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Submarine slide blocks and associated soft-sediment deformation in deep-water basins: A review

Alves, Tiago Marcos ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2765-3760 2015. Submarine slide blocks and associated soft-sediment deformation in deep-water basins: A review. Marine and Petroleum Geology 67 , pp. 262-285. 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.05.010

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Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) seismic and outcrop data are used to review the significance of submarine slide blocks and associated soft-sediment deformation structures in deep-water basins. Submarine slide blocks are generated during major instability events in a variety of geological settings and their size exceeds that of boulders, which are <4.1 m. Slide blocks can be ∼500 m high by >4.5 km long on a number of continental margins, presenting internal folding, thrusting and rolling over basal breccia-conglomerate carpets. In addition, soft-sediment deformation structures such as foliated strata, intrafolial folds, tiling, bookshelf sliding and dilational jogs reflect important shearing within blocks and their basal glide planes. This work proposes that buried blocks and associated coarse-grained debrites are capable of forming prolific reservoir intervals for hydrocarbons and mineralization. Three-dimensional leakage factor models show the bulk of fluid flow to be focused in vertical and horizontal surfaces within, and immediately below displaced blocks. The generation of large slide blocks can also mark the sudden release of overburden pressure, and result in the loss of seal competence above existing hydrocarbon fields. Ultimately, this review clarifies the present-day understanding on the modes of formation of submarine slide blocks, confirming their economic importance in deep-water basins throughout the world.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
Additional Information: Available online 20 May 2015 Pdf uploaded in accordance with publisher's policies at http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/0264-8172/ (accessed 21.5.15)
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 0264-8172
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 30 March 2016
Date of Acceptance: 11 May 2015
Last Modified: 02 May 2023 12:30
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/60619

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