Clastic Depositional Systems and Reservoirs

DAY 1
The definition of depositional systems:

• the factors controlling the development of depositional systems:
• climate,
• tectonics,
• relative sea-level changes,
• the supply of sediment,
• biological activity,
• water chemistry.

Classification of clastic depositional systems;

• Alluvial fans:
• sedimentary processes,
• sediment characteristics,
• morphology,
• facies distribution models,
• the relationship of climate and tectonics,
• alluvial fans in fossil sedimentary sequences
• the architecture and the reservoir potential

DAY 2
Fluvial depositional systems:

• depositional processes,
• types of systems and their relationship to the nature of the basement,
• climate and tectonics.

Modern examples:

• gravel- and sand-braided rivers,
• meandering rivers,
• anastomosing rivers.

Ancient examples of fluvial depositional systems,

• models of sequences,
• facies architecture,
• the reservoir potential;

Deltaic environments

• depositional processes,
• facies associations,
• deposits,
• deltaic systems classifications:
• fluvial-dominated deltas,
• wave-dominated deltas,
• tide-dominate deltas.

Models for deltaic sequences,

• Recognition and ancient deltaic systems architecture
• Architecture, origin and deposition potential for reservoir rocks based on fossil examples of deltaic sequences.

DAY 3
Clastic shore zone:

• processes, deposits, facies.
• modern beaches and sandy bars,
• tidal flats.
• facies characteristic of ancient clastic shore zones;

Shallow-water clastic-shelf sedimentary environments.

• Physical processes controlling shelf-sedimentation: tides, tidal currents, waves, wave-currents, density-currents.
• Facies distribution on different shelf zones.
• The role of shelf depositional systems in the architecture and evolution of the sedimentary basins fill.
• Diagnostic criteria for the recognition of ancient shelf systems

DAY 4
Deep-water clastic sedimentary environments.

• Mechanisms of deposit transport:
• underwater gravitational mass movements,
• density currents,
• pelagic sedimentation
• Slope and abyssal plane facies characteristics.
• Modern and ancient models of turbiditic fans.
• Turbiditic facies classification.
• Flysch.
• The depositional potential of the deep-water deposits, both as a host rock, migration routes, as well as reservoir rock;

Lacustrine depositional system

• modern and ancient examples
• Facies and depositional mechanisms.
• Factors controlling geometry and hydrology of lakes, water stratification and fertility of lake water.
• The depositional potential of the lacustrine deposits, both as a host rock and reservoir rock

DAY 5
Aeolian environment:

• transport mechanisms and depositional processes
• Aeolian accumulation forms, their textures and structures.
• Modern deserts, climatic and tectonic controls.
• Models for aeolian sequences, facies interfingering with other terrestrial and shore facies.
• The depositional potential of the aeolian deposits, both as a host rock, migration routes, as well as reservoir rock;
• Transport mechanisms in glacial environments.
• Glacial sub-environments: glacial, glacilimnic, glacimarine and glacifuvial. Distribution of modern and ancient glacial environments.
• Glacial deposits, the biggest glaciations in the Earth history;

Phytogenic deposits vs. clastic depositional systems.

• Coal-hosted deposits.
• Climatic and tectonic control on the phytogenic sedimentation. geometry and evolution of the coal-hosted basins

Depositional systems vs. fossil fuels reservoirs.

• The depositional potential of the different depositional systems, both as a host rock, migration routes, as well as reservoir rocks.