Lopatina 6-2024

E.S. Lopatina

The differential diagnosis of tidal flat facies and adjacent depositional environments

DOI 10.47148/0016-7894-2024-6-31-43

Key words: Cenomanian sediments; lithological and facies analysis; tidal plain; differential diagnostics; facies; ichnofacies; conceptual model; sedimentation.

For citation: Lopatina E.S. The differential diagnosis of tidal flat facies and adjacent depositional environments. Geologiya nefti i gaza. 2024;(6):31–43. DOI: 10.47148/0016-7894-2024-6-31-43. In Russ.

The visual scheme is proposed, which makes it possible to determine facies belonging of sediments within the tidal plain and adjacent environments according to core data, taking into account differences between genetically similar facies. The key role of lithological and facies analysis in geological modeling and forecasting reservoir distribution is demonstrated. The lack of sedimentological schools’ coordination, unavailability of generally accepted facies terminology, and subjectivity of interpretation of a sedimentologist do not contribute to mutual understanding between specialists in related disciplines. The need for verification of definitions and concepts used in sedimentological work is noted. The absence of detailed differences in diagnostic features in the existing classifications of facies within the general sedimentation settings is emphasized. Paragenetic (neighboring) associations of facies contribute to prediction of facies variability during sea level changes or lateral channel migration. The proposed principle of maintaining the proposed structure of diagnostic features can be applied to create differential schemes for determining facies for any environment in any field. In this work, the scheme is shown by the example of sediments of the tidal plain, which the author worked with. The created scheme facilitates differential facies diagnostics and clearly displays the transition from one environment to another. Such a visual representation is understandable to a wide range of specialists and eliminates ambiguity of terminology interpretation when determining facies.