Conspicuous sediment structures in fossil beach deposits (southern Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain): paleoliquefaction features versus biogenic origin

Tubular-shaped concretions and concretionary dykes occur in Holocene fossil beach deposits between the township of El Médano and Punta Roja in southern Tenerife, Canary Islands. These sediment structures have been interpreted either as the result of (a) the interaction between hot ignimbrites that overflowed wet beaches; (b) fast accumulation of beach sands on hot and degassing ignimbrites; (c) paleoliquefaction caused by an earthquake (seismites). Based on the interpretation as seismites, an intense paleoearthquake with a moment magnitude of M = 6.8 was proposed to be responsible for the generation of the paleoliquefaction structures. However, we here reinterpret the sedimentary structures in question using the general criteria diagnostic for rhizocretions and root tubules with respect to their orientation, size, branching system, and style of cementation and, thus, consider them, to be of biogenic origin.     

Glacial and deglacial seafloor methane emissions from pockmarks on the northern flank of the Storegga Slide complex

The Storegga Slide complex is a multi-stage slope failure on the Norwegian continental margin where the most recent major event occurred 8.1 ka b.p. (calendar years before present). Its northern flank contains pockmark features that are commonly inferred to be related to the historical and modern venting of methane-bearing fluids. Three jumbo piston cores (JPC), one from a pockmark and two background cores at variable distances from this site (proximal, 5 km, and distal, 15 km) on the northern flank of the slide (806–1,524 m water depths), were sampled at 10 cm resolution to assess the geologic record of methane venting in the Nyegga pockmark field. Six down-core radiocarbon measurements on mixed planktonic foraminifer species reveal ages of 9.4–16.4 ka b.p. Bathymodiolus mussel shell horizons, indicators of methane-rich environments, have been dated at 15.8–17.6 and ~22 ka b.p. in the pockmark core. Stable isotope analyses on planktonic (Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral) and benthic (Islandiella norcrossi, Melonis barleeanum) Foraminifera reveal δ¹⁸O values indicative of a clear glacial/deglacial transition (−1.5‰ shift in planktonic species). Both planktonic and benthic δ¹³C signatures record multiple excursions, interpreted to reflect the influence of methane in the environment; these δ¹³C excursions occur in the pockmark core and also in the distal background core. While authigenic calcite formation on the seafloor may play an important role in producing such excursions, these data together suggest the influence of methane seepage within the pockmark field over the past 25 ka, whereby seepage was particularly active between 13 and 15 ka. This is consistent with previously inferred regional increases in porewater pressure associated with glacial loading and higher sedimentation rates, which can cause gas hydrate and slope instability.     

Spatial and temporal variability of titanomagnetite placer deposits on a predominantly black sand beach

Titanomagnetite forms rich placer deposits along the northwest coast of New Zealand. These deposits were sampled along 3 shore-normal transects spaced over the southern 2 km of a dissipative high-energy beach on the west coast in 5 field campaigns covering one year. The percentage of opaque minerals (mainly titanomagnetite) was extremely high in the upper 30 m of the beach face, extending seaward where these opaque minerals were gradually replaced with variable amounts of lighter augite, hornblende and plagioclase. The pattern appeared to be divided into two regions, a lower seaward and an upper landward region, separated by a point where either marine dominated over aeolian processes or where swash dominated over breaking processes. In the seaward region, the percentage of opaques increased and particle size fined landward as undertow removed the lighter larger particles seaward. In the landward region, the percentage of opaques and particle size were more constant, or even showed the reverse pattern as wind transported the lighter material shoreward, or swash asymmetry transported the heavier material seaward. The similarity of settling velocities over the whole beach face suggests that sorting by size rather than weight plays a dominant role in separating the mineral assemblages. Considerable variations existed between transects. This could be explained by the spatial changes in surfzone waves and currents that were associated with proximity to the southern headland and various rip current channels that characterised this dissipative site. Surprisingly, the percentage of opaques decreased when the wave conditions of the day of sampling were more energetic. In contrast to many other placer deposits, these deposits are abundant on the beach face, forming an armouring layer during lower wave energy conditions. During higher wave conditions, the surface layer erodes allowing lighter augite, plagioclase and hornblende to be released from the sediments below.     

