The Stacked-Channel Reservoir Sands of SE Asia

(New Depositional Concepts and Implications for Reservoir Prediction)

Joseph J Lambiase

Petroleum Geoscience Program Chulalongkorn University

SE Asian Channel Sand Reservoirs

Fluvial sands in the post-rift of the Sunda Shelf Some appear to be braided stream deposits

500 km

What is a Channel Sand?

Channels are not depositional systems Sand is transported along the channel bed A sand-filled channel is a nonequilibrium deposit Deposition occurs when current velocity decreases
U

Sediment Transport
Sediment transport rate (Qs) is a function of current velocity (U):

Qs = U 3 5
Current velocity is a function of several variables:

U = 8gdsin f
g = gravitational constant d = water depth f = friction factor = slope

floodplain

high sinuosity

Sea level variation and tectonics are driving mechanisms for slope change Long-term changes in erosional and depositional processes Sequence stratigraphic models predict channel morphology and stacking patterns SE Asian stacked-channel reservoir sands are small-scale Require a smaller-scale, shorterterm process
high gradient, low sinuosity tidal sediments

channel deposits

(after Shanley and McCabe 1993)

The SE Asian Environment

Active tectonics Extremely high sedimentation rates Low wave energy Small, short-lived sea level changes

500 km

Channel Types
Braided Meandering Distributary

seaward

Meandering Rivers
Point bar migration Fining-upward succession Bell-shaped well log signature

(after Miall 1992)

Braided Streams
Fining-upward succession Dominantly sand and coarser sediment Stacked successions Blocky well log signature

(after Ramos et al 1986)

(after Cant and Walker 1976)

Distributaries

By-pass zones Little or no deposition

Mahakam Delta
Borneo

medium sand fine sand bioturbated fine sand

sandy mud mud peat beaches

N
10 km

(after Salahuddin Husein 2008)

Sediment Transport Rates

28.1 (.250)

Sand transport rate decreases seaward Grain size decreases seaward No river-derived sand reaches the sea coast

2.0 (.250) 9.2 (.250) 0.9 (.250) 0.5 (.212) 0.0 (.150) 1.7 (.090) 13.5 (.090)

bedload transport rate (103 m3/yr)

28.1 (.250)

median grain size (mm)

Stratigraphic Succession
estuarine

Fining upward
tide-dominated

Marine influence increases upward

fluvial-dominated
erosional contact

mud muddy sand sand current ripples cross-bedding lag deposit flaser bedding

5m

(after Salahuddin Husein 2008)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

5m

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

Fining-upward succession Increasingly marine upward Distributary channel Back-filled during transgression Mimics a meandering channel succession

(after Nadia Nirsal 2010)

Borneo

Belait Fm Tanjong Batu Brunei

N
25 km

15

top of incision

10

Tanjong Batu Back-Filled Distributary

mudstone thin sand and mud sandstone ripple cross-lamination cross-bedding lateral accretion burrows

metres
5 0

base of incision

Depositional Model
Sand reaches the sea coast during progradation and initial transgression Flood tidal currents reduce river velocity causing sand deposition upstream Tides invade progressively further upstream as sea level rises
initial transgression

erosion

increasing velocity

Umax transport Umin deposition

(after Hjulstrom 1935)

rising seal level

increasing grain size

Depositional Model
Existing channel provides accommodation High sediment supply rate introduces sand quickly Generates a fining-upward succession that is increasingly marine upward Low wave energy increases preservation potential Requires only a small relative sea level rise

deposition and storage of sand mud with marine organisms

Borneo

Belait Fm Kg. Ganggarak Labuan

N
25 km

Fining-upward succession Minor marine influence near the top Back-filled during transgression Mimics a braided stream succession Blocky well log signature

10 m

Kg. Ganggarak Back-Filled Meandering River Channel

sand mud coal cross-bedding ripple cross-lamination parallel lamination pebbles coal clasts flaser bedding mud drapes

Tidal fluctuations occur far upstream of any saline water River velocity is decreased well upstream of any direct marine influence Channels will be back-filled without any marine signature

virtually no saline water or upstream sediment transport

approximate upstream limit of benthic marine organisms and brackish water vegetation

10 km

Fluvial Back-Filling

increasing velocity transport deposition erosion

Umax

outgoing tide

increasing grain size

increasing velocity transport

erosion

Umin deposition

incoming tide

increasing grain size

Borneo

Liang Fm Berakas Forest Reserve Brunei

N
25 km

regressive, not transgressive?

Meandering river point bar

transgressive, not regressive!

Back-filled meandering river channel?

Implications for Reservoir Geometry

Sand thickness depends only on the rate of sand supply versus the rate of sea level rise No relationship between channel width and sand thickness Thickness to width ratios are meaningless

15

top of incision

10

Tanjong Batu Back-Filled Distributary

mudstone thin sand and mud sandstone ripple cross-lamination cross-bedding lateral accretion burrows

metres
5 0

base of incision

Three-Dimensional Geometry

back-filled meandering river

back-filled distributary

Spatial Distribution
Can occur in all post-rift units Probably more common near stratigraphic transitions from non-marine to marine units Probably more common near palaeoshorelines
Stratigraphic Unit UpperGrey Beds Upper Red Beds Lower Grey Beds Lower Red Beds Depositional Environment Shallow Marine/Paralic/Fluvial Alluvial/Fluvial Estuarine/Paralic /Fluvial Fluvial/Coastal Plain 500 km

Conclusions
Some stacked-channel reservoir sands were deposited by back-filling of pre-existing channels Variable distribution throughout the post-rift succession Fining-upward successions that mimic other channel types Difficult to recognise in core, impossible on logs Sand thickness is independent of channel width Sand body size and geometry are difficult to predict

Acknowledgements
Contributions from my former students Salahuddin Husein, Nadia Nirsal and Prateep Chaiwan Chevron Thailand, PTTEP, Total E & P Borneo and Total Indonesia for financial support Subsurface data and images from Chevron Thailand, Henry Posamentier and Serica Energy