Seismic Geomorphology and Geometric Evolution of a Single Base-of-Slope Deepwater Channel in the near Seafloor of Alaminos Canyon, Northwestern Deep Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The main goal of this article is to investigate the seismic geomorphology and geometric evolution of the single base-of-slope deepwater channel within a depositional sequence in Alaminos Canyon area of northwestern deep Gulf of Mexico. High resolution 3D seismic data was used to characterize the stratigraphic architecture evolution of deepwater deposits within 300 milliseconds interval below the sea floor. The seismic geomorphologic feature of deepwater channel was fast interpreted by combining seismic cross sections and stratal slices rendered by domain transformation. The surface wrapping interpretation results of the deepwater channel indicate that the near seafloor channel evolved from earlier wider and straight channel to later relatively narrow and sinuous channel within a depositional sequence. The channel exhibits vertical aggrading pattern in updip confined setting and changes to appear lateral migrating pattern in downdip unconfined setting through time. The spatial and temporal evolution of this deepwater channel in this study represents the typical evolution of the channel in base-of-slope deepwater setting and can be used as analog to predict and characterize the deepwater hydrocarbon reservoir at exploration depth in this area or other similar settings around the world.