Channel Element Analysis

Intermediate W/T Ratios

Entire channel-body
elements usually preserved
Paleocurrents generally
subparallel to downslope
direction
Aggradation

Lateral Accretion Erosion/Amalgamation

High W/T Ratios Low W/T Ratios

Entire channel-body
elements often preserved
Paleocurrents parallel,
perpendicular, and opposite
to downslope direction
Entire channel-body
elements never preserved
Paleocurrents generally
subparallel to downslope
Predictive facies classification from Mutti, 1992
 A
Erosion/Amalgamation Channel Element Style

LA E/A

120 m

100 m
 A
Erosion/Amalgamation Channel Element Style

LA E/A

500 m
 A
Erosion/Amalgamation Channel Element Style

LA E/A
Erosion/Amalgamation Channel Element Width vs Thickness

15000

Amalgamated
13000
Channel
y = 23.011x0.7371 Elements
11000 2
R = 0.3995

9000
Width (cm)

7000

5000

3000

1000

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

-1000
Thickness (cm)
 A
Aggradational Channel Element Style

West LA E/A

East
 A
Aggradational Channel Element Style

LA E/A
Aggradational Width vs Thickness

6000

Aggradational
5000 Channel
Elements
y = 7.6706x + 151.65
4000
R2 = 0.5685
Width (cm)

3000

2000

1000

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Thickness (cm)
 A
Lateral Accretion Channel Element Style

LA E/A
 A
Lateral Accretion Channel Element Style

LA E/A
 A
Lateral Accretion Channel Element Style

Lateral Accretion Sets -- All Channel Elements Width vs Thickness

LA E/A

7000

Lateral
6000 Accretion
Channel
5000
Elements y = 5.6745x
1.1443

R2 = 0.7273
4000
Width (cm)

3000

2000

1000

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Thickness (cm)
 Channel Elements Width vs Thickness for Panel A, Pelican Pt. 1, and R50

15000
y = 5.6745x 1.1443
R2 = 0.7273
y = 7.6706x + 151.65
13000 Lateral R2 = 0.5685

Accretion Aggradation Amalgamation

11000
y = 23.011x 0.7371
High W/T Intermediate R2 = 0.3995
9000 Ratios W/T Ratios Low W/T
Ratios
Width (cm)

7000

5000

3000

1000

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

-1000
Thickness (cm)
 Lateral Accretion – High lateral continuity, low vertical

200 m

Aggradation – low lateral and vertical continuity

15 m

Amalgamation/Erosion – High lateral and vertical continuity

100 m
 Conclusions
• Aggradation
– Single-storey channel-bodies surrounded by fines
– Poor lateral and vertical channel-body connectivity
• Lateral Accretion
– Multi-lateral channel-bodies, usually capped by fines
– Good to excellent lateral connectivity
– Poor vertical connectivity
• Amalgamation/Erosion
– Multi-lateral and multi-storey channel-bodies
– Excellent lateral and vertical connectivity
– Orders of magnitude larger in terms of reservoir volume