-filling” type preferentially associated with thin- to medium-turbidite sand beds in the FA I and “fracture-filling” type which occurs as hydrate veins or nodules in hemipelagic mud of the FA III. Gas-hydrate saturation in the FA II is generally anomalously low despite the dominance of turbidite sand or sandy debris flow beds, suggesting insufficient methane supply.     

Determination of sediment volumes, accumulation rates and turbidite emplacement frequencies on the Madeira Abyssal Plain (NE Atlantic): a correlation between seismic and borehole data

The sedimentary infill history of the Madeira Abyssal Plain (MAP) is established from correlation of ODP Leg 157 drillsites (Sites 950–952) with an almost regular grid of 7000 km of intermediate-resolution seismic reflection profiles covering the central part of the abyssal plain. The most conspicuous seismic reflectors bounding the seismostratigraphic units have been identified and mapped. Correlation between seismic and borehole data using synthetic seismograms allows the lithological attribution and dating of the reflectors and seismostratigraphic units. Lateral mapping and correlation of seismic units also allows both the volumes and rates of accumulation of sediments within each seismostratigraphic unit and equivalent time periods of deposition to be determined. These calculations have been corrected for the effect of compaction, calculated at around 40% at the base of the drillholes. Three main turbidite types have been identified at the drillsites and their emplacement frequency has been calculated for each site and time period. Our results show that Cretaceous oceanic crust was draped with red pelagic clays, and the fracture-zone valleys were completely infilled and levelled in a geologically rather short time, probably during the latest Oligocene and Early Miocene, by organic-rich turbidites derived from the NW African continental margin. At 16 Ma, the topography was levelled enough to allow large turbidity current flows to cover the entire plain. During the Middle and Late Miocene (16–5.9 Ma), organic-rich turbidites were emplaced on the abyssal plain at a low rate of accumulation (12 m/my). In the uppermost Miocene–Early Pliocene (5.9–3.6 Ma), turbidite emplacement increased markedly in both frequency and accumulation rate (e.g., 26 m/my for organic-rich turbidites). During this time, period emplacement of volcanic-rich turbidites also increased in volume and frequency, a trend that continued into the Pliocene. Increased volcanic-rich turbidite emplacement correlates well with increased volcanic activity on the Canary Islands, and increased organic-rich turbidite emplacement may correlate with periods of erosion on the NW African continental margin. These erosional periods may be related to global cooling and falling sea level, intensification of bottom-water currents, and enhanced upwelling on the margin.     

世界热点地区高饱和度天然气水合物有利沉积储集条件

天然气水合物是全球未来能源的接替资源,高饱和度（Sh＞50%）水合物储层是未来面向工业化开采的首要选择。截止到目前,高饱和度天然气水合物有利沉积相带与储层条件之间的关系仍缺乏系统研究。根据公开发表的文献资料,系统总结了墨西哥湾、日本南海海槽、韩国郁陵盆地、印度Krishna-Godavari盆地以及南海神狐海域等全球5个天然气水合物热点钻探区64口井取芯及井-震联合资料,对含水合物储层岩性、沉积环境、水合物饱和度等参数进行的详细总结分析表明：在必要的温压环境和气源条件下,深海平原区块体搬运沉积和浊流等高沉积速率的深水砂质沉积物赋存孔隙型水合物,水合物可分布在砂岩、极细砂岩、粉砂岩、粉砂质黏土和泥等粒级沉积物中,但高饱和度水合物主要赋存于粉砂-细砂岩中,储层孔隙度与饱和度具有一定的正相关性。中国南海神狐海域发现含有孔虫黏土质粉砂或粉砂质黏土这种特殊的细粒沉积物,其水合物饱和度可达到中高水平（20%～76 %）。上述研究成果及认识奠定了下一步寻找优质天然气水合物储层的地质基础,也可为高饱和度水合物商业化勘探开发提供理论依据。     

Fill to spill stratigraphic evolution of a confined turbidite mini-basin succession,and its likely well bore expression: The Castagnola Fm,NW Italy

