This document outlines the methodology for sequence stratigraphic analysis. It begins with background on key principles and concepts like facies, facies associations, and depositional environments. It then discusses various data sources and methods used in the analysis, including facies analysis using sedimentary petrography, ichnology, and paleocurrent directions. Additional methods covered are well logs, seismic data, age dating, and integrating these different data sources and analyses. The workflow progresses from initially evaluating the tectonic setting, to paleodepositional environments, to developing the detailed sequence stratigraphic framework. The goal is a unified, interdisciplinary analysis and interpretation of the stratigraphy.

1. GEOL 534
Assignment 1
Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis: Methods & Methodology
Catuneanu, 2006: Chapter 2
Omar A. Radwan
PhD Student – Geosciences Dept. - KFUPM
Methodology
CH 2
Results
CH 4
CH 5
CH 7
Discussion and
Conclusions
CH 6
CH 8
CH 9
Introduction
CH 1
CH 3

2. Outline
• Principles
• Concepts
Background
• Facies Analysis
• Well Logs
• Seismic Data
• Age Dating
Methods
• Step 1—Tectonic Setting
• Step 2––Paleodepositional Environments
• Step 3––Sequence Stratigraphic Framework
Methodology
Reijmer, 2015
2

3. Background
Principles
Principles of flow
and sediment
motion
Principles of
sedimentation
Concepts
Facies
Facies
Association
Facies Models
Depositional
Environments
Depositional
System
3

4. Principles of flow and sediment motion
4
Catuneanu, 2006
Adams & Lambert, 2006

5. Principles of sedimentation
5Boggs, 2006 Catuneanu, 2006

6. Facies - Facies Association – Facies Models
6
Catuneanu, 2006

7. Depositional Environments-Depositional System
7
Catuneanu, 2006 Nichols, 2009

8. Facies Analysis
• Characterizing bodies of rocks with unique lithological, physical, and biological
attributes relative to all adjacent deposits.
• Outcrops, core, or modern environments
In the context of sequence stratigraphy
• It provides critical clues for paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental
reconstructions, as well as for the definition of sequence stratigraphic surfaces.
• Facies analysis is particularly relevant to the study of cyclic changes in the
processes that form individual depositional systems in response to base-level
shifts.
8
Disciplines
Sedimentary
Petrography
Pedology
Ichnology
Paleocurrent
Directions
Well Logs
Seismic Data
Geochronology

9. Sedimentary Petrography
• To constrain the position of
sequence-bounding
unconformities
• Abrupt changes in facies
and paleocurrent
directions
• Presence of secondary
minerals (e.g. Glauconite-
bearing sandstones )
• To emphasize grading trends
(fining- vs. coarsening-upward)
in vertical successions
(outcrops, core)
• To identify cycles in individual
outcrops or core
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10. Pedology
10
Catuneanu, 2006

11. Ichnology
11Catuneanu, 2006
• Softground-related ichnofacies
• Substrate-controlled Ichnofacies

12. Paleocurrent Directions
12
• Tectonically active basins
Boggs, 2006

13. Age Dating
Evaluation of geological age;
• by faunal or stratigraphic means
• by physical methods involving the relative abundance of radioactive parent/daughter
isotopes
Achieved by means of;
• Biostratigraphy
• Magnetostratigraphy
• Isotope geochemistry
• Mapping of lithological time-markers
Advantages
• useful to constrain correlations at larger scales
Disadvantages
• The resolution of the various dating techniques varies with the method, as well as with the
age of the deposits under investigation.
13

14. Well Logs
14Catuneanu, 2006

15. Well Logs - Rules
• Fundamentally
different depositional
systems may produce
similar log motifs.
• One and the same
depositional system
may display different
well-log signatures as
a function of
variations in
depositional energy,
sediment supply,
accommodation, etc.
15Catuneanu, 2006

16. Seismic Data
• Preliminary evaluation of a basin fill in
the subsurface in terms of overall
structure, stratigraphic architecture, and
fluid content.
• Advantage
• Continuous character
• Disadvantage
• Vertical resolution
• Nature of information (physical
parameters as opposed to direct
geology)
16Hart, 2000

17. Seismic Data - Rules
• Seismic reflections correspond changes in acoustic impedance with depth
• changes in lithology, changes in fluid content within the same lithosome, or diagenetic
contrasts
• Seismic reflections do not necessarily correspond to single lithological or fluid contacts
• amalgamate a succession of strata that has a thickness less than the seismic resolution
• Seismic reflections do not correspond to single interpretation. E.g. negative polarity reflections;
• a change from shales to underlying porous sandstones with hydrocarbons (ideal context of
sealed reservoirs)
• a potential shift from compact sandstones (high acoustic impedance) to underlying shales
(relatively lower acoustic impedance)
17

18. Seismic Data
• Physical Attributes of Seismic Data
• Seismic Geomorphology - slicing techniques
• Interval Attribute Maps
• Horizon Attribute Maps
• 3D Perspective Visualization
18
Posamentier in: Catuneanu, 2006

19. Workflow of Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis
Tectonic Setting
Paleodepositional
Environments
Sequence
Stratigraphic
Framework
Stratal
Terminations
Stratigraphic
Surfaces
Systems Tracts
and Sequences
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The workflow
progresses at a
gradually
decreasing scale
of observation
and an
increasing level
of detail.

20. Step 1—Tectonic Setting
20Catuneanu, 2006

21. Step 1—Tectonic Setting
21Catuneanu, 2006

22. Step 2––Paleodepositional Environments
22Catuneanu, 2006

23. Step 3––Sequence Stratigraphic Framework
23Catuneanu, 2006

24. Conclusions
• A successful sequence stratigraphic study requires
integration of various data sets and methods of data
analysis into a unified, interdisciplinary approach.
• The integration of all these techniques is critical for
mutual calibration and the development of reliable
geological models.
24Catuneanu, 2006

25. 25
Thank You

26. References
• Catuneanu, O. (2006). Principles of sequence stratigraphy. Elsevier.
• Boggs, S. (2006). Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy. Pearson Prentice Hall.
• Nichols, G. (2009). Sedimentology and stratigraphy. John Wiley & Sons.
• Adams, S., & Lambert, D. (2006). Earth Science: An illustrated guide to science. New York
NY, 10001, 20.
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