Fault-Guided Seismic Stratigraphy Interpretation via Semi-Supervised Learning

Delineating seismic stratigraphic features and depositional facies is of importance to successful reservoir mapping and identification in the subsurface. Robust seismic stratigraphy interpretation is confronted with two major challenges. The first one is to maximally automate the process particularly with the increasing size of seismic data and complexity of target stratigraphies, while the second challenge is to efficiently incorporate available structures into stratigraphy model building. Machine learning, particularly convolutional neural network (CNN), has been introduced into assisting seismic stratigraphy interpretation through supervised learning. However, the small amount of available expert labels greatly restricts the performance of such supervised CNN. Moreover, most of the exiting CNN implementations are based on only amplitude, which fails to use necessary structural information such as faults for constraining the machine learning. To resolve both challenges, this paper presents a semi-supervised learning workflow for fault-guided seismic stratigraphy interpretation, which consists of two components. The first component is seismic feature engineering (SFE), which aims at learning the provided seismic and fault data through a unsupervised convolutional autoencoder (CAE), while the second one is stratigraphy model building (SMB), which aims at building an optimal mapping function between the features extracted from the SFE CAE and the target stratigraphic labels provided by an experienced interpreter through a supervised CNN. Both components are connected by embedding the encoder of the SFE CAE into the SMB CNN, which forces the SMB learning based on these features commonly existing in the entire study area instead of those only at the limited training data; correspondingly, the risk of overfitting is greatly eliminated. More innovatively, the fault constraint is introduced by customizing the SMB CNN of two output branches, with one to match the target stratigraphies and the other to reconstruct the input fault, so that the fault continues contributing to the process of SMB learning. The performance of such fault-guided seismic stratigraphy interpretation is validated by an application to a real seismic dataset, and the machine prediction not only matches the manual interpretation accurately but also clearly illustrates the depositional process in the study area.

Depositional Processes of the Cenomanian-Turonian Reworked Carbonates in the Eastern Abu Dhabi, UAE

There are a limited number of studies and exploration cases for a "reworked carbonate" in Abu Dhabi, although these sediments are composed from some large oil and gas fields around the world (e.g. Poza Rica oil field in Mexico and Ruby gas field in Indonesia). In this study, we focused on Cenomanian-Turonian carbonates and considered the depositional processes of a "reworked carbonate" in the eastern part of Abu Dhabi. To understand the stacking pattern and/or depositional process of the Cenomanian-Turonian carbonate, we conducted a well-well correlation for total 16 wells, based on the core observations, wireline logs correlation (GR, Neutron, Density, Resistivity and Sonic), carbon and oxygen isotope analysis and trace elements analysis. Sampling was conducted for 8 wells and samples were taken approximately every 5 ft. In addition, to predict the spatiotemporal expansion of the reworked deposit, a 3D seismic interpretation was conducted. The result of the well-well correlation reveals that the depositional process and the stacking pattern of the Cenomanian-Turonian shoals around eastern Abu Dhabi are well consistent with the depositional model that proposed by Razin et al., 2010, and the reworked deposits are developed around the distal environment. 3D seismic interpretation represents that these reworked sediments were input from the north-west side and spread to the south-east like as a submarine-fan. Considering the core observation result, cohesive debris flow deposits are dominated at the depositional up-dip side and dilute flow deposits are dominated in the depositional down-dip side. In addition, an obvious erosional surface can be recognized in seismic sections and it truncates the top shoal sediments. The result of both, a combination of localized up-rift and global eustatic sea level fall in the early-middle Turonian triggered the regional erosion which is recognized as the middle Turonian unconformity. The result of this study suggests that the shoal sediments were eroded and reworked to a more distal environment at the early-middle Turonian.

MetaDamage Tool: Examining post-mortem damage in sedaDNA on a metagenomic scale

<p>Authentication of ancient sedimentary DNA (sedaDNA) remains central to the interpretation of the proxy for wider understanding of palaeoecological archives. Distinguishing between in-situ, endogenous sedaDNA from that of contamination or modern material also allows for a wider understanding of taphonomy in the deposition and post-depositional process in the formation of the sedaDNA archive. At current, tools for authentication are reliant on single-taxon input and require a significant number of input sequences to identify an established cytosine deamination rate consistent with ancient DNA. We present the MetaDamage tool: a tool that examines cytosine deamination on a metagenomic scale. In this paper we outline the process of and testing of the MetaDamage tool using both authentic sedaDNA sequences and simulated data in order to demonstrate the resolution in which MetaDamage can observe deamination levels consistent with the presence of ancient DNA. The MetaDamage tool offers a method for initial assessment of the presence of ancient sedaDNA and provides a method for a wider understanding of key questions of preservation for palaeoecological reconstruction.</p>

Pyrite Oxidation Controlled Siderophile Element Accumulation on the K-Pg Boundary at El Kef, Tunisia

