Avulsion Clusters in Alluvial Basins

Elizabeth Hajek

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

ehajek@uwyo.edu

Fluvial deposits comprise important reservoirs worldwide, however they are often difficult to effectively develop because of great lithologic and stratigraphic complexity. Within fluvial basins, the distribution of coarse-grained channel-belt deposits in fine-grained overbank material is a primary control on the quality of fluvial reservoirs. Recent observations in physical experiments (St. Anthony Falls Lab, University of Minnesota) and ancient deposits (Ferris Formation, Wyoming) suggest there is a pattern of organization in some fluvial basins resulting in reservoir-scale clustering of individual channel-belt deposits. Using remote sensing, 3D seismic, field, and experimental data, I am working to quantitatively characterize channel-belt distributions in several alluvial systems. I will use this information to compare basins in order to understand the mechanisms controlling basin-scale channel-belt distribution. Recognizing and quantitatively characterizing channel-belt clusters in alluvial basins and understanding factors controlling their formation will provide an improved tool for identifying prospective reservoirs during exploration and modeling fluvial reservoirs during development and production.