Deepwater

Depositional Systems
and EOD
Dr. Olukayode Samuel and Francis Ezeh

This presentation includes forward-looking statements. Actual future conditions (including economic conditions, energy demand, and energy supply) could differ materially due to changes in technology, the
1
development of new supply sources, political events, demographic changes, and other factors discussed herein (and in Item 1A of ExxonMobil’s latest report on Form 10-K or information set forth under "factors
affecting future results" on the "investors" page of our website at www.exxonmobil.com). This material is not to be reproduced without the permission of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
How does sand get to deepwater

10’s
to 1
DSL
00’s
of k
m

Blum and Womack, 2009

Global Overview – DW Exploration and Production
*

• By end of 2002 ≈ 78 BOE (total resource) had been discovered in DW and *

ultra-DW from 18 basins on six continents

• Only about 31 % of this total resource are developed or currently

under development and less than 5 % have been produced – indicating
DW play’s immaturity

• Direct evidence of the level of DW depositional systems knowledge

base.

• DW exploration success rates highest in West Africa and Lowest in

Asia

• DW fields contain larger reserves compared to shallow water fields

for comparable trap size
* Atlas of Deep-Water Outcrops 2007 : AAPG Studies in Geology 56
Introduction
 Current depositional models are a result of external controls (climate, tectonics
and eustasy), delivery mechanisms (drainage basin, provenance, sediment traps,
and shelfal width), flow types (turbidity flow concentration and composition,
debris flows, slumps and slides) and seafloor gradient (including local changes
in gradients). Facies models expanded to include coarse sediments
(conglomerates to coarse sandstones) and a diverse set of tractional facies.

 Resulting environments of deposition in deep water show large-scale channel

systems developing from the shelf break through canyons feeding sinuous
channels that are often levee confined, changing in aspect ratio due to local
changes in gradient, feeding terminal systems that show distributive pattern of
channels and channel-mouth bars.

 Channels fills are often the result of lateral channel migration and aggradation,
forming lateral accretion packages (LAP's, also described as deep water point
bars), mid-channel bars, channel mouth bars and suspension dominated
deposits. These depositional bodies are not dissimilar to ones observed in
shallow marine and continental environments.

 In terms of impact for exploration to production, these systems may actually

increase in sand content from updip to downdip, contrary to previously thought,
with a clear impact for exploration. Also, diverse assemblage of facies and
depositional bodies with rapid vertical and horizontal changes in stacking and
lithology make production strategies more challenging in confined, channelized
systems.
 Outline
• Brief history of deep-water depositional models
• General Sequence Stratigraphic Models
• Major Controls
• Channelized Systems
• Observations/Examples
• Depositional model

• Unconfined/Distributary Systems
• Summary and Conclusions
EVOLVING DW MODELS
Classical Fan Model
Applied to Mississippi Fan

Inner
(Upper)
Fan
Mid

Outer
(Lower)
Fan

Bouma et al, 1986

Late Pleistocene Mississippi Fan
ODP Cored Wells High Resolution Images of Sand-Rich Distal Fan
MISSISSIPPI FLORIDA
615 DELTA Channel
621 s

Channel 200 km
5 km

617
Mississippi Fan
450
M

UPPER Channel Complex

Levee .. MIDDLE

LOWER 10 km
200 km
.
Terminal Fan Modified from Twichell et al. 1995,
Bouma et al, 1985
 Evolving Models
Deep Water Reservoir Architecture
Classical Fan Model Channelized Fan
(e.g. Walker 1982, Normark, 1978, Mutti 1977) Model
Continental Slope NET:GROSS Leveed/Bypass
Canyon Channels
Upper
Slope
Inner 1o - 3o
(Upper)
Fan
Confined
Mid Channel

Increasing
Decreasing Complexes
Lower
Slope
Weakly Confined
Outer <1o Channel
(Lower) Complexes
Fan

Avulsive Splay
Basin Distributary
Channel/Lobe
Floor Complexes
<<1o Sea-Floor
Highs
Slope Channel Depositional Models

