The influence of a slope break on turbidite deposits: An experimental investigation

F. Pohl; J. T. Eggenhuisen; M. J.B. Cartigny; M. C. Tilston; J. de Leeuw; N. Hermidas

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106160

The influence of a slope break on turbidite deposits: An experimental investigation

F. Pohl^*, J. T. Eggenhuisen, M. J.B. Cartigny, M. C. Tilston, J. de Leeuw, N. Hermidas

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Bypassing turbidity currents can travel downslope without depositing any of their suspended sediment load. Along the way, they may encounter a slope break (i.e. an abrupt decrease in slope angle) that initiates sediment deposition. Depending on the initiation point of deposition (the upslope pinch-out), these turbidite deposits in slope-break systems can form potential reservoirs for hydrocarbons. Here we investigate the distribution of turbidite deposits as a function of the geometry of slope-break systems in flume experiments. Shields-scaled turbidity currents were released into a flume tank containing an upper and a lower slope reach separated by a slope break. These slope-break experiments were generating both depositional and bypassing flows solely based on variation in steepness of the lower and upper slope. Results show that the depositional pattern in a slope-break system is controlled by the steepness of the upper and lower slope, rather than the angle of the slope break. The steepness of the upper slope controls the upslope pinch-out, while the lower slope controls the deposit thickness downstream of the slope break.

Original language	English
Article number	106160
Number of pages	11
Journal	Marine Geology
Volume	424
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106160
Publication status	Published - Jun 2020

Funding

This contribution is part of EuroSEDS (Eurotank Studies of Experimental Deepwater Sedimentology), supported by the NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) (grant no. NWO 864.13.006 ), ExxonMobil , Shell , and Equinor . The authors would like to thank Thony van der Gon Netscher and Henk van der Meer for their technical support at the Eurotank Laboratory. Florian Pohl would like to thank Ferenc Tóth for his support in carrying out the experimental work and Bradford Prather for providing parts of Fig. 10 . Detailed and constructive reviews by Lawrence Amy, Ben Kneller, and four anonymous reviewers were instrumental in redrafting the manuscript.

Keywords

Flume experiment
Reservoir
Shields scaling
Stratigraphic trap
Turbidity current
Upslope pinch-out

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10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106160

1-s2.0-S0025322720300487-mainFinal published version, 3.1 MBLicence: Taverne

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title = "The influence of a slope break on turbidite deposits: An experimental investigation",

abstract = "Bypassing turbidity currents can travel downslope without depositing any of their suspended sediment load. Along the way, they may encounter a slope break (i.e. an abrupt decrease in slope angle) that initiates sediment deposition. Depending on the initiation point of deposition (the upslope pinch-out), these turbidite deposits in slope-break systems can form potential reservoirs for hydrocarbons. Here we investigate the distribution of turbidite deposits as a function of the geometry of slope-break systems in flume experiments. Shields-scaled turbidity currents were released into a flume tank containing an upper and a lower slope reach separated by a slope break. These slope-break experiments were generating both depositional and bypassing flows solely based on variation in steepness of the lower and upper slope. Results show that the depositional pattern in a slope-break system is controlled by the steepness of the upper and lower slope, rather than the angle of the slope break. The steepness of the upper slope controls the upslope pinch-out, while the lower slope controls the deposit thickness downstream of the slope break.",

keywords = "Flume experiment, Reservoir, Shields scaling, Stratigraphic trap, Turbidity current, Upslope pinch-out",

author = "F. Pohl and Eggenhuisen, {J. T.} and Cartigny, {M. J.B.} and Tilston, {M. C.} and {de Leeuw}, J. and N. Hermidas",

year = "2020",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106160",

language = "English",

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journal = "Marine Geology",

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T1 - The influence of a slope break on turbidite deposits

T2 - An experimental investigation

AU - Pohl, F.

AU - Eggenhuisen, J. T.

AU - Cartigny, M. J.B.

AU - Tilston, M. C.

AU - de Leeuw, J.

AU - Hermidas, N.

PY - 2020/6

Y1 - 2020/6

N2 - Bypassing turbidity currents can travel downslope without depositing any of their suspended sediment load. Along the way, they may encounter a slope break (i.e. an abrupt decrease in slope angle) that initiates sediment deposition. Depending on the initiation point of deposition (the upslope pinch-out), these turbidite deposits in slope-break systems can form potential reservoirs for hydrocarbons. Here we investigate the distribution of turbidite deposits as a function of the geometry of slope-break systems in flume experiments. Shields-scaled turbidity currents were released into a flume tank containing an upper and a lower slope reach separated by a slope break. These slope-break experiments were generating both depositional and bypassing flows solely based on variation in steepness of the lower and upper slope. Results show that the depositional pattern in a slope-break system is controlled by the steepness of the upper and lower slope, rather than the angle of the slope break. The steepness of the upper slope controls the upslope pinch-out, while the lower slope controls the deposit thickness downstream of the slope break.

AB - Bypassing turbidity currents can travel downslope without depositing any of their suspended sediment load. Along the way, they may encounter a slope break (i.e. an abrupt decrease in slope angle) that initiates sediment deposition. Depending on the initiation point of deposition (the upslope pinch-out), these turbidite deposits in slope-break systems can form potential reservoirs for hydrocarbons. Here we investigate the distribution of turbidite deposits as a function of the geometry of slope-break systems in flume experiments. Shields-scaled turbidity currents were released into a flume tank containing an upper and a lower slope reach separated by a slope break. These slope-break experiments were generating both depositional and bypassing flows solely based on variation in steepness of the lower and upper slope. Results show that the depositional pattern in a slope-break system is controlled by the steepness of the upper and lower slope, rather than the angle of the slope break. The steepness of the upper slope controls the upslope pinch-out, while the lower slope controls the deposit thickness downstream of the slope break.

KW - Flume experiment

KW - Reservoir

KW - Shields scaling

KW - Stratigraphic trap

KW - Turbidity current

KW - Upslope pinch-out

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DO - 10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106160

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85081133608

SN - 0025-3227

VL - 424

JO - Marine Geology

JF - Marine Geology

M1 - 106160

ER -

The influence of a slope break on turbidite deposits: An experimental investigation

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

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