<p>In a transformative contribution, Alvarez et al. (1980) discovered the iridium anomaly at several K-Pg boundary locations that they attributed to an extraterrestrial impact that triggered the end-Cretaceous extinction. The absence of a suitable mechanism by which to concentrate siderophile elements in the boundary clay drove the argument for an extraterrestrial origin of the iridium. They made the observation that fallout from a fireball would be expected to create a uniform distribution of Ir in the clay layer and puzzled over the scale of lateral variation in Ir observed even then. A detailed global study of the siderophile element (Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt Au) distribution at the K-Pg boundary found non-chondritic patterns concluding that some post-depositional process(es) must have affected the elemental distribution (Goderis et al., 2015). Such processes would mobilize siderophile elements into the surrounding strata. Here, we applied laser ablation ICP-MS, a microanalytical technique, to investigate the distribution of 60 elements, with an emphasis on the siderophile elements, in a vertical transect at the K-Pg boundary at El Kef, Tunisia, to search for elemental transport in or out of the K-Pg clay layer. The K-Pg boundary at El Kef consists of irregular mixed layers of clay, goethite and gypsum with marls above and below. The siderophile elements are concentrated in the goethite-rich component with a distinctly terrestrial crust pattern, albeit super-enriched, with prominent negative Pt anomalies indicative of deposition from an oxidized solution. The Fe/Se ratio indicates an origin of the goethite by oxidation of sedimentary pyrite. Iron oxyhydroxides are effective substrates for the binding of trace metal oxyanions from solution. The extreme enrichment of siderophile elements reflects long-term concentration of siderophile elements from percolating oxidized groundwaters at El Kef. The sulfuric acid produced by pyrite oxidation was neutralized by calcium carbonate in the marls to form gypsum. Selenium (normally a sulfur analog) is undetectable in the El Kef gypsum endmember (Se/S~0), unlike marine gypsum, supporting a formation by pyrite oxidation. This observation potentially explains the ubiquitous non-chondritic siderophile patterns observed globally and the variable Ir enrichments that puzzled geochemists since Alvarez et al. (1980). In view of this observation, siderophile element enrichment in the K-Pg layer can no longer be taken as unambiguous evidence of an extraterrestrial impact.</p>

Influences of sea level on depositional environment during the last 1000 years in the southwestern Bengal delta, Bangladesh

This study illustrates the influences of sea-level on the depositional process during the last 1000 years of the southwestern delta, Bangladesh. Sediments of eight litho-sections from landward in upper delta plain to seaward in lower delta plain along the Rupsa-Pasur river were studied. Sedimentary facies, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, δ13C value, diatom assemblages, and radiocarbon dating of deposits were carried out to determine the paleoenvironments that were influenced by the relative sea-level (RSL) change over time. During the 850–1300 AD, RSL was reached up to +80 cm higher than the present level where tidal-influenced bioturbated light yellow to gray mud deposited in the upper delta plain area. RSL was dropped up to −110 cm during 1300–1850 AD, organic-rich bluish-gray mud, mangrove peat, and terrestrial influenced yellowish-gray mud were deposited successively in the lower delta plain area, and the terrace was formed at landward due to the lowering of the base level. RSL started to rise after the period 1850 AD where tidal-influenced sediments gradually increased and deposited in the upper part at seaward and terrestrial flood sediment deposited over the erosional surface at the landward part. The estimated average sedimentation rate (1.96–2.89 mm/year) is not enough to offset the effect of subsidence and present sea-level rise over the study area. The rising trend of the sea creates inundation in the lower delta plain area, also hinders upstream water flow. For that, terrestrial flood sediments settle over the erosional surface in landward, and tidal-influenced sediment gradually onlap upon it from seaward.

A Confidence-Based Assessment Method for Distinguishing Pyroclastic Density Current Deposits From Other Volcaniclastic Units

Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) are a destructive volcanic hazard. Quantifying the types, frequency and magnitudes of PDC events is essential for effective risk management, but since historical records at best extend a few hundred years this usually relies on identifying deposits in the geological record. However, small volume unconsolidated PDC deposits have low preservation potential and can be difficult to distinguish from other volcaniclastic units, especially in proximal locations. Consequently many small or poorly exposed deposits can be overlooked. Here, we introduce a structured field method for assessing volcaniclastic deposits of unknown origin with a particular focus on identifying deposits from concentrated PDCs (pyroclastic flows). The method differs from traditional identification schemes in that it does not uniquely attribute a deposit to a single depositional process, but instead assesses how confidently different volcaniclastic processes could explain the observed deposit features. Therefore, the underlying uncertainties in the assessment are explicitly addressed. The method allows consistent, rapid assessment of candidate pyroclastic flow deposits in the field, and the concept could easily be adapted for assessing other types of volcaniclastic deposit. The introduction of confidence levels in deposit interpretations should be useful for carrying though uncertainties into probabilistic assessments of volcanic hazards.