Structural regime and its impact on the mechanism and migration pathways of hydrocarbon seepage in the southern Gulf of Suez rift: An approach for finding new unexplored fault blocks

A Natural active oil seepage occurs at the intersection of the NW-oriented rift coastal fault and a NE-oriented cross fault which bound the southwest dipping Little Zeit tilted fault block at the southwestern side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Detailed surface geological mapping followed by subsurface mapping using aeromagnetic, seismic and borehole data of Ras El Ush oilfield (the nearest oil field to the seepage) provide a reliable hydrocarbon migration pathway model of the area.The proposed model suggests that hydrocarbons migrated upward at the intersection of a NE-oriented and the NW-oriented rift coastal faults where they found their way to the surface. The Nubia Sandstone occurs south of Ras El Ush oilfield in a trap door structure and probably entrapped some of the migrating hydrocarbons while a probable oil-water-contact at −1000 m which resulted into the migration of hydrocarbon through the damage zone of the northeast fault.The original oil in place of the predicted reservoir is estimated to be more than 47.5 MMBO which encourages the design makers for more investigation of this reservoir to increase its certainty and putting it in the plan of the future investments.     

Barrier evolution and placer formation at Bujuru southern Brazil

This paper demonstrates the link between the evolution of a coastal barrier in southern Brazil during the Late Holocene and the formation of a large volume of eolian disseminated heavy mineral deposits. Our data set is based on an earlier heavy mineral prospecting campaign (1991) and on 10 new shallow vibrocores, 2–5 m long. The model presented has three main steps of barrier evolution. The first step is the recycling of coastal plain deposits during the Postglacial Marine Transgression, which ended at 5.6 ka when heavy minerals were incorporated into beach and washover facies of a transgressive barrier. The second step is the shoreward retreat of the barrier, under a slow and small sea-level fall, during the last 5.6 ka. This second step eroded and recycled sediments from the Pleistocene substrate, which acted as an extra source of heavy minerals. Heavy minerals were concentrated in backshore deposits by wave action during barrier recession. The third step is the erosion and transport of backshore sands by onshore winds into an inter-barrier depression in the form of transgressive dune deposits. These deposits contain an average of 4.66±1.02% disseminated heavy minerals (1494 samples). This eolian placer deposit has started to form 1 ka ago and is still under formation.     

Seismic stratigraphy of the quaternary Yellow River delta,Bohai Sea,eastern China

The upper 40 m of stratigraphy of the Yellow River (Huang He) subaqueous delta has been well documented, but the nature of the underlying strata is currently unknown at high-resolution. To address this deficiency we used a Geopulse seismic system to image shallow sedimentary deposits up to 120 m deep on the Yellow River delta. High-resolution seismic reflection images were processed with a series of specific techniques (e.g. swelling attenuation, dynamic s/n filter; f-x deconvolution, predictive deconvolution dipscan stack), and used with borehole data to investigate the Quaternary offshore sequences in the Yellow River (Huang He) delta. Repetitive sequences were observed and interpreted as containing layers of transgressive and regressive deposits. Six seismic transgressive and regressive cycles are identified. Unit M₆F–C₆F correlates with a relative sea-level rise (173–157 ka) and fall (231–173 ka), while Unit M₅F–C₅F is associated with a relative sea-level rise (124–100 ka) and fall (157–124 ka). Unit M₄F–C₄F spans a period of sea-level fall at 100–87 ka, followed by a rise at 87–76 ka. Unit M₃F–C₃F is a transgressive–regressive cycle dated as 76–58 ka. Unit M₂F–C₂F correlates with relative sea level fall at 58.2–36 ka and subsequent rise at 36–22 ka. Unit M₁F–C₁F was deposited during relative sea level fall (22–18 ka), followed by a rise, especially since 8.5 ka.     

塔北哈拉哈塘奥陶系岩溶储层类型与特征及控制因素

近年来,塔北哈拉哈塘奥陶系碳酸盐岩油气勘探开发取得了重要发现。综合露头、钻井、岩心、地震等资料进行分析,明确哈拉哈塘地区奥陶系岩溶储层包括大型溶洞、溶蚀孔洞、溶蚀裂缝3种类型,将研究区内桑塔木组尖灭线南北划分成剥蚀区和覆盖区。通过地震解释资料分析发现,桑塔木组尖灭线以北的剥蚀区的岩溶储层主要受到风化壳的影响,风化壳发育的范围和强度影响岩溶储层的规模;建立研究区断裂控制岩溶模式分布图,并分析井漏数据与断裂系统叠合关系,得出断裂系统及其对所控制的层间岩溶作用,是桑塔木组尖灭线以南覆盖区岩溶储层发育的主要控制因素;明确了加里东中期Ⅰ幕、Ⅱ幕、Ⅲ幕3个不同岩溶发育时期,受断裂控制的明河、暗河对研究区岩溶储层的叠加改造作用。     

