Seismic Expression of Depositional Systems Tracts and Application to Hydrocarbon Exploration in Bredasdorp Basin, Offshore South Africa: ABSTRACT

Abstract

Postrift Cretaceous sequences of Bredasdorp basin, offshore South Africa, were rigorously analyzed using the unified application of the latest seismic-stratigraphic, sequence-stratigraphic, and depositional systems concepts. Using 101 seismic profiles totaling 5600 km, the authors identified ten cyclic depositional sequences bounded by nine type 1 and two type 2 unconformities. Component depositional systems tracts exhibit a distinct seismic expression and can be delineated using truncation and lap-out relationships. Lowstand systems tracts developed on type 1 unconformities, which resulted from relative sea level fall below the shelf edge. In a terrigenous clastic basin such as Bredasdorp, these tracts are interpreted as being composed of basin-floor turbidite fans, channels, and/or sheets. These features formed contemporaneously with the erosion of incised valleys and submarine canyons, followed by channelized slope fans and deltaic/coastal lowstand wedges that prograded during a relative sea level rise. Subsequent flooding of the shelf as relative sea level rise accelerated resulted in poorly defined transgressive systems tracts. With the relative sea level at a highstand, extensively developed deltaic/coastal systems prograded basinward exhibiting well-defined clinoforms. The major hydrocarbon plays in the lowstand tracts occur as mounded basin-floor turbidite fans, channel fills, and draped sheets and are found in the updip pinch-out ofmore » deltaic/coastal sandstones.« less