Confined Channel
Complex
Building Blocks
 Evolving Deepwater Concepts
Vail et al, 1977

Vail et al, 1977

Mitchum et al, 1984

Mitchum et al, 1984

Posamentier et al, 1988

Posamentier et al, 1988

Garfield et al, 1998

Garfield et al, 1998

Evolving Models
Working Today

Evolving Models
Working Today
 Evolving Deepwater Reservoir Models Classical Fan Model

(e .g . W a lk e r 1 9 8 2 , N o r m a r k , 1 9 7 8 , M u tti 1 9 7 7 )
Classical Fan Model
(e.g. Walker 1982, Normark, 1978, Mutti 1977)
Channelized Fan Model

Channelized Fan Model

Bypass
Canyon

Bypass
Canyon
Inner Fan

Mid Fan
Inner Fan
Outer Fan
Mid Fan
C
Chhaannnneeliz Outer Fan
lizeedd FFaan
n
High N:G Distal Fan

High N:G Distal Fan C

Cllaassssi
iccaall FFa
Low N:G Distal Fan
ann
Low N:G Distal Fan
 SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC
CONTROLS ON DW SYSTEMS
General Sequence Stratigraphy Model
• Aids in prediction of occurrence, geometry and distribution of source,
reservoir and sealing facies and of stratigraphic traps

• key is understanding processes and fundamental controls on

formation of these play elements
Possible Reservoir
SB2 Possible Seal
SB1 HST
Possible Source
MFS
TST
TS
SB
Sequence Boundary
LST
Maximum Flooding Surface
Transgressive Surface Possible Reservoir
Accommodation Succession
A resulting motif in a depositional succession starting with negative
accommodation on the shelf, to maximum accommodation and to
negative again is of: progradational to aggradation (PA or lowstand
ST), followed by retrogradation (R or transgressive ST), followed by
aggradation to progradation to degradation (APD or highstand ST).
- (“Transgressive” Stacking)

(“Highstand” Stacking) (“Lowstand” Stacking)

Depositional Sequence

Neal and Abreu, 2009

A COMPLETE DW SYSTEM –
KEY CONTROLS
Bathymetric Controls

Slope Transect

Niger Delta

• Bathymetric controls
• Steep gradient - Erosional bypass
5 km • Reduced gradient – Weakly confined and Leveed Channels
• Abrupt gradient decrease – Loss of Confinement, Lobe
Slope Gradient–
Controls on Deposition, Erosion and Bypass
5 0 Bypass
Deposition Deposition Deposition Debrite
Bypass Bypass -200
Erosion Erosion Erosion Bypass
4 Bypass Bypass Bypass
-400
LCC
Slope Profile WCC
Gradient (°)