New insights into the carbonate karstic fault system and reservoir formation in the Southern Tahe area of the Tarim Basin

As worldwide hydrocarbon exploration has extended from shallowly to deeply buried strata, reservoir quality has attracted substantial and persistent interest in petroleum geology. In particular, deeply buried strata (>5500 m) in the Tarim Basin have attracted considerable attention because carbonate reservoirs that have experienced fracture or dissolution have also been shown to demonstrate considerable hydrocarbon potential. Therefore, it is necessary to determine how these reservoirs are developed and distributed in detail from both scientific and practical standpoints.In this paper, we address this issue using a case study in the southern Tahe area, which is contained within the largest Palaeozoic marine oilfield in China. In the northern Tahe area, mega-paleokarst systems developed in the Ordovician strata; however, the reservoir quality in the southern part of the Tahe area is relatively poor because it is covered by insoluble formations during karstification. Observations of cores and analyses of images of well logging demonstrate that these reservoirs are dominated by caves, vugs and fractures that have developed near faults. We speculate that the faults penetrating insoluble formations represent the main dissolution passages that originally developed these karstic fault systems. Additionally, we analyse a series of outcrops, seismic data, and structures to characterize the spatial geometry of these major faults and their surrounding fractures in detail. Most of these are strike-slip faults, and their subsequent reservoirs can be divided into three categories based on their development, including dendritic, sandwich and slab reservoirs. Recent studies demonstrate that karstic fault reservoirs are most common traps in the study area. Although various types of carbonate karstic fault reservoirs are represented in this region, the dendritic karstic fault reservoir is the most hydrocarbon-rich.Guided by these initial results, 108 wells were drilled from 2013 to 2014, producing 485 thousand tons of oil and yielding success ratios greater than 89%. The average production of dendritic reservoirs is 37.4 tons per day (t/d), while those of sandwich and slab types are 20.2 t/d and 14.0 t/d, respectively. These results represent significant references for future hydrocarbon exploration and the development of similar deeply buried karstic fault reservoirs in the Tarim Basin and elsewhere.     

The transgressive infill of an inherited-valley system: The Springhill Formation (lower Cretaceous) in southern Austral Basin, Argentina

The Berriasian-Valanginian Springhill Formation of the Austral Basin of southern South America comprises fluvial to marine deposits. In order to interpret depositional systems and unravel the stratigraphic architecture of this unit in the southern region of the basin (Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina), 500 m of cores combined with well-log data from 41 wells were studied. Facies associations corresponding to fluvial (A1-A6), estuarine (B1-B5) and open-marine (C1-C4) depositional environments were identified. These facies associations succeed each other vertically across the entire study area (6800 km²) forming a ∼120-m-thick transgressive succession. This unit filled a north-south-oriented valley system, developed in the underlying Jurassic volcanic complex.Lowstand fluvial deposits of the first stage of the valley-system fill occur in downdip segments of the system above a sequence boundary (SB). These fluvial deposits are overlain by coastal-plain and tide-dominated estuarine strata across an initial transgressive surface (ITS). In the northern sector the earliest valley infill is characterized by a transgressive fluvial succession, overlying a merged SB/ITS that is probably time-equivalent of marginal-marine deposits of the southern sector. The fluvial strata in the north are overlain by wave-dominated estuarine deposits. A drastic change to open-marine conditions is marked by a marine flooding surface, with local evidence of marine erosion (FS-RS). Open-marine strata are thin (<10 m) and dominated by lower-shoreface and offshore-transition deposits. They are capped by a younger flooding surface (FS), which represents the onset to offshore conditions across the study area due to a continuous long-term transgression that persisted until the Barremian.Although the interpreted depositional systems and stratigraphic architecture of the Springhill Formation resemble transgressive incised-valley-fill successions, the greater thickness and larger size of the Springhill valleys suggest inherited rift topography rather than valley development during a relative sea-level fall.     

