Australian Journal of Earth Sciences

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The significance and timing of sheetflood vs

braided channel deposition on lacustrine fan
deltas, Junggar Basin, NW China

B. Peng, Z. Jin, J. Wang, T. Chang, X. Zhu & B. Gul

To cite this article: B. Peng, Z. Jin, J. Wang, T. Chang, X. Zhu & B. Gul (2017): The significance
and timing of sheetflood vs braided channel deposition on lacustrine fan deltas, Junggar Basin, NW
China, Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/08120099.2017.1379436

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2017.1379436

Published online: 10 Oct 2017.

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 AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES, 2017
https://doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2017.1379436

The significance and timing of sheetflood vs braided channel deposition

on lacustrine fan deltas, Junggar Basin, NW China
B. Penga, Z. Jina, J. Wanga, T. Changb, X. Zhua and B. Gula
a
China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, PR China; bResearch Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co. Ltd, Xian, 710000, PR China

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

The fan-delta reservoir play has become an important exploration target within the Junggar Basin, Received 9 April 2017
especially in the Mabei area within the Mahu Sag, where a fan-delta oil and gas pool has been Accepted 5 September 2017
recently discovered. The sedimentary characteristics, distribution patterns and formation mechanisms KEYWORDS
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of the fan-delta clastic bodies in Lower Triassic Baikouquan Formation (T1b) were studied using fan deltas; Mabei area;
seismic, well log and core data accompanied by a flume tank experiment and a modern analogue Junggar Basin; Lower Triassic;
depositional study. The T1b in the Mabei area is composed of a fan delta consisting of fan-delta plain Baikouquan Formation;
(including debris flow deposits, sheetflood deposits, braided channel deposits, and floodplain Baiyang River alluvial fan;
deposits), fan-delta front (including subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits and distal sheetflood sedimentary characteristics;
deposits) and muddy lake deposits. The sheetflood deposits, characterised by moderately sorted hydrocarbon reservoirs
conglomerates with brown matrix, form during the peak flooding. They are widespread and sheet-
like, occupying the major portion of the fan-delta plain. The braided channel deposits are
characterised by well-sorted and clast-supported conglomerates and pebbly sandstones, formed later
during the falling flow stage. Owing to the decline in volume and velocity, and the formation of
continuously braided fluid flow, the sediments of the flood period are reworked, generating the
braided channels. Laterally, the braided channels occur as belts of clastic bodies surrounded by
continuous sheetflood deposits. Vertically, the braided channels are interbedded between the
sheetflood deposits. The subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits are characterised by greyish-
green, well-sorted and clast-supported conglomerates, whereas the distal sheetflood deposits are
characterised by well-sorted sandstones, intercalated with mudstone. The subaqueous reworked
sheetflood and distal sheetflood deposits are a distal partly subaqueous extension of the main
sheetflood deposits, albeit reworked by basinal currents and waves. The distal sheetflood deposits
form on distal fringes of the sheetfloods and are more thoroughly reworked by longshore and wave
currents. The braided channel, subaqueous reworked sheetflood and distal sheetflood deposits can
form high-porosity reservoirs. These findings challenge the common view and suggest that the
channelised facies on the fans are not the main flood events; rather, the more extensive sheetfloods
are the major flood events.