This study documents the stratigraphic evolution of the Castagnola ponded turbidite mini-basin through analysis of a detailed base-to-top section measured in the central part of the basin. Vertical variations in facies characteristics, thickness ratio of mud cap vs. sandstone of event beds and net/gross are argued to be good proxies for pinpointing the stratigraphic transition from dominantly ponded deposition, where most of the flow is trapped by the confining topography, to a flow-stripping – dominated phase in which an increasingly large part of incoming flows can escape the basin by spilling over the enclosing topography. Thickness statistics of sandstones and mud caps of event beds from the case study show that in the initial stage of turbidite deposition only part of the mud of exceptionally large volume flows escaped the confining topography; as the basin was progressively infilled, nearly all inbound flows were affected by flow stripping, with part of the sand and most of the mud escaping the basin. In the latest recorded stage of deposition the abundance of by-pass features coupled with significant modification of the sandstone bed thickness population suggests that the turbidite system was no longer obstructed frontally, and could step forward onto a healed topography. In order to assess whether the documented trends of turbidite bed characteristics indicative of the ‘fill to spill’ transition could be recognised from wireline log data alone, synthetic logs were prepared by up-scaling the field data to resolutions typical of borehole geophysical log data. Vertical trends of average bed thickness and net/gross recognisable in the synthetic data suggest that the transition from ponded to spill-dominated situations should be resolvable in geophysical log data.     

不同悬沙组分对潮流的响应关系研究

通过建立一维水深平均悬沙模型,对典型潮流控制的海湾内不同悬沙组分对潮流的响应关系进行了研究。模型以泥沙的水平输运、再悬浮和沉降为主要物理过程,以M2,S2分潮及余流为主要动力因素,反演了湄洲湾支水道内粉砂、淤泥组分含量的时间序列,采用2007-08潮位、潮流、悬沙、底质同步观测资料进行分析和验证。通过三角傅里叶分析,将悬沙的时间序列分解为12个主要的谐波分量,模型分解得到的主要傅里叶分量具有M2分潮两倍的角速度与1/4日潮周期,该分量粉砂组分振幅6.1 mg/L,淤泥组分振幅1.5 mg/L;次主要傅里叶分量具有M2分潮的角速度,振幅受水平输沙、余流、M2分潮流共同影响,粉砂组分振幅4.9 mg/L,淤泥组分振幅1.2 mg/L。由于粉砂组分单位起动能力强、沉降速度高,且淤泥组分由于粘结力等因素起动条件较高,粉砂组分振幅高于淤泥组分。测站位置余流与涨潮流方向一致,余流致使涨潮过程中粉砂组分含量所占百分比上升,而落潮过程下降,淤泥组分则相反。     

Logging identification and characteristic analysis of marine–continental transitional organic-rich shale in the Carboniferous-Permian strata,Bohai Bay Basin

Currently, global shale gas exploration and exploitation are focused on marine shale. Recently, major shale gas-oil breakthroughs have been made within continental and marine–continental transitional shale in China. This study will show how transitional shale is of great importance. Based on geological field surveys, core observations, thin section analysis, organic geochemistry and X-ray diffraction, we systematically studied the basic geological characteristics (including lithology, mineral composition, and organic geochemistry) of this transitional shale. By comparative analysis of well logging data from 260 wells in the Taiyuan–Shanxi shale, we will show that these methods are effective for identifying organic-rich shale from conventional well logs and determining its thickness distribution in the Carboniferous–Permian strata of the Taiyuan–Shanxi transitional coal-bearing formation.The results indicate that the Taiyuan–Shanxi shale has a high TOC (most 2%–4%) and that the lithology is primarily carbonaceous shale with type Ⅱ₂-Ⅲ kerogens. The high thermal maturation (Ro ≥ 1.1%) favors the generation of gas. The mineral components primarily include clay minerals, quartz, and plagioclase with a moderate brittle mineral content (47 wt.%) and high clay mineral content (51 wt.%) dominated by kaolinite (43%) and mixed-layer illite-smectite (31%). The transitional organic-rich shale on conventional log curves is generally characterized by higher gamma ray (GR), neutron porosity (CNL), acoustic travel time (AC), resistivity (R_t), potassium (K), and uranium (U) readings and a lower density (DEN), photoelectric absorption index (PE) and thorium-uranium ratio (TH/U). After analyzing the log response characteristics of the organic-rich shale, the most sensitive logging curves (such as CNL, AC, DEN, PE and U) were optimized to conduct logging overlays and to construct cross-plots to qualitatively identify organic-rich shale. The identified organic-rich shale amalgamates in the middle-upper member of the Taiyuan Formation and the lower member of the Shanxi Formation consistent with the results of the TOC analysis and practical gas logging. Based on the qualitative evaluation methods of the modified △LogR and a multivariate linear regression model, we calculated the TOC of shale wells in the Taiyuan–Shanxi formation. From this we calculated the characteristic values of organic-rich shale thickness. The results indicate that organic-rich shale in the Taiyuan formation is thicker than that in the Shanxi formation. Additionally, the thickness of organic-rich shale within lagoons and deep reed swamp facies are much thicker (25–35 m and 40–80 m) than other structural profile types, whereas their lateral distribution is less than that of marine shale. The relatively small continuous thickness of the single shale layer and high clay content may have negative effects for developing the shale gas potential.     

