Analogical Model of the Deformation of Sandy Submarine Channels in Shaly Pelagic Sediments

Abstract : The grassemargins are affected by strong deformation due to the increase of the sedimentary cover, the eventual basement tilt and the resulting gravity gliding. These movements affect the entire sedimentary sequence including the sandy channels often present in the shaly or silty pile. As a result, the channel shape changes with time, faults may appear that will break the sand continuity and therefore affect the petroleum reservoir quality of these channels. In this paper we document the brittle deformation of a channel through analogical models. The channel is embedded in ductile series where gravity sliding induces multi-directional extension. Results show that the channel is progressively deformed and cut by faults. These ones are systematically perpendicular to the channel borders, do not affect the meanders and are poorly dependent on the regional dip.