Introduction in the Mabei area (Chen, Zha, & Liu, 2000; Kuang, Lu, Qi, Tang,
& Zhang, 2005; Zhang, & Liu, 2002). Three oil and natural gas
Holmes (1965) first defined the fan delta as an alluvial fan that
fields within fan-delta reservoirs of Lower Triassic Baikouquan
has prograded from an adjacent highland into a standing
Formation (T1b) have been discovered, including the Mahu,
body of water; either a lake or sea (Holmes, 1965). Fan deltas
Mabei and Xiazijie oilfields, and show that the fan-delta clastic
commonly occur in tectonically active areas such as rift basins,
bodies are prospective for oil and natural gas development.
pull-apart basins, and back-arc basins having coarse-grained
Hydrocarbons in the T1b fan-delta reservoir are mostly
clastic particles near the source (Galloway, 1976; McPherson,
derived from several sets of high-quality Permian source rocks
Shanmugam, & Moiola, 1987; Nemec & Steel, 1988; Sanders,
(Chen et al., 2000; Kuang et al., 2005; Zhang, & Liu, 2002).
2001; Wescott & Ethridge, 1980). The formation of fan-delta
In the Mabei area, the paleogeomorphology of T1b deposi-
clastic bodies is controlled by paleogeomorphology, oscilla-
tion is a gentle slope, and fan-delta clastic bodies developed
tion of sea/lake levels and sediment flux (Cabello et al., 2010;
over a wide area (Carroll et al., 1990, Jia et al., 2016; Carroll, &
Hwang, Chough, Hong, & Choe, 1995; Jia et al., 2016; Jones,
Graham, 1995; Zhang et al., 2015). These clastic bodies cover
Arzani, & Allen, 2014).
»80% of the Mabei area, over »700–920 km2. The distribu-
Recently, the fan-delta reservoir play has become an
tion and origin of such fan-delta clastic bodies are not well
important exploration target of the Junggar Basin, especially

CONTACT Z. Jin 43493022@163.com

Editorial handling: Keyu Liu
© 2017 Geological Society of Australia
 2 B. PENG ET AL.

described. This paper reports the sedimentary characteristics colours, lithologies, textures, sedimentary structures, wireline
and formation mechanisms of fan-delta clastic bodies using log patterns, facies successions and physical property
detailed core, well log and seismic analyses, accompanied by (Figure 3). Oil has been found in the braided channel, sub-
a flume tank experiment and a modern analogue depositional aqueous reworked sheetflood and distal sheetflood deposits.
study. The distributional pattern of these facies associations is illus-
trated in Figures 4 and 10.
Geological setting
Sheetflood deposits
The Mabei area, in the northwestern Mahu Sag of Junggar
Basin in northwestern China (Figure 1), covers about 1000 km2 Description
and adjoins the Kexia fault belt, which is manifested by large
The sheetflood deposits are characterised by moderately
number of east–west-trending low–middle-angle thrust faults
sorted and clast-supported conglomerates, generally 10–
(Figure 1c). The lacustrine basin infill on the northwestern mar-
25 m thick. The sedimentary structures of the sheetflood
gin of the Mahu Sag is subdivided into four main units: (1) a
deposits include massive bedding (Figure 5d), imbricate
lowermost unit composed of clastic rocks with some volcano-
arrangement and cross-bedding. The conglomerates are
clastic rocks in the lower part, generally 200–800 m thick; (2) a
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poorly rounded; no fossils are found in this facies. The colour