Deep-lacustrine sandy debrites and turbidites in the lower Triassic Yanchang Formation,southeast Ordos Basin,central China: Facies distribution and reservoir quality

The deep lacustrine gravity-flow deposits are widely developed in the lower Triassic Yanchang Formation, southeast Ordos Basin, central China. Three lithofacies include massive fine-grained sandstone, banded sandstone, and massive oil shale and mudstone. The massive fine-grained sandstones have sharp upper contacts, mud clasts, boxed-shaped Gamma Ray (GR) log, but no grading and Bouma sequences. In contrast, the banded sandstones display different bedding characteristics, gradational upper contacts, and fine-upward. The massive, fine-grained sandstones recognized in this study are sandy debrites deposited by sandy debris flows, while the banded sandstones are turbidites deposited by turbidity currents not bottom currents. The sediment source for these deep gravity-flow sediments is a sand-rich delta system prograding at the basin margin. Fabric of the debrites in the sandy debris fields indicates initial formation from slope failure caused by the tectonic movement. As the sandy debris flows became diluted by water and clay, they became turbidity currents. The deep lacustrine depositional model is different from the traditional marine fan or turbidite fan models. There are no channels or wide lobate sand bodies. In the lower Triassic Yanchang Formation, layers within the sandy debrites have higher porosity (8–14%) and permeability (0.1–4 mD) than the turbidites with lower porosity (3–8%) and permeability (0.04–1 mD). Consequently, only the sandy debrites constitute potential petroleum reservoir intervals. Results of this study may serve as a model for hydrocarbon exploration and production for deep-lacustrine reservoirs from gravity-flow systems in similar lacustrine depositional environments.     

北极东西伯利亚陆架沉积物物源:来自黏土矿物和化学元素的证据

本文对北极东西伯利亚陆架表层沉积物进行了粒度、黏土矿物以及常微量元素测定,阐述了粒度、黏土矿物和常微量元素的分布特征.利用因子分析与聚类分析划分了不同的沉积区,并探讨了各区沉积物的主要来源.结果表明,研究区可以划分为4个沉积区:(1)东西伯利亚海近岸河口区(Ⅰ区),沉积物以粉砂和砂质粉砂为主,TiO2、Zr、SiO2含...     

海洋碎屑沉积物的分类

比较研究了以Shepard和Folk等为的海洋碎屑沉积物分类方案，提出沉积物的分类应兼具描述与解释两种功能。Shepard分类已经过时，Folk等的分类方案有显著的优点，但亦有不足之处，应予以改进。沉积物的成分分类受到忽视的现象应予以改变。为适应我国海洋地质测量的需要，作者提出了一套结构分类与成分分类相匹配的多重分类系统，解决了海洋碎屑沉积物分类中的矛盾和问题。     

西菲律宾海15万年以来的浊流沉积及其成因

MD06-3052孔取自西菲律宾海吕宋岛岸外上陆坡,通过AMS14C测年、沉积物粒度和浮游有孔虫氧同位素记录,揭示了15万年以来5个浊流沉积层的特征和浊积事件的发生时间。浊流沉积物粒度明显较上下层的粗,主要组分为砂质和粉砂质沉积。通过AMS14C测年和氧同位素年代标尺,计算了5个浊流沉积层发生的时间分别为13.3、20.4、34.3、41.7和121.8 kaBP,其中上部4次浊积事件发生于末次冰期,特别是MIS 3晚期和MIS 2期的低海平面时期,仅底部一次出现于末次间冰期MIS 5e中期相对低海平面时期,因而推测研究区浊流沉积事件的主要诱因是低海平面时期的海平面波动造成临近陆架上的沉积物不稳定,同时较陡的陆坡为浊流沉积提供了有利地形,因而造成了向陆坡方向的浊流搬运。     