Evolution of the Salinas-El Espartal and Xagó beach/dune systems in north-western Spain over recent decades: evidence for responses to natural processes and anthropogenic interventions

The confining barrier comprising the Salinas-El Espartal beach/dune system forms part of the mouth complex of the Avilés estuary on the central coast of Asturias (NW Spain). In this study the evolution of the beach and its dune field, as well as the estuary, is established based on appraisal of both natural and anthropogenic processes. In particular, dredging in the estuary mouth has had a strong negative impact on the system, including the recession of the dune front by between 20 and 30 m, and degradation of the seafront, first built at the edge of the beach dunes in 1965 and rebuilt in 1994. By contrast, the dumping of dredged material at a nearby beach, Xagó, has caused a remarkable dune progradation of 45 m on average, creating aeolian tabular sheets. The future dredging management of the mouth of the Avilés estuary should be directly related to the evolution of the El Espartal and Xagó dune fields.     

The role of diagenesis and depositional facies on pore system evolution in a Triassic outcrop analogue (SE Spain)

This study aims at unravelling the diagenetic history and its effect on the pore system evolution of the Triassic redbeds exposed in SE Spain (TIBEM¹), an outcrop analogue of the TAGI (Trias Argilo-Gréseux Inférieur) reservoir (Berkine-Ghadames Basin, Algeria). Similar climatic, base level and tectonic conditions of aforementioned alluvial formations developed analogue fluvial facies stacking patterns. Furthermore, interplay of similar detrital composition and depositional facies in both formations resulted in analogue early diagenetic features. Petrographic observations indicate lithic subarkosic (floodplain facies) and subarkosic (braidplain facies) compositions which are considered suitable frameworks for potential reservoir rocks. Primary porosity is mainly reduced during early diagenesis through moderate mechanical compaction and formation of K-feldspar overgrowth, gypsum, dolomite and phyllosilicate cements. Early mesodiagenesis is testified by low chemical compaction and quartz cementation. Telodiagenetic calcite filling fractures and K-feldspar dissolution determined the final configuration of analysed sandstones. Mercury injection-capillary pressure technique reveals overbank deposits in the floodplain as the least suitable potential reservoirs because of their lowest open porosity (OP < 16%), permeability (k < 5 mD) and small dimensions. On the other hand, braidplain deposits show the highest values of such properties (OP up to 31.6% and k > 95 mD) and greater thickness and lateral continuity, so being considered the best potential reservoir. The accurate estimation of TIBEM microscale attributes can provide important input for appraisal and enhanced oil recovery performance in TAGI and in others reservoirs consisting on similar fluvial sandy facies.     

Mesoscale and seasonal variability of community production and respiration in the surface waters of the N.E. Atlantic Ocean

Gross community production (GCP) and dark community respiration (DCR) rates were measured in the N.E. Atlantic Basin (38–45°N and 15°20′–21°20′W) during the Programme Océanographique Multidisciplinaire Méso-Echelle (POMME). Three cruises were conducted over a one-year period (2001), and GCP and DCR were measured at 20 stations using seawater taken from 5 m. In winter, GCP is light limited whereas DCR, which is mainly due to bacteria, is limited by substrate availability. GCP and DCR were under the influence of mesoscale features, with the cyclonic structure enhancing the autotrophy. In spring, light and resource availability remain the major controlling parameters, which are constrained by north–south zonation, rather than mesoscale features. The most productive area is south of 41°N at the start of the bloom and is associated with greater DCR as autotrophs contribute to community respiration. The late-summer period is oligotrophic, which contrasts with the previous winter and spring period, characterised by a large quantity of TOC accumulated (+13.2 μM C from spring to late-summer) and with greater DCR in the southern area. The GCP/DCR ratio greatly varied seasonally, ranging from 0.6 in late summer to 1.3 in winter and 2.4 in spring. These results, even restricted to surface ecosystem metabolism (5 m), strongly suggest that the trophic status of a regional system in the open ocean should be determined over a seasonal cycle.     

