Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2013, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 758-764.doi: 10.11743/ogg20130607

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Physical simulation of deltaic deposits

Wang Junhui, Jiang Zaixing, Zhang Yuanfu, Gao Liming, Wei Xiaojie, Zhang Wenzhao   

  1. School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2012-07-26 Revised:2013-11-06 Online:2013-12-08 Published:2014-01-04

Abstract: In order to fully understand the sedimentary characteristics of deltaic deposits and the development patterns of associated sand bodies,this paper presents a physical simulation of delta development through flume experiment and introduces the experiment results in respects of sedimentary process and characteristics of distributary channels,mouth bars,and slide-slump deposits.The experiment reveals that the development of delta is an alternating process of deposition and erosion.Deposition is dominant in flood season when distributary channels carry a heavy sediment load,while erosion is dominant in non-flood season.The growth of mouth bars initiates from an underwater shoal in an order of forward,upward,backward and transverse.In addition,there are two modes of bifurcation,i.e.multi-stage bifurcation by one mouth bar and simultaneous bifurcation by multiple mouth bars.The channels on a deltaic plain may evolve in two modes,i.e.redirection and diversion,which are related with flood and mouth bar respectively.Flood events could be the trigger of delta front slide-slump deposits.Deltas are formed in the process of sediment transportation and sedimentation determined by the interaction of alluvial and basinal dynamics.In this process,sedimentary slope break is formed,which is favorable for the development of high quality reservoirs.

Key words: flume experiment, delta simulation, mouth bar, distributary channel, slide-slump deposit, high quality reservoir

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