Transgressive and regressive shorelines

Depositional settings in a tide

dominated estuary

Depositional settings in a wave

dominated estuary
(A) Schematic map of a tide-
dominated estuary. Note the funnel
shape, the systematic changes in
channel geometry, the presence of
elongate tidal bars in the seaward
part, and the fringing muddy tidal
flats and salt marshes. Because the
system as a whole is migrating
landward (i.e., transgressing), the
outer margin of the mudflats is
commonly bordered by an erosional
channel margin.
(B) Longitudinal variation of the
intensity of the three main physical
processes, river currents, tidal
currents and waves, and the resulting
directions of net sediment transport
(at bottom of A) through a tide-
dominated estuary. Note the
development of a bedload
convergence (BLC) at the location of
the tightly meandering portion of the
channel.
(C) Longitudinal variation of: the
grain size of the sand fraction, the
suspended-sediment concentration
and “bulk” grain size of the resulting
deposits (essentially the sand:mud
ratio).
(A) Schematic map of a tide-dominated
delta (sensu lato), based loosely on the Fly
River delta, Papua New Guinea. Note the
funnel shape, the separation of
distributaries by islands that are vegetated
in humid climates, the presence of
elongate tidal bars in the seaward part, and
the fringing muddy tidal flats and salt
marshes.
(B) Longitudinal variation of the intensity
of the three main physical processes, river
currents, tidal currents and waves, through
a tide-dominated delta. The general
patterns are the same as those for estuaries,
except that there is greater overall
influence of the river. As a result, the
bedload convergence (BLC) is
hypothesized to occur in the distributary-
mouth-bar area.
(C) Longitudinal variation of the mean
grain size of the sand fraction, the
suspended-sediment concentration (which
corresponds in a general way with the
thickness of individual, slack-water mud
drapes) and the “bulk” grain size of the
resulting deposits (essentially the
sand:mud ratio).
Barrier Island deposits and reservoirs
TRANSGRESSIVE WAVE DOMINATED COASTS
BARRIER ISLAND
BLOCK DIAGRAM MODEL FOR BARRIER ISLAND
SYSTEM
BARRIER ISLAND, TIDAL CHANNEL AND
LAGOON FROM TEXAS GULF COAST
NON-DELTAIC COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

FLOOD TIDAL DELTA

BEACH, LAGOON AND EBB TIDAL DELTA

BOTH EBB AND FLOOD TIDAL DELTA FORM

SMALL BUT GOOD RESERVOIRS
TIDAL INLET
Stratigraphic log of the Tapti
field
Lateral shoreline shifts through the Tertiray, western India (based on Pandey,
1986). Major gas fields are also marked.
Low tide satellite image of
the part of Gulf of Khambhat
from IRS P6 (LISS 3). The
satellite image showing the
distribution of major
estuaries and related
landforms
Progradation & Transgressive Architectures

After Kraft & John, 1979

3-D block diagram showing evolution of a barrier island system
Transgression or regression?
Block diagram showing progradation of facies assemblage

Ca B Aa
An isopach map of
the Muddy
Sandstone, which
comprises the Bell
Creek field,
Montana. Location
of wells are shown in
black dots. Mapped
bulge on the
northwestern side is
interpreted as a flood
tidal delta
The reservoir
sandstones are
compartmentalized
because of presence
of shaly lagoonal
deposits in between
Stacked barrier sand assemblages
The upper figure is a cross section across Bell Creek field. The main
reservoir is composed of thick barrier-island sandstones. The shales
penetrated in well are lagoonal shales. Inset shows the different facies
in a modern Texas Gulf Coast setting
The stratigraphic sequence produced when a barrier island-lagoon complex progrades.
Sediments of the lagoon and of the adjacent marshes and tidal flats are superimposed on
beach sands of the barrier island