Surficial Sediments along the Inner Continental Shelf of Maine

Through 10 years of support from the Minerals Management Service Association of American State Geologists' Continental Margins Program we have mapped along the Maine coast, seaward to the 100 m isobath. In all, 1,773 bottom sample stations were occupied, 3,358 km of side-scan sonar and 5,011 km of seismic reflection profiles were gathered. On the basis of these data, a surficial sediment map was created for the Maine inner continental shelf during the Year 8 project, and cores and seismic data were collected to evaluate sand thickness during Years 9 and 10. Sand covers only 8 % of the Maine shelf, and is concentrated seaward of beaches off southern Maine in water depths less than 60 m. Sand occurs in three depositional settings: (1) in shoreface deposits connected dynamically to contemporary beaches; (2) in submerged deltas associated with lower sea-level positions; and (3) in submerged lowstand shoreline positions between 50 and 60 m. Seismic profiles over the shoreface off Saco Bay, Wells Embayment, and off the Kennebec River mouth each imaged a wedge-shaped acoustic unit which tapered off between 20 and 30 m. Cores determined that this was sand that was underlain by a variable but thin (commonly 1 m) deposit of estuarine muddy sand and a thick deposit of glacial-marine mud. Off Saco Bay, more than 55 million m3 of sand exists in the shoreface, compared with about 22 million m3 on the adjacent beach and dunes. Seaward of the Kennebec River, a large delta deposited between 13 ka and the present time holds more than 300 million m3 of sand and gravel. The best sorted sand is on the surface nearshore, with increasing amounts of gravel offshore and mud beneath the surficial sand sheet. Bedforms indicate that the surficial sand is moved by waves to at least 55 m depth. Seaward of the Penobscot River, no significant sand or gravel was encountered. Muddy estuarine sediments overlie muddy glacial-marine sediment throughout the area offshore area of this river. No satisfactory explanation is offered for lack of a sandy delta seaward of Maine's largest river. Lowstand-shoreline deposits were cored in many places in Saco Bay and off the Kennebec River mouth. Datable materials from cores indicated that the lowstand occurred around 10.5 ka off the Kennebec. Cores did not penetrate glacial-marine sediment in the lowstand deposits, and seismic profiles were ambiguous about the vertical extent of sand in these units. For these reasons, no total thickness of sand was determined from the lowstand deposits, but given the area of the surficial sand, the volume is probably in the hundreds of millions of cubic meters.     

台湾海峡西部海域底质柱状样中有孔虫特征及其环境意义

本文通过对台湾海峡西部海域7个柱状样计79块样品中的有孔虫分析,阐述了海峡柱样中有孔虫组合及其特征,并由此讨论台湾海峡西部海域晚更新世以来的沉积环境。     

Slope channel sedimentary processes and stratigraphic stacking,Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation slope system,Chilean Patagonia

The Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation of southern Chile records a slope system characterized by >800 m of paleo-bathymetric relief. Channel deposits are exposed in an outcrop 2.5 km long by 125 m thick and are located in proximity to the toe of a slope clinoform. Exquisite exposures of channel strata offer a unique opportunity for high-resolution analyses of channel stacking patterns and provide insight into the evolution of conduits that transport sediment from continents to the deep ocean.Eighteen slope channels, or channel elements, are present in the strata studied. They are 6–15 m thick and comprised of stacked turbiditic sedimentation units. Channel fills are characterized by a gradational transition from amalgamated sandstone-rich facies in the channel axes to thinly interbedded sandstone and siltstone at the channel margins over distances of 10–30 m. These elements are generally considered to be ∼300 m wide and were formed by punctuated periods of incision and sedimentary bypass, followed by in-filling by collapsing turbidity currents. Out-of-channel deposits consist primarily of fine-grained facies, which are typically covered by vegetation in the study area.The channel strata of the mapped portion of the Tres Pasos Formation can be grouped into three channel complexes 25–70 m thick. Complexes are differentiated based on the preservation of siltstone-dominated deposits (bypass drapes and channel margin), which persist across the entire outcrop belt and coincide with shifts in channel stacking pattern. The oldest four channel elements (channel complex 1) are characterized by the highest lateral offsets, relative to one another. These are interpreted to record the most unconfined channel-stacking pattern present. As the channel system evolved (channel complexes 2 and 3), channel elements began to stack on top of one another, due to the increased confinement imparted on the slope channel system. The amount of vertical offset between successive channel elements preserves the record of channel aggradation as well as erosional degradation. The greatest vertical offset observed is associated with the oldest channels; as the system matured, vertical offset decreased. This decrease in vertical offset is coincident with the decrease in lateral offset of channels. The lateral offset decrease is attributed to establishment of constructional confinement and is the consequence of increased focusing of successive channel-initiating gravity flows. As confinement establishes, channels are predisposed toward underfilled conditions upon abandonment. The capture of channel-initiating currents along channel abandonment relief fairways focused incision and resulted in increased erosion and decreased vertical offset. The consequence of these conditions is an upward increase in channel element amalgamation.The organized stacking of slope channels observed in the Tres Pasos Formation is comparable to that of seismically imaged channel-levee or entrenched slope valley systems. By analogy to these 3-dimentionally constrained systems, a portion of the poorly exposed out-of-channel facies in the Tres Pasos Formation is attributed to aggradational internal levee deposits. The facies insight derived from the studied outcrop provides insight into analogous hydrocarbon-bearing units from numerous continental margins.     

