The Characteristics of Tidal Sand Bars in

the Gulf of Khambhat Determined from

Satellite Images and Field Mapping,
Western India
And applications to understanding Oligo-Miocene estuarine reservoirs
from Western India

By

Sourav Saha
Department of Earth Sciences IIT Bombay
with
Anupam Ghosh, Stuart Burley, Santanu Banerjee, Subhadeep
Chowdhury and Pratul Saraswati

The Present is (possibly) the key to the Past

Organization of the presentation

Key points
Basic study methods
Study location
Tidal bar in estuaries

Tidal bar in outer gulf

Geometry

Vertical sequence

Field studies

Facies map

Structures

Current speculative interpretation

Plotting of the dimensional data and tidal bar model
Conclusion

Start with key points of the present to set the scene

Key Points 1

Relative sea level change and paleogeography

Recent relative
sea level
changes result
in dramatic
shoreline shifts
over very short
time periods
which change
the paleogeography of
western India
Published data from Hashmi et. al, 1995 and Juyal et. al., 2003

Key Points 2

Shoreline shifts on western Indian shelf

Point here is
that Holocene
RSL changes
can be used
to better
understand
the Neogene
where
offshore HC
reservoirs are
present
Pandey (1986) shows the same concept applied through Neogene

Key Points 3

The present day depositional system

73

Inner gulf
N
0

24
60 Km

Sa
bar
ma
Ca
ti R
mb
.
ay
M
ah
iR
.

24
Mahi
estuary

74

Ahmadabad

Narmada
estuary

Bhagava R.
r R.
B h a dh a

Kalubhar R.

Outer gulf

21

h
ad
Dh

R
ar

eta
b
m

A Narmada R.
Kantiyajal

a
Hazir Purna R.
Tapi R.

21

Gulf of
Daman
Khambhat
73
Large macro-tidal estuary with very low depositional slope

74

Study methods
Outer Gulf
Locate the tidal bars with
satellite images
Study older as well as new
bathymetric maps
Geometry of the bars by
side scan sonar
Simple logs of the shallow
core from the bars
Shallow seismic of the bars

Estuaries
Study satellite imagery
to select field locations
Field work at selected
locations
Documentation of the
structure and collection
of samples with
emphasis on tidal bars

Analysis of dimensional data and generation of

modern of tidal bar and use it as reservoir model
Importance of linking remote observations at outcrop/cores

Outer Gulf

Geometry and extent of giant Tidal Bars

First
described
by Off,
1963
Satellite
images
reveal size
and
orientation

50-100 km long, 2-8 km wide, 20 m high

What is the geometry of these deposits? Do they migrate with time?

Under Outer Gulf

Persistence of the Tidal Bars

Pre-monsoon
FCC of IRS P4

Post-monsoon
FCC of IRS P4

Whether they migrate daily, annually or in response to sea level?

Outer Gulf

Geometry and architecture of Tidal Bars

20 m

Extract of sub bottom profiler record

showing ridge height 20-30m
NW
13.0

SE
14.0

15.0

16.0

17.0

Scale
10 m

Unit A: Clay silt/sand

Unit B: Fine silty sand

Unit A: Clay silt/sand

Unit B: Fine silty sand

Interpreted profile from side scan sonar

survey reveals asymmetric shape

Bathymetry
revealed by
echo
sounder

Tidal bars are asymmetric but is steep slope depositional ?

Outer Gulf: application to subsurface

Core

Lithology

Depth (m)

Vertical sequences through Tidal Bars

W1
W 2
W 3

Sand

W 4
W 5
W 6
W 7

R
(

W 8

Mud

W 9
W 10
W 11

12

W 12

16

W 13

20

W 14

24

W 15

28

W 16

Sand

5m

Log of offshore Ridge

Example from Oligo-Miocene

Modern offshore tidal bars help interpret subsurface equivalent

10

Outer Gulf: application to subsurface

Migrating Foresets with

Mud Drape

20 m

Implication of depositional model to geometry

Tidal Sand
Tidal Mud
Migrating Foresets
Laminated Mud

Migrating bar model generates sand sheet geometry with internal

mud drapes that may compartmentalize the reservoir laterally

Continuous Mud Drape

Static bar model preserves the depositional ridge top topography,

results in a continuous mud top seal and mud filled channels
Tidal bar evolution influences geometries and internal structure

11

Outer Gulf: application to subsurface

Implication of depositional model to geometry

Migration of tidal ridges with lithified top surfaces gives

rise to sheet geometry revealed by shallow seismic

Prominent ridge and runnel topography with high

amplitudes covering the top is also preserved
Recent tidal bar evolution preserving both ridge and sheet geometry

12

Under Estuaries

Location of Narmada, Mahi Estuary

Mahi
estuary

Narmada
river

Narmada
estuary

http://geology.com/world/indiahttp://geology.com/world/india-satellitesatellite-image.shtml

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/:Gujarathttp://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/:Gujarat-sat.jpg

Representative estuary mouth applicable to other similar Khambhat estuaries

Largest estuary with second highest tidal range in the world

Estuaries

Mapping tidal sands in the Narmada Estuary

<10 km long, <5 km wide, 0.5-1.5 m high

Google earth image of the Narmada estuary and interpreted facies map of
the Narmada Estuary based on satellite image
Inner estuary sand bar geometry is controlled by the estuary margins

14

Estuaries

Typical tidal sand features, Narmada Estuary

Scale

0 100 m N

Recent mud
Older
laminated mud
Cross beded
sand
Ripple laminated
sand

Representative figures of the mapped area

Dominantly muddy estuary: where is all the sand ? Implications for reservoir ?

15

Estuaries

Tidal sand bar, Narmada, Mahi Estuary

Tidal variation depicted by variation of cross set and lithology

Small sand bar with mud segmenting the sand

16

Estuaries

Relevance of modern tidal sand to subsurface

Tidal sand flat

Tidal bars

Smaller tidal bars

at river mouth

Example from subsurface Oligo-Miocene

Inner estuary tidal bars and sand flats below seismic resolution

17

Estuaries: Interpretation and facies distribution

Interpreted cross section across estuary

illustrating the sediment distribution in a valley fill
2ka
S
10N
ka

bars bars
Sand flat
flatSandSand
Quaternary
Salt marsh
Older
Mud Mud
flat flat
cutcut Sand
Inactive
Quaternary
influence
at
with dune Fluvial
Fluvial
influence
at
estuarine
bedrock cliff by tidal
Mangrove
mud
flat
with
dune
bedrock cliff by tidal
28