Compound incised-valley characterization by high-resolution seismics in a wave-dominated setting: Example of the Aude and Orb rivers, Languedoc inner shelf, Gulf of Lion, France

Michel Tesson; Henry Posamentier; Bernard Gensous

Compound incised-valley characterization by high-resolution seismics in a wave-dominated setting: Example of the Aude and Orb rivers, Languedoc inner shelf, Gulf of Lion, France

Michel Tesson ^{1, 2} Henry Posamentier ³ Bernard Gensous ²

1 IMAGES-Espace DEV - Institut de Modélisation et d'Analyses en géo-environnement et santé - Espace Développement

UMR 228 Espace-Dev, Espace pour le développement

2 GROUPE POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT D'APPLICATIONS ET LA RECHERCHE EN GÉOLOGIE ET OCÉANOLOGIE

3 Chevron Energy Technology Company

Abstract : A branch of a time-calibrated late Quaternary compound incised valley complex is investigated using high- and very-high-resolution seismic data. The incised valley system is confined on the inner shelf, and entrenched parallel to the shore in unconsolidated Pliocene deposits. The infilling of the incised valley system comprises three sigmoidal bodies dipping progressively downstream representing depositional sequences. The lowermost sequences are less well preserved at their downstream extremity and the whole system is both aggrading and prograding. Older Pleistocene/Late Quaternary sequences could be preserved under the coastal plain. Individual sequences are closely similar to the classic model of a microtidal incised valley fill. Nevertheless, the central estuary/bay basin muds are seen to interfinger locally with high-energy deposits that represent potential reservoirs. The properties (prograding and aggrading architecture and occurrence of high energy deposits) and preservation of these compound incised valley fill deposits are attributed to general (glacio-eustatic cycles) and local (atmospheric and oceanic regime and proximity of the hinge line) conditions. Data acquisition strategy is a determining factor to interpret such systems.

Keywords : Incised-valley Wave dominated setting High-resolution seismic stratigraphy Polycyclic record Aggrading and prograding filling Western Mediterranean Sea

Document type :

Journal articles

Domain :

Sciences of the Universe [physics] / Earth Sciences

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https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01214983
Contributor : Olivier Savoyat <>
Submitted on : Tuesday, October 13, 2015 - 2:18:20 PM
Last modification on : Friday, May 17, 2019 - 1:00:51 AM

Compound incised-valley characterization by high-resolution seismics in a wave-dominated setting: Example of the Aude and Orb rivers, Languedoc inner shelf, Gulf of Lion, France

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Compound incised-valley characterization by high-resolution seismics in a wave-dominated setting: Example of the Aude and Orb rivers, Languedoc inner shelf, Gulf of Lion, France

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