unit that includes sandstone, conglomerate, siltstone, mud-
of the matrix in the conglomerates is predominantly brown.
stone and shale, generally 410–900 m thick; and (3, 4) units
In the RT log curves, the conglomerate presents broad-
consisting of fluvial-lacustrine deposits, generally 780–900 m
amplitude box-shape or bell-shape patterns. The porosity of
thick (Bai, 1992; Carroll, & Graham, 1995; Feng, Jiang, & Wang,
the conglomerates is generally 6–10%.
2015). The Lower Triassic Baikouquan Formation (T1b) belongs
to the lowermost part of the second unit (He, Li, Fan, & Yang,
2013) (Figure 2). In the Mabei area, the T1b unconformably Interpretation
overlies the Permian sequences and is subdivided into three
The poorly rounded coarse-grained sediments indicate a
members (Figure 2).
relatively short transportation distance, and indicate relatively
non-steady hydrodynamics. The common occurrence of mas-
Database and methods sive bedding, cross-bedding and imbrication in conglomerates
is interpreted in terms of relatively strong hydrodynamic condi-
Core, well log, and 3D seismic data from hydrocarbon explora-
tions (Celmmensen, 1978; Fraser & Hester, 1977; Jiang, 2003;
tion efforts in the northwestern margin of the Mahu Sag in
Tucker, 2003). The absence of fossils and the brown matrix in
the Junggar Basin, were provided by Xinjiang Oilfield. The
the conglomerates suggest that the sheetflood deposits were
214.84 m long core data, 305 thin-sections and well logs were
formed in a subaerial and oxidised environment.
from 94 wells with standard modern wireline logs, including
gamma ray (GR) and resistivity log (RT); core-to-log depth
matching was by correlating GR signatures with the core Formation
descriptions.
According to the flume tank experiment and the modern
A modern analogue depositional study and a flume tank
depositional analogue, the sheetflood deposits form during
experiment were designed to understand the distribution
flooding that carries an abundance of sheet-like clastic sedi-
and formation of fan-delta clastic bodies in the study area. A
ments (Figure 7a). Laterally, the sheetflood deposits are dis-
gentle-slope fan delta was simulated in a flume tank where a
tributed like a sheet and occupy the major portion of the fan-
three-dimensional coordinate system was established to facil-
delta plain (Figures 7a and 8a). Vertically, the sheetflood
itate data acquisition and recording. Furthermore, a modern
deposits and the braided channel deposits alternate
arid gentle-slope alluvial fan, located in south of Junggar
(Figure 8c), suggesting that episodic flood deposition is a
Basin, was chosen to analyse the fan-delta plain sedimentary
dominant mechanism of delta-plain aggradation. During the
characteristics, to match the arid paleoclimate of T1b (Jia
flood periods, the sheet flow predominates on the fan-delta
et al., 2016; Zhao, 1992). The fan-delta plain has the same sed-
plain forming the sheetflood deposits; during the low flood
imentary characteristics as the alluvial fan (Carroll et al., 1990;
periods, the channelised flow predominates on the fan-delta
Gloppen & Steel, 1981; Larsen & Steel, 1978; Nemec & Muszyn-
plain forming the braided channel deposits.
ski, 1982; Nemec & Steel, 1984; Whipple & Dunne, 1992).

Braided channel deposits

Sedimentary facies analysis
The primary facies, fan-delta plain (including debris flow
deposits, sheetflood deposits, braided channel deposits, and
floodplain deposits), fan-delta front (including subaqueous
reworked sheetflood deposits and distal sheetflood deposits)
and muddy lake deposits are identified on the basis of their
Description
The braided channel deposits are characterised by well-
sorted, poorly rounded and clast-supported conglomerates
and pebbly sandstones, generally 5–10 m thick. The sedimen-
tary structures of the braided channel include trough
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Figure 1. Location and geographic setting of the study area, Junggar Basin: (a) location of the Junggar Basin in China; (b) internal units in the Junggar Basin; and
(c) details of the study area.
 4 B. PENG ET AL.
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Figure 2. Chronostratigraphy of Northwestern Junggar Basin, modified from Jia et al. (2016). The chronostratigraphy is based on He et al. (2013). The lacustrine level
curve is based on Zhao et al. (1992).
cross-bedding, tabular cross-bedding (Figure 5a), parallel bed-
ding (Figure 5b) and scoured structures (Figure 5c). There are
no fossils found in this facies. The braided channel demon-
strates broad-amplitude box-shaped or bell-shaped RT logs
(Figure 3). The grainsize accumulation probability curve has
two sub-populations—saltation and suspended (Figure 6a).
The porosity of braided channels is generally 8–12%
(Figure 3).
Interpretation
The poorly rounded coarse-grained sediments indicate a rela-
tively short transportation distance. The well-sorted coarse-
grained sediments indicate relatively steady and continuous
hydrodynamics. The common occurrence of parallel bedding,
cross-bedding and scoured structures in conglomerates is
interpreted in terms of relative strong hydrodynamic condi-
tions (Celmmensen, 1978; Fraser, & Hester, 1977; Jiang, 2003;
Tucker, 2003). One saltation and one suspended sub-popula-
tion in the grainsize accumulation probability curve represent
the channelised deposition (Visher, 1969). Accordingly, this
facies is considered as braided channels deposited on fan-
delta plains.
Formation
The braided channels form during low flood periods. Accord-
ing to the flume tank experiment, after the flood period, the
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Figure 3. Lower Triassic fan delta depositional model in the Mabei area, Junggar Basin.
 6 B. PENG ET AL.
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Figure 4. Sedimentary facies map of T1b Member 2 in the Mabei area. The predominant facies were delta plain (including sheetflood deposits, braided channel
deposits, debris flow deposits and floodplain deposits) and delta front (including subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits and distal sheetflood deposits). The
delta plain was deposited on the northeast and the delta front was deposited on the southwest. The subaqueous reworked sheetflood and distal sheetflood deposits
were mainly deposited as sheets, and the braided channel deposits as narrow belts. The sheetflood deposits were deposited around the braided channel deposits as
sheets.