Geotechnical property variability of continental margin sediments: High‐resolution vertical and lateral data from the northern California slope

High‐resolution vertical and lateral gradients and variations in sediment mass physical properties were derived from measurements in box cores, on the scale of millimeters, tens of centimeters, and kilometers from typical, relatively broad areas of the northern California continental slope in the Cape Mendocino area at water depths from 380 to 940 m. Such data are important as a control on comparisons of different sediment suites, as well as providing limits for realistic flux calculations of dissolved inorganic and biochemical species and pollutants. The sediments studied have relatively constant organic carbon contents (OC ? 1.75 wt%) and bulk mineralogy. They range from silty sands (～45% sand, 40% silt) to clayey silts (～63% silt, ～35% clay) and are extensively bioturbated. Physical property variations between subcores (～25 to 35 cm in length), taken from the same box core, increase with increasing clay content. For coarse‐grained sediments, mean down‐core differences in physical property values between related subcores are small, averaging 3.6% for water content, 4% for porosity, 0.026 Mg/m³ for wet bulk density, and 0.1 for void ratio. Subcore variations for fine‐grained sediments are generally significantly larger, averaging 9.8% for water content, 1.52% for porosity, 0.027 Mg/m³ for wet bulk density, and 0.3 for void ratio (box core 125). Millimeter variations of physical properties from horizontal 12‐cm‐long subcores indicate a maximum range of lateral variation of 18.2% for water content, 8% for porosity, 0.14 Mg/m³ for wet bulk density, and ～ 0.6 for void ratio.     

Yangtze offshore,China: highly laminated sediments from the transition zone between subaqueous delta and the continental shelf

This study examines the deposition of highly laminated muddy sediment in vibrocores recovered from a depth of 40–55 m of water and located 120 km east of the Yangtze River mouth. X-radiographs show numerous sharp-based sedimentary rhythmics with nearly parallel and undulated laminations, interbedded with silty lenses and interbeds. The laminated sediment varies from clayey silt to silty clay. AMS radiocarbon dates on well-preserved bivalves are primarily younger than 5500 y BP, indicating the formation of the laminated sediment under the present sea-level conditions. Macro- and microfossils in the sediments are consistent with the modern offshore sedimentary setting. The laminated sediment originated from the Yangtze estuary, but the sedimentation processes were not deltaic. The highly laminated sediment that lies below the normal wave base of 10 m was deposited on the seaward margin of the Yangtze subaqueous delta, closely associated with submarine tidal and storm-generated currents.     

Effects of sedimentary interfaces on fracture pattern,linkage, and cluster formation in peritidal carbonate rocks

The permeability of a reservoir is particularly dependent upon the proportion of its fractures that penetrate or are arrested at interfaces such as contacts and discontinuities. Here we report on fracture penetration and fracture arrest in Lower Cretaceous peritidal deposits exposed in the Pizzicoli Quarry, Gargano Promontory, southern Italy. We measured more than 2000 fractures, in the field and using LIDAR data, of which 564 fractures from the field and 518 from LIDAR studies are the focus of this paper. Fracture arrest/deflection and penetration depend much on the effects of peritidal cycle interfaces such as paleosol horizons, laminated carbonate mudstones, and stylonodular horizons. The laminated mudstones have the greatest effect; 63–99% of the fractures are deflected or arrested at such interfaces, whereas 63–90% are deflected/arrested at paleosols, and 20–35% at stylonodular horizons. In the mudstones, many fractures are arrested at thin, internal laminae, such that few penetrate the entire laminated layer, and fewer still the boundaries between the layers. Paleosol interfaces deflect/arrest more than 60% of all fractures. However, when small-offset fractures above and below paleosols are regarded as penetrating, they are evenly spaced (non-clustered), so that fracture-related fluid transport may occur across the entire paleosol. Stylonodular horizons deflect/arrest and split some fractures, but generally have little effect compared with the other types of interfaces. We present three main mechanisms for fracture deflection and/or arrest: (1) the fracture-induced tensile stress ahead of its tip, referred to as the Cook-Gordon debonding mechanism; (2) rotation of the principal stresses at and across the interface, resulting in the formation of stress barriers; and (3) large elastic mismatch (particularly as regards Young’s moduli) between layers across an interface. All these mechanisms are likely to have operated during fracture propagation and arrest in the carbonate rocks of the Pizzicoli Quarry.