Seismic imaging of a fractured gas hydrate system in the Krishna–Godavari Basin offshore India

Gas hydrate was discovered in the Krishna–Godavari (KG) Basin during the India National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 1 at Site NGHP-01-10 within a fractured clay-dominated sedimentary system. Logging-while-drilling (LWD), coring, and wire-line logging confirmed gas hydrate dominantly in fractures at four borehole sites spanning a 500 m transect. Three-dimensional (3D) seismic data were subsequently used to image the fractured system and explain the occurrence of gas hydrate associated with the fractures. A system of two fault-sets was identified, part of a typical passive margin tectonic setting. The LWD-derived fracture network at Hole NGHP-01-10A is to some extent seen in the seismic data and was mapped using seismic coherency attributes. The fractured system around Site NGHP-01-10 extends over a triangular-shaped area of ∼2.5 km² defined using seismic attributes of the seafloor reflection, as well as “seismic sweetness” at the base of the gas hydrate occurrence zone. The triangular shaped area is also showing a polygonal (nearly hexagonal) fault pattern, distinct from other more rectangular fault patterns observed in the study area. The occurrence of gas hydrate at Site NGHP-01-10 is the result of a specific combination of tectonic fault orientations and the abundance of free gas migration from a deeper gas source. The triangular-shaped area of enriched gas hydrate occurrence is bound by two faults acting as migration conduits. Additionally, the fault-associated sediment deformation provides a possible migration pathway for the free gas from the deeper gas source into the gas hydrate stability zone. It is proposed that there are additional locations in the KG Basin with possible gas hydrate accumulation of similar tectonic conditions, and one such location was identified from the 3D seismic data ˜6 km NW of Site NGHP-01-10.     

Morphological and structural analysis in the Anaga offshore massif, Canary Islands: fractures and debris avalanches relationships

As part of the ‘National Hydrographic and Oceanographic Research Plan for the Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone’, multibeam bathymetry and seismic reflection profiles were obtained in the Canary Islands aboard the R/V Hespérides. The submarine flanks of the Anaga offshore extension of Tenerife Island are here studied to analyze its geomorphology. In the north sector of the Anaga submarine massif, the extension of the Anaga Debris Avalanche has been mapped for the first time, and a volume of 36 km³ was calculated. The relationship between the Anaga and Orotava Debris Avalanches is also described. Faulting has been recognized as a key process for the occurrence of debris avalanches and the growth of volcanic lineaments. Moreover, faulting affects previous structures and the channelling of debris flows. Structural analysis shows the typical radial pattern of an oceanic island. In addition, a NE-SW dominant direction of faulting was obtained, consistent with the Tenerife Island structural trend seen in the Anaga Massif and Cordillera Dorsal. NW-SE and E-W are two other main trends seen in the area. Special interest is manifest in two long faults: ‘Santa Cruz Fault’ bounds the southern edge of Anaga offshore Massif with a length of 50 km and a direction that changes from NE-SW to almost E-W. The Güimar Debris Avalanche was probably channeled by this fault. The ‘Guayotá Fault’ was recognized in several seismic profiles with a N-S direction that changes towards NW-SE at its southern end. This fault affects the more recent sediments with a vertical offset of 25–30 m, along 60~km. It has been interpreted as a transpressive strike-slip fault.ZEE Working Group**F. Carrillo^a, C. Maté^a, M. Ballesteros^b, M. Vaquero^b, J. Martín-Dávilla^c and J.A. Marín^caInstituto Hidrográfico de la Marina. Cádiz^bInstituto Español de Oceanografía. Madrid.^cReal Observatorio de la Armada. S. Fernando, Cádiz.     

