Abstract
Floodplain shales are abundant in the distal part of dryland fluvial fans fringing endorheic basins, such as the Río Colorado fluvial system in Bolivia. In a low-gradient coastal plain, lowstand progradation of a fluvial system creates accommodation space. Long periods of low-flow stage only support a single channel, decreasing in capacity downstream. Flooding during short episodes of peak runoff results in massive overbank deposition and aggradation of the floodplain around the active channel. Assuming a constant flow capacity, this is mirrored by an elevation of the channel floor, combining to form an elongated lobe of up to several kilometres in width. Distributary channels within crevasse splays develop reflux phenomena, effectively decreasing the flow capacity of their parent channel. This, combined with the decreased gradient of the active channel profile, causes an upstream increase in avulsion proneness and is a dominant control on the autocyclic switching of channel belts in a process of large-scale compensational stacking. The resulting stratigraphy is heterogeneous and may have tough gas reservoir potential.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Event | 5th EAGE Shale Workshop: Quantifying Risk and Potential - Romano Palace Hotel, Catania, Italy Duration: 2 May 2016 → 4 May 2016 Conference number: 5 |
Workshop
Workshop | 5th EAGE Shale Workshop |
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Country/Territory | Italy |
City | Catania |
Period | 2/05/16 → 4/05/16 |