-600
Fault Bypass

Depth (m)
3
-800

-1000 DCC
DCC
2 LCC
Debrite -1200
WCC
-1400
1

-1600

0 -1800
65.9640541879566
65.7752257885636
65.5863973891706
65.3975689897776
65.2087405903846
65.0199121909916
64.8310837915986
64.6422553922056
64.4534269928126
64.2645985934196
64.0757701940266
63.8869417946336
63.6981133952406
63.5092849958476
63.3204565964546
63.1316281970616
62.9427997976686
62.7539713982756
62.5651429988826
62.3763145994896
62.1874862000966
61.9986578007036
61.8098294013106
61.6210010019176
61.4321726025245
61.2433442031315
61.0545158037385
60.8656874043455
60.6768590049525
60.4880306055595
60.2992022061665
60.1103738067735
59.9215454073805
59.7327170079875
59.5438886085945
59.3550602092015
59.1662318098085
58.9774034104155
58.7885750110225
58.5997466116295
58.4109182122365
58.2220898128435
58.0332614134505
57.8444330140575
57.6556046146645
57.4667762152715
57.2779478158785
57.0891194164855
56.9002910170925
56.7114626176995
56.5226342183065
56.3338058189135
56.1449774195205
55.9561490201275
55.7673206207345
55.5784922213415
55.3896638219484
55.2008354225554
55.0120070231624
54.8231786237694
54.6343502243764
54.4455218249834
54.2566934255904
54.0678650261974
53.8790366268044
53.6902082274114
53.5013798280184
53.3125514286254
53.1237230292324
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52.7460662304464
52.5572378310534
52.3684094316604
52.1795810322674
51.9907526328744
51.8019242334814
51.6130958340884
51.4242674346954
51.2354390353024
51.0466106359094
50.8577822365164
50.6689538371234
50.4801254377304
50.2912970383374
50.1024686389444
49.9136402395514
49.7248118401584
49.5359834407654
49.3471550413723
49.1583266419793
48.9694982425863
48.7806698431933
48.5918414438003
48.4030130444073
48.2141846450143
48.0253562456213
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47.6476994468353
47.4588710474423
47.2700426480493
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46.5147290504773
46.3259006510843
46.1370722516913
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45.7594154529053
45.5705870535123
45.3817586541193
45.1929302547263
45.0041018553333
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44.6264450565473
44.4376166571543
44.2487882577613
44.0599598583683
43.8711314589753
43.6823030595823
43.4934746601893
43.3046462607963
43.1158178614032
42.9269894620102
42.7381610626172
42.5493326632242
42.3605042638312
42.1716758644382
41.9828474650452
41.7940190656522
41.6051906662592
41.4163622668662
41.2275338674732
41.0387054680802
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40.6610486692942
40.4722202699012
40.2833918705082
40.0945634711152
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39.3392498735432
39.1504214741502
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38.7727646753642
38.5839362759712
38.3951078765782
38.2062794771852
38.0174510777922
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37.6397942790062
37.4509658796132
37.2621374802202
37.0733090808271
36.8844806814341
36.6956522820411
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36.3179954832551
36.1291670838621
35.9403386844691
35.7515102850761
35.5626818856831
35.3738534862901
35.1850250868971
34.9961966875041
34.8073682881111
34.6185398887181
34.4297114893251
34.2408830899321
34.0520546905391
33.8632262911461
33.6743978917531
33.4855694923601
33.2967410929671
33.1079126935741
32.9190842941811
32.7302558947881
32.5414274953951
32.3525990960021
32.1637706966091
31.9749422972161
31.7861138978231
31.5972854984301
31.4084570990371
31.2196286996441
31.030800300251
30.841971900858
30.653143501465
30.464315102072
30.275486702679
30.086658303286
29.897829903893
29.520173105107
29.331344705714
29.142516306321
28.953687906928
28.764859507535
29.7090015045
28.576031108142
28.387202708749
28.198374309356
28.009545909963
27.631889111177
27.443060711784
27.82071751057
27.254232312391
27.065403912998
26.876575513605
26.687747114212
26.498918714819
26.310090315426
26.121261916033
25.743605117247
25.554776717854
25.93243351664
25.365948318461
24.7994631202819
25.177119919068
24.6106347208889
24.988291519675
24.4218063214959
24.2329779221029
24.0441495227099
23.8553211233169
23.6664927239239
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23.2888359251379
23.1000075257449
22.9111791263519
22.7223507269589
22.5335223275659
22.3446939281729
22.1558655287799
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21.7782087299939
21.5893803306009
21.4005519312079
21.2117235318149
21.0228951324219
20.8340667330289
20.6452383336359
20.4564099342429
20.2675815348499
20.0787531354569
19.8899247360639
19.7010963366709
19.5122679372779
19.3234395378849
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18.3792975409198
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18.0016407421338
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17.2463271445618
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13.2809307573088
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12.1479603609508
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11.7703035621649
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11.2038183639859
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10.8261615651999
10.6373331658069
10.4485047664139
10.2596763670209
10.0708479676279
9.88201956823487
9.69319116884187
9.50436276944888
9.31553437005588
9.12670597066288
8.93787757126988
8.74904917187689
8.56022077248389
8.37139237309089
8.18256397369789
7.99373557430489
7.8049071749119
7.6160787755189
7.4272503761259
6.86076517794691
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6.67193677855391
7.0495935773399
6.48310837916091
6.29427997976791
6.10545158037492
5.91662318098192
5.72779478158892
5.53896638219592
5.35013798280292
5.16130958340993
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4.78365278462393
4.59482438523093
4.40599598583794
4.21716758644494
4.02833918705194
3.83951078765894
3.65068238826594
3.46185398887295
3.27302558947995
3.08419719008695
2.89536879069395
2.70654039130096
2.51771199190796
2.32888359251496
2.14005519312196
1.95122679372896
1.76239839433597
1.57356999494297
1.38474159554997
0.818256397370978
1.19591319615697
0.629427997977979
0.0629427997989854
1.00708479676398
0.440599598584981
0.251771199191983
Distance along profile (km)
Process Controls – Downslope Variation in NTG
High
Sand
Distributary
Content
.70 Avg. N:G