decline of volume and velocity and the formation of continu-
ously braided fluid flow, the sediments of the flood period are
reworked, generating the braided channels (Figure 7b). The
construction or deposition of the fan delta occurs primarily
during the flood period, and the erosion or reworking of sedi-
ments occurs primarily during the low flood period. The flood
period is dominated by the sheet flow; the low flood period is
dominated by the channelised flow (Figure 7a, b). Laterally,
the braided channels are distributed on the centre line of a
fan as a belt (Figure 7b).
According to the modern deposition analogue, the forma-
tion of braided channels is similar to the flume tank experi-
ment. The braided channels form during the low flood
periods. After the flooding period, the sheet flood sediments
are reworked, generating the braided channels (Figure 8). The
braided channel deposits are better sorted than the sheet-
flood deposits (Figure 8).
Debris flow deposits
Description
The debris flow deposits are characterised by poorly sorted
and matrix-supported conglomerate, generally 20–40 m thick.
Typical fragment sizes of the debris flow deposits are 0.004–
20 mm in diameter in a matrix composed of mud or sand.
Within individual debris flow deposits, the muddy matrix
comprises 5–15%, and the sandy matrix comprises 35–50%.
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Figure 5. 360 scanning core photographs showing different sedimentary structures in different facies in the T1b in the Mabei area. (a) Cross-bedding in greyish-
brown conglomerates (Well Ma005 at 3349.5 m). (b) Paralell bedding in grey well-sorted sandstones (Well Ma13 at 3107.0 m). (c) Scoured structure in brown con-
glomerates (Well Ma134 at 3177.3 m). (d) Massive bedding in brown conglomerates (Well Ma134 at 3177.0 m). (e) Massive bedding in brown poor-sorted conglom-
erates (Well Ma16 at 3222.5 m). (f) Massive bedding in brown mudstones (Well Ma15 at 3263.0 m). (g) Massive bedding in greyish-green well-sorted conglomerates
(Well Ma132 at 3261.0 m). (h) Grade bedding in grey well-sorted sandstones (Well Ma4 at 3605.0 m). (i) Cross-bedding in grey well-sorted sandstones (Well Ma002
at 3092.0 m). (j) Horizontal bedding in black mudstones (Well Ma133 at 3137.5 m).

The colour of the muddy matrix is brown, and the conglomer-

ates are poorly rounded with massive bedding (Figure 5e).
There are no fossils found in this facies. The debris flow
deposits show middle-amplitude box-shaped RT log (Figure 3).
The grainsize accumulation probability curve has one sub-
population (Figure 6b). The porosity of the debris flow depos-
its is generally 4–8%.

Interpretation
The poorly sorted and matrix-supported sediments and one
sub-population in the grainsize accumulation probability
curve indicate gravity flow deposition. No fossils and brown
matrix in this facies suggest that the formation of this facies is
in the subaerial and oxidised environment.

