Fluvial reservoirs in dryland endorheic basins: the Lake Eyre Basin as a world-class modern analogue
Sara Morón A , Kathryn Amos A and Sandra Mann AThe University of Adelaide
The APPEA Journal 54(1) 119-134 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13014
Published: 2014
Abstract
Intracratonic dryland basins have been common throughout geological time and significant hydrocarbon reservoirs are contained in these basins. Based on a literature compilation of fluvial dryland reservoirs, the authors demonstrate the need for new modern analogue data from dryland fluvial systems, and present new field data from the Neales River, in the Lake Eyre catchment. The selected study reach has a complex planform, with a downstream transition from single channel to anabranching. Results of the observations of the channel bed grain size, the geomorphology and the channel geometry (width and depth) allow the authors to infer that the channel bed grain size is more strongly related to planform geomorphology than the channel geometry (width to depth ratios). Based on the grain size and channel geometry data the authors present, the authors conclude that the planform geomorphology exerts a greater control on channel bed material size than channel geometry. This interpretation is based on the analysis of satellite imagery, topographic survey data and grain size descriptions. In this paper, the authors provide channel geometry data and grain size data that will improve understanding of dryland fluvial sedimentology. The authors hope this contributes to enhancing hydrocarbon exploration and production in petroleum reservoirs developed in dryland fluvial settings.
Sara Morón is a second year PhD student at the Australian School of Petroleum (ASP), University of Adelaide. She graduated with an MSc in geology from the University of Minnesota, USA in 2011 and a BSc in geology from the National University of Colombia in 2007. Before doing her masters, Sara worked in the exploration division in the world’s largest export open pit coal mining operation, the Cerrejón mine, Colombia (owned by BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Xstrata). Sara has also worked for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as a geologist in a multidisciplinary team investigating the geology of the Isthmus of Panama. Sara’s research has focused on the stratigraphy and geochemistry of continental to shallow marine sequences in Colombia, Venezuela, Panama and the USA. Her PhD research is focused on the fluvial sedimentology of anabranching rivers while applying both modern analogue and modelling approaches to improve the interpretation of the subsurface. Member: AAPG, Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA), IAS and Geological Society of America (GSAm). sara.moronpolanco@adelaide.edu.au |
Kathryn Amos is a lecturer at the Australian School of Petroleum (ASP), University of Adelaide. Kathryn was awarded a PhD in 2004 from the University of East Anglia, UK and a BSc (Hons) in environmental sciences in 1999 from the same university. Her first sedimentologic love was turbidity currents, which her PhD and postdoctoral research at the University of Leeds was based on. Working with dryland fluvial sedimentology during her PhD drew Kathryn to Australia in 2005, to hold research positions at the at the University of New South Wales (UNSW@ADFA) and then the ASP in 2007. She took on leadership of the Lake Eyre Basin Analogues Research Group industry consortium in 2008 and moved into a lectureship position in 2010. Kathryn continues to conduct research on Lake Eyre Basin analogues, as well as other sedimentologic and stratigraphic investigation of modern and ancient deposits from fluvial, marginal marine and deepwater environments. Member: AAPG, SEPM, IAS, and GSA. kathryn.amos@adelaide.edu.au |
Sandra Mann completed a BEng combined degree in petroleum engineering, geology and geophysics at the University of Adelaide in 2013. Her honours research project involved producing a facies model for a modern fluvial system to the northwest of Lake Eyre. During her degree, Sandra has worked as a researcher at the Australian School of Petroleum and at Santos Ltd, Adelaide and she has embarked on her PhD studies at the Australian School of Petroleum (ASP) in January 2014. Sandra’s research interests include fluvial sedimentology and geomorphology, modern analogue studies, geochronology, and the integration of geology and petroleum engineering concepts to improve reservoir performance. Member: AAPG, SPE and Petroleum Exploration Society Australia. sandra.mann@student.adelaide.edu.au |