Provenance identification and sedimentary analysis of the beach and bar systems in the Palaeogene of the Enping Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea

During deposition in the Palaeogene, the Pearl River Mouth Basin (Enping Sag) was filled by sediments derived from northern and southern source regions. The northern sources are the fold belt Caledonian and Hercynian metamorphic rocks that are widely exposed along the South China block and stacked with Mesozoic igneous rocks, and the southern sources are Mesozoic igneous rocks from the southern Panyu lower uplift. We analysed the characteristics of the provenance and sediment-dispersal patterns of the beach and bar systems in the Palaeogene third-order sequence framework on the basis of detritus, thin section, zircon and the geophysical response test data. The source and deposition areas were distinguished based on their palaeogeomorphology. The sedimentary material composition of the deposition area was determined based on the characteristics of the detrital assemblage and cathode luminescence, and the characteristics of the age distribution were determined in detail using detrital zircon U–Pb dating. This study suggests that the provenance system in the Palaeogene mainly consisted of Palaeozoic metamorphic rocks and Mesozoic igneous rocks, with a supplement of Proterozoic metamorphic rocks. The transport capacity of three large fault troughs that delivered the northern provenances gradually increased from the Wenchang Formation (E₂w) to the Enping Formation (E₃e), whereas the southern provenances were transported by four or five incised valleys in E₂w and then submerged in E₃e. In the 3D seismic area, the features of the beach and bar sedimentary systems were described and interpreted based an analysis of the well-based sedimentary facies, seismic reflection characteristics and multiple attribute clustering. The results show that the beach and bar systems by the short-axis braided deltas mainly developed in the upper member of E₂w and that the beach and bar systems on the subaqueous high in E₃e developed during the Palaeogene. In addition, the bedrock-beach bar sedimentary system in the lower member (E₃e^L) was transferred to the braided delta–beach bar sedimentary system in the upper member (E₃e^U).     

Numerical study of multi-period palaeotectonic stress fields in Lower Cambrian shale reservoirs and the prediction of fractures distribution: A case study of the Niutitang Formation in Feng'gang No. 3 block,South China

Fractures not only control the distribution of oil and gas reservoirs, but also are key points in the research of oil and gas reservoir development programmes. The tectonic fractures in the Lower Cambrian shale reservoirs in the Feng'gang No. 3 block are effective reservoir spaces for hydrocarbon accumulation, and these fractures are controlled by palaeotectonic stress fields. Therefore, quantitatively predicting the development and distribution of tectonic fractures in the Lower Cambrian shale reservoir is important for the exploration and exploitation of shale gas in the Feng'gang No. 3 block. In the present study, a reasonable geological, mechanical and mathematical model of the study area was established based on the faults systems interpreted from seismic data, fracture characteristics from drilling data, uniaxial and triaxial compression tests and experiments on the acoustic emissions (AE) of rocks. Then, a three-dimensional (3-D) finite element method is applied to simulate the palaeotectonic stress field with the superposition of the Yanshan and Himalayan movements and used to predict the fracture distribution. The simulation results indicate that the maximum principal stress value within the study area ranged from 269.97 MPa to 281.18 MPa, the minimum principal stress ranged from 58.29 MPa to 79.64 MPa, and the shear stress value ranged from 91.05 MPa to 106.21 MPa. The palaeotectonic stress field is controlled by the fault zone locations. The fracture development zones are mainly controlled by the tectonic stress fields and are located around the faults, at the end of the fault zones, at the inflection point and at the intersection of the fault zones.     

Reconstructing tsunami run-up from the characteristics of tsunami deposits on the Thai Andaman Coast

Tsunamis can leave deposits on the land surface they inundate. The characteristics of tsunami deposits can be used to calculate tsunami run-up height and velocity. This paper presents a reconstruction of tsunami run-up from tsunami deposit characteristics in a simple mathematical model. The model is modified and applied to reconstruct tsunami run-ups at Ao Kheuy beach and Khuk Khak beach, Phangnga province, Thailand. The input parameters are grain-size and maximum run-up distance of the sediment. The reconstructed run-up heights are 4.16–4.91 m at Ao Kheuy beach and 5.43–9.46 m at Khuk Khak beach. The estimated run-up velocities (maximum velocity) at the still water level are 12.78–19.21 m/s. In the area located 70–140 m inland to the end of run-up inundation, estimated mean run-up velocities decrease from approximately 1.93 m/s to 0 m/s. Reasonably good agreements are found between reconstructed and observed run-up heights. The tsunami run-up height and velocity can be used for risk assessment and coastal development programs in the tsunami affected area. The results show that the area from 0 to 140 m inland was flooded by high velocity run-ups and those run-up energies were dissipated mainly in this area. The area should be designated as either an area where settlement is not permitted or an area where effective protection is provided, for example with flood barriers or forest.