Formation
The debris flow deposits form during flood periods. When the
percent of mud and sand in the matrix of the gravel is more
than 50%, high viscosity and high-density debris flow are
generated.
Figure 6. Grainsize accumulation probability curves showing different hydrody-
namics: (a) channelised deposition; (b) gravity flow deposition; and (c) relatively
weak tractive flow.
 8 B. PENG ET AL.
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Figure 7. Different geomorphic characteristics during different periods in the
flume tank. (a) Flood period. The fan-delta plain is dominated by sheetfloods
like sheets. (b) Low flood period. The braided channel forms during this
period. (c) After water discharge. The fan-delta plain can be divided into two
parts, braided channels and sheetfloods, and the fan-delta front can be
divided into two parts, subaqueous reworked sheetfloods and distal
sheetfloods.
Floodplain deposits
Description
The floodplain is characterised by brown mudstones, interca-
lated with conglomerate overbank. The mudstone is generally
2–5 m thick. The sedimentary structures of floodplain include
massive bedding (Figure 5f) and mud crack structures. In the
RT logs, the floodplain facies generally display a short-ampli-
tude tooth-like pattern (Figure 3).
Interpretation
The dominance of mudstones in this facies indicates a low-
energy environment. The brown mudstones indicate the sub-
aerial and oxidised environment.
Formation
The mudstones were deposited on the distal fringes of the
fans and in places locally between fans (Figure 9). When the
energy of the fluid drops to a certain level, suspended clay is
deposited. When the energy is insufficient to transport sedi-
ments into the lake, mudstones are deposited in a subaerial
environment, causing the mudstones to oxidise to brown, red
and yellow. The flume tank experiment and the modern ana-
logue depositional study revealed that the alluvial fan or fan
delta is actually a complex of fans (Figure 9). Each flood forms
a new fan; the swing and superposition of these fans form the
fan delta or alluvial fan (Figure 9). Laterally, the mudstones
are deposited on the outer fan (Figure 9). Vertically, the mud-
stones are interbedded between conglomerates.
Subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits
Description
The subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits are character-
ised by greyish-green, well-sorted and clast-supported con-
glomerates, generally 10–30 m thick. The sedimentary
structures of the subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits
include massive bedding (Figure 5g) or cross-bedding and
fragments of gastropods and bivalves. The colour of the
matrix in the conglomerates is grey-green. In the RT log
curves, the conglomerate presents broad-amplitude box-
shaped or bell-shaped patterns (Figure 3). The porosity of
conglomerates is generally 8–14%.
Interpretation
The well-sorted and clast-supported coarse-grained sedi-
ments indicate a relatively steady and continuous hydrody-
namics. The common appearance of cross-bedding and
massive bedding in conglomerates is interpreted as having
deposited in relative strong currents. The fossils and the grey-
ish-green conglomerates suggest that the depositional envi-
ronment is subaqueous.
Formation
The subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits are the pro-
longation of the sheetflooding on the fan (Figure 7a, c). When
the sheetflood conglomerates prograde into the lake, the

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Figure 8. Baiyang River alluvial fan, Junggar Basin, northwestern China. (a) Sat-
ellite photograph showing the distribution of braided channel deposits and
sheetflood deposits. (b) Relationship between braided channel deposits and
sheetflood deposits laterally. (c) Relationship between braided channel deposits
and sheetflood deposits vertically.
conglomerates are resisted by the lake water, and are
reworked by longshore and wave current. The subaqueous
reworked sheetflood deposits form during the peak flooding
and are widespread and sheet-like along the shoreline
(Figure 7a, c).
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES 9
Figure 9. Relationship between single fan and multi-fans. Alluvial fan or fan
delta is actually a complex of fans. The mudstones are deposited on the outer
fan.
Distal sheetflood deposits
Description
The distal sheetflood deposits are characterised by well-sorted
sandstones. The sedimentary structures of the distal sheetflood
deposits include parallel bedding, graded beds (Figure 5h) and
cross-bedding (Figure 5i). The individual units are usually less
than five metres, and commonly interbedded with mudstone
layers. The distal sheetflood deposits have middle-amplitude
tooth-like, funnel-shaped and bell-shaped curves in the RT log.
The grainsize accumulation probability curve has three sub-
populations, one rolling sub-population, one saltation sub-pop-
ulation and one suspended sub-population (Figure 6). The
porosity of the distal sheetflood deposits is generally 8–14%.
Interpretation
The common appearance of cross-bedding and parallel bed-
ding in sandstones is considered as deposited in relatively
strong currents (Clemmensen, 1978; Fraser, & Hester, 1977;
Jiang, 2003; Tucker, 2003). The three sub-populations, rolling,
siltation and suspended, in the grainsize accumulation proba-
bility curve indicate that the distal sheetflood deposits were
controlled by multiple currents, including offshore current
and wave current.
Formation
The distal sheetflood deposits are really the distal segment of
the sheetflood deposits (Figure 7c) that are reworked by long-
shore and wave currents. Owing to the decrease in velocity of
the sheetflood and the effect of wave currents, the distal
sheetflood deposits are transported greater distances and
more thoroughly reworked than the subaqueous reworked
sheetflood deposits.
Muddy lake deposits
Description
The muddy lake deposits are characterised by greyish-green
to dark mudstones (Figure 5j). Two types of mudstone are
 10 B. PENG ET AL.