Sand Percent
Low-Density Turbidite
Erosional Fine Sand and Mud
Confinement Overbanking Flow
Low Leveed
Density
High Bypass of .35 Avg N:G
Density
sand fraction Low
Mud
Sand Fraction
Fraction

Loss of Erosional Confinement

°
Deposition of
sand fraction Leveed
Loss of Erosional
Confinement

High-Density Turbidite
Distributary
CONTROLS ON DW DEPOSITION
Sediment Delivery System

Factors controlling analog reservoir properties

 Sand-Rich Submarine Flows
Low Sediment-Concentration Turbidity Currents High Sediment-Concentration Turbidity Currents
(~ < 1 % suspended sediment by volume) (~1 - 10 % suspended sediment by volume)

Sandy Debris Flows

(~ 50:50 sediment
and water )
 Flow Processes: Experimental Calibration
Reservoir Architecture

Reservoir Architecture
Turbidity Currents

Turbidity Currents

Debris Flows

Debris Flows
OUR CURRENT VIEW
ON DW SYSTEMS
Upper Slope - Bypass
• Strongly Erosional
• Muddy Fill
• Very Low N:G

250 msec

Well
1 km
Leveed Channel Complex
• Agradational Overbank & Splays
• Variable Channel Fill
• Mod.- Low N:G

• Agradational Overbank & Splays

• Variable Channel Fill
• Mod.- Low N:G

Leveed Channel Complex

Leveed Channel Complex

Confined Channel Complex• Strongly Confined
• Complex Erosional Channel Fill
• Moderate N:G

• Strongly Confined
• Complex Erosional Channel Fill
• Moderate N:G

100m
1 km

Confined/Levee Confined
Channel Complex

Confined/Levee Confined
Channel Complex
Weakly Confined Channel Complex
• Weakly Confined
• Lateral Offset Stacking
• Moderate to High N:G

Weakly Confined Channel Complex

Slope Channel Architecture

100 m

20
m
200
m

50
ms
Seismic forward model
Distributary Channel• Complex
• Mounded - Sheet Like Geometry
• Laterally Amalgamated Channels
• High N:G

Mounded - Sheet Like Geometry

• Laterally Amalgamated Channels
• High N:G

Distributary Channel Complex

Distributary Channel Complex

 Channelized Slope-Fan Model
Complex, Low-Angle Slope Simple, Steep Slope
Multiple Small Gradient Change Single Abrupt Gradient Change

Bypass/Leveed
Confined
Splay Erosion/
Bypass
Weakly Confined
Confined
Distributary

Cha
nnel Class
ize d Sl o ical F
pe an
Depos
it io n
Reservoir architecture influenced by:
Large (regional) and small (local) variations in slope gradient

Reservoir architecture influenced by:

Large (regional) and small (local) variations in slope gradient
•
Currently Depositional Model
Emphasize the confined nature of slope channel complexes. Generally characterized by degree of
erosional confinement and channelization
• Delineate reservoir prone axis/margin facies as diachronous and genetically unrelated to surrounding
‘background slope’ deposits
• ‘Channel’ used as the fundamental building block

LCC

CCC

WCC

DCC



B y r e c o g n iz in g a n d is o la tin g b o th e x tr in s ic a n d in tr in s ic fa c to r s c o n tr o llin g d e e p -w a te r r e s e r v o ir
p r o p e r tie s , w e c a n b e tte r le v e r a g e m o d e r n te c h n o lo g y to m o r e a c c u r a te ly p r e d ic t r e s e r v o ir
c h a r a c te r is tic s in a n y d e p o s itio n a l s e ttin g .

