Technical Presentations

The problem
Traditional core logging cannot always distinguish in situ from remobilised mudrocks due to the absence of diagnostic criteria, particularly from single core. Image logs generally can help to differentiate the origin of mudrocks, but where the scale of deformation/slumping is below tool resolution, it might prove difficult to confidently comment on the nature of mudrock origin.

Why do we need to know?
In deepwater settings, a greater understanding of the nature and extent of the mudrock intervals is required in order to predict better sand distribution, extent, and lateral and vertical connectivity of reservoirs. It is well known that slumps can define basin topography by smoothening reliefs as well as by creating accommodation space.

Scope
A pilot study was undertaken to investigate if traditional techniques such as petrography and XRD analyses can identify or aid in the identification of the origin of mudrocks. This poster shares the results of the pilot study on samples from Kimmeridge Clay, Buzzard Field, North Sea.

Dasgupta, K, Bertouche, M and Ashton, M. (2013) Pore-scale fabric as a tool to distinguish in situ from remobilised mudrocks in deepwater deposits. Poster presented at the 30th IAS Meeting of Sedimentology, Manchester, 2-5th September, 2013.