present: intercalated with siltstone and thin (<2 m thick), and

more than 2 m thick. The observed sedimentary structure is
horizontal laminations, and the lateral distribution is stable.
The muddy lake deposits have short-amplitude tooth-like
curves in the RT log (Figure 3).

Interpretation
The dominance of mudstones indicates a low-energy environ-
ment. However, the thin-bed mudstones and thick-bed mud-
stones are deposited in different environments. The thin-bed
mudstones intercalated with siltstones are considered as
mudstones deposited near the wave base, whereas the thick-
bed mudstones are considered as normal shallow lake mud-
stones deposited in a relative deeper water environment.
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Distribution of fan deltas within the T1b

During deposition of the T1b, fan deltas were developed
widely in the Mabei area. The fan-delta fronts were deposited
in the middle part, displaying sheet-like bodies along the
shoreline. In contrast, the fan-delta plains were deposited on
the northeastern part; the braided channel deposits occurred
as belts that were generally surrounded by sheetflood con-
glomerates (Figures 4 and 10).
Fan-delta gravel bodies are distributed widely in Members
1, 2 and 3 of the T1b in the Mabei area makes up about 70–
90% of the Mabei area, 537–691 km2. Multiple fan-delta gravel
bodies are superimposed vertically and amalgamated lat-
erally. In Member 1, sandstones and conglomerates with a
cumulative thickness of >20 m account for over 70% of litho-
logical columns. In the zone where sandstones and conglom-
erates are well deposited, their cumulative thickness is over
30 m, accounting for 50% of the lithological column. During
this period, the fan-delta plain and fan-delta front were domi-
nant over the Mabei area. The fan-delta plain was developed
in the northeastern part, covering about 80% of the Mabei
area (Figure 10c). The braided channel deposits were sur-
rounded by sheetflood conglomerates (Figure 10c). The fan-
delta front was confined to the southwestern part, covering
»15% of the lake; the conglomerates and sandstones
occurred as a sheet (Figure 10c). Members 2 and 3 inherit the
sedimentary characteristics of Member 1 (Figure 10a, b), but
because of the rise of lake level, there are some minor differ-
ences. From Members 1 to 3, the shoreline migrates from
southwest to northeast. The area of fan-delta plain gradually
decreases; the area of fan-delta front gradually increases
(Figure 10).

Discussion
This case example of fan delta deposits developed in a lacus- Figure 10. Sedimentary facies for Members 1 to 3 in the T1b. (a) Member 3; (b)
trine basin differs from the previous interpretations of fan del- Member 2; (c) Member 1. The main facies include fan-delta plain and fan-delta
front. The lake level gradually rose from Member 1 to Member 3.
tas (Horton & Schmitt, 1996; Hoy & Ridgway, 2003; Hwang
et al., 1995; Jia et al., 2016; Zhiwen, Hui, Yang, Chaofeng, &
Xiangchao, 2015; Zou et al., 2015).

