PREFACE

Associate Professor George Allen and Dr Simon Lang developed these course notes for
third level and postgraduate coursework in clastic sedimentology at the Queensland
University of Technology (QUT) (1994-99). The core of these notes was originally
prepared for courses on reservoir sedimentology by the late George Allen, and were
updated for a textbook we were preparing at QUT on clastic reservoir sedimentology.
George passed away in September 1998 whilst running a field course in Spain leaving
this task unfinished. Further edits, updates and additions have been included for this
version of the notes for the NCPGG coursework and industry short courses.

In honour of George we have reprinted these notes with some modifications so that future
students of sedimentology and stratigraphy can benefit from his great knowledge and
practical skill in sedimentology and in particular sequence stratigraphy. His work is thus
kept alive and it is planned to continually update these notes. George will be remembered
by all his colleagues and students as a great geologist, and a stimulating thinker. He
made us look at the rocks in a new light, and always with a pragmatic approach. In
addition to the significant contribution he made on a global scale, in Australia he was
very influential in introducing sequence stratigraphy to continental basins, and together
we supervised several projects that implemented these ideas in the Bowen, Cooper,
Eromanga and Surat basins. Santos Ltd deserves special acknowledgment for supporting
the bulk of these projects on Australia’s onshore non-marine basins.

We miss you George!

Dr Simon Lang* Dr Jochen Kassan

Associate Professor, Clastic Sedimentology Consultant, Whistler Research, Brisbane,

and Sequence Stratigraphy and Research Associate, NCPGG
National Centre for Petroleum Geology and
Geophysics
University of Adelaide, Thebarton, 5005
March, 2000

* previously Queensland University of

Technology
 Contents

Part 1 - Siliciclastic Sedimentary Processes

Chapter 1 - Sediment Erosion, Transport and Deposition

1.1 - Erosion
1.2 - Sediment Transport
1.3 - Naturally Occuring Flows

Chapter 2 - Sedimentary Facies And Structures

2.1 - Bedload Structures
2.2 - Suspension and Mixed Structures

Part 2 - Depositional Environments and Reservoirs

Chapter 3 - Fluvial Environments and Deposits

3.1 - Geological Context
3.2 - Alluvial Fans
3.3 - Braided Rivers
3.4 - Meandering Rivers
3.5 - Anastomosed Rivers
3.6 - Summary of Fluvial Channel Deposits

Chapter 4 – Coal and Coal-forming Environments

4.1 - Introduction
4.2 - Conditions of Peat Growth
4.3 - Peat Growth Rate
4.4 - Peat Forming Environments
4.5 - Compaction of Peat
4.6 - Coals in a Sequence Stratigraphic Framework
4.7 - Genesis of Laterally Extensive Coal Seams
Chapter 5 – Deltaic and Coastal Environments
5.1 – Introduction
5.2 – Coastal Morphology and Sedimentary Processes
5.3 – Coastal Deposits and Facies

Chapter 6 - Deltas
6.1 - Delta Morphology and Sedimentation Patterns
6.2 - Scale of Deltaic Deposits
6.3 - Deltaic Cycles
6.4 - Delta Types

Chapter 7- Reservoir geometry

7.1 - Introduction
7.2 - Geometry of Isolated Fluvial-Deltaic Reservoirs

Chapter 8- Deepwater Environments and Deposits

8.1 – Introduction
8.2 – Depositional Processes
8.3 – Submarine Fan Deposits
8.4 – Deepwater Seismic and Reservoir Geometry
 Part 3 – Concepts and Applications of Sequence Stratigraphy

Chapter 9 - Parameters And Processes Controlling Sedimentation Patterns

9.1 - Sediment Supply
9.2 - Sediment Accommodation
9.3 - Accommodation Changes and Facies Patterns

Chapter 10 - Stratigraphic Patterns

10.1 - Relative Sea Level, Regression and Transgression
10.2 – Coastal Onlap
10.3 - Sedimentary Cycles
10.4 – Depositional Sequences
10.5 – Sequence Hierarchies

Chapter 11 – Log-Based Subsurface Stratigraphic Analysis

11.1 – Definition of markers
11.2 – Log and Facies Expression of Sequence Boundaries
11.3 – Log and Facies Expression of Sequence Boundaries
11.4 – Marker Nomenclature

Chapter 12 – Practical Guidelines for Subsurface Stratigraphic Analysis