W e ll-d e v e lo p e d , v e r tic a lly s ta c k e d D W r e s e r v o ir s a r e o fte n fo u n d in L o w s ta n d S e q u e n c e S e ts – o r

P r o g r a d a tio n a l-A g g r a d a tio n a l S S – a b o v e a C o m p o s ite S e q u e n c e B o u n d a r y

D W fa n m o d e ls fr o m th e 7 0 ’s a n d 8 0 ’s p r o v e d to b e n o t a d e q u a te to p r e d ic t D W r e s e r v o ir
d is tr ib u tio n (p r e s e n c e a n d s w e e t s p o ts )

C o n tr o ls o n d e e p -w a te r d e p o s itio n a l s y s te m s in c lu d e s e d im e n t s u p p ly , s h e lf a c c o m m o d a tio n ,
s lo p e p r o file , a n d flo w r h e o lo g y

S tr a tig r a p h ic a r c h ite c tu r e is th e r e s u lt o f th e c o m p le x in te r a c tio n b e tw e e n th e v a r io u s c o n tr o ls in

b o th s p a c e a n d tim e

M a jo r a r c h ite c tu r a l s ty le s in c lu d e b o th e r o s io n a lly a n d /o r le v e e c o n fin e d c h a n n e l s y s te m s a n d

u n c o n fin e d , d is tr ib u ta r y s y s te m s

R e fle c tio n te r m in a tio n s (o n la p , d o w n la p , to p la p , tr u n c a tio n ) a r e u s e d to id e n tify

c h r o n o s tr a tig r a p h ic a lly s ig n ific a n t s u r fa c e s w h ic h c a n b e u s e d to p r e d ic t R E S E R V O IR , S O U R C E a n d
SEA L

S e is m ic fa c ie s a r e n o n -u n iq u e ; S im ila r s e is m ic g e o m e tr ie s c a n b e p r o d u c e d b y v e r y d iffe r e n t
p ro ce sse s

A c c u r a te p r e d ic tio n s r e q u ir e c a r e fu l o b s e r v a tio n a n d in te g r a tio n o f a ll a v a ila b le d a ta (s e is m ic ,

w e ll, c o r e , b io s tr a tig r a p h y /b io fa c ie s )

Conclusions
 By recognizing and isolating both extrinsic and intrinsic factors controlling deep-water reservoir
properties, we can better leverage modern technology to more accurately predict reservoir
characteristics in any depositional setting.

 Well-developed, vertically stacked DW reservoirs are often found in Lowstand Sequence Sets – or
Progradational-Aggradational SS – above a Composite Sequence Boundary

 DW fan models from the 70’s and 80’s proved to be not adequate to predict DW reservoir
distribution (presence and sweet spots)

 Controls on deep-water depositional systems include sediment supply, shelf accommodation,

slope profile, and flow rheology
 Stratigraphic architecture is the result of the complex interaction between the various controls in
both space and time
 Major architectural styles include both erosionally and/or levee confined channel systems and
unconfined, distributary systems
 Reflection terminations (onlap, downlap, toplap, truncation) are used to identify
chronostratigraphically significant surfaces which can be used to predict RESERVOIR, SOURCE and
SEAL
 Seismic facies are non-unique; Similar seismic geometries can be produced by very different
processes
 Accurate predictions require careful observation and integration of all available data (seismic,
well, core, biostratigraphy/biofacies)
Discussion
Ideas / Questions