Fan-delta plains are commonly composed of braided chan-
nels, which are interpreted as the main flood event (Horton &
Schmitt, 1996, Jia et al., 2016; Xinghe et al., 2014; Zhiwen
et al., 2015; Zou et al., 2015). However, the origin and timing
of braided channel deposits in the fans are commonly over-
looked. Our study shows that the main flood periods create
the widespread sheetfloods, whereas the braided channels
occur during the falling flow stage (Figures 7 and 8). After the
sheetflood, the low volume and velocity flows rework the sed-
iment of sheetfloods, down-cutting the surface of fans creat-
ing braided channels (Figures 7 and 8).
Many researchers interpret mudstones on the fans as the
deposition of the inter-channel deposits on the fan-delta plain
(Jia et al., 2016; Xinghe et al., 2014; Zhiwen et al., 2015; Zou
et al., 2015). In the flume tank experiment and the modern
analogue depositional study, mudstones form not on the
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inter-channel in the fan-delta plain but on sheetflood con-
glomerates. Many researchers do not recognise the sheet-
flood as the main flood event or that episodic flood
deposition is a dominant mechanism of fan-delta aggrada-
tion. Fan-delta plains consist of cycles of sheetflood flows and
channelised flows along the central line of deposition of the
fan (Van Dijk, Postma, & Kleinhans, 2009). The deposition of
the inter-channel on the fan-delta plain is the sheetflood con-
glomerate, whereas the mudstones deposit on the distal
fringes of the fans.
Many researchers suggest fan-delta fronts develop as sub-
aqueous channels (Scholz, Rosendahl, & Scott, 1990; Shannon
& Dahl, 1971), and that subaqueous channels are important
reservoirs for hydrocarbon accumulation (Jia et al., 2016; Li,
Zhang, Were, & Wang, 2017; Yang, Jin, van Loon, Han, & Fan,
2017). However, our study shows that there are no subaque-
ous channels in the fan-delta front. The clastic bodies in the
fan-delta front are the continuation of sheetfloods that
occurred as sheets, and were reworked by longshore and
wave current (Figure 7c).
These different viewpoints have significant contributions
to the reservoir interpretation within coarse-grained fan del-
tas. The interpretation of subaqueous channels as important
reservoirs forming belts in the fan-delta front but braided
channels are unlikely to form reservoirs in the fan-delta plain
(Jia et al., 2016; Li et al., 2017; Yang et al., 2017). However, our
study found that the important reservoirs in the fan-delta
front are the subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits and
distal sheetflood deposits that occur as sheets. The braided
channels that occur as belts are important reservoirs in the
fan-delta plain.
Conclusions
The Lower Triassic sediments in the Mabei area are domi-
nated by fan deltas, which are composed of fan-delta plains
(including sheetflood deposits, braided channel deposits,
debris flow deposits and floodplain deposits) and fan-delta
fronts (including subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits
and distal sheetflood deposits).
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES 11
The sheetflood deposits, characterised by middle-sorted
conglomerates with a brown matrix, form during the peak
flooding and are widespread and sheet-like, occupying the
major portion of the fan-delta plain. The braided channel
deposits, characterised by well-sorted and clast-supported
conglomerates and pebbly sandstones, formed later during
the falling flow stage. With declining volume and velocity, the
formation of continuously braided fluid flow reworked the
sediments of the flood period, down-cutting the surface of
fans and generating the braided channels. Laterally, the
braided channels occur as belts of clastic bodies surrounded
by continuous sheetflood deposits. Vertically, the braided
channels are interbedded between sheetflood deposits.
The subaqueous reworked sheetflood deposits, a continua-
tion basinward of the sheetfloods, are characterised by
greyish-green, well-sorted and clast-supported conglomer-
ates. The distal sheetflood deposits, even more distal fringes
of the sheetfloods, are more thoroughly reworked by long-
shore wave currents and are characterised by well-sorted
sandstones, intercalated with mudstone.
These viewpoints have significant contributions to the for-
mation mechanism and timing of fan-delta clastic bodies and
to the reservoir interpretation within fan-delta clastic bodies.
Acknowledgements
The subproject of Significant Science and Technology Special Projects of
CNPC (No. 2012E-34-01) partly funded this study. The authors thank the
Associate Editor and Journal reviewer, for their critical comments and sug-
gestions. The authors also thank our internal reviewers, Dr Jinyu He and
Dr Daiyan Zhang, for their constructive comments and suggestions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Funding
The subproject of Significant Science and Technology Special Projects of
CNPC [grant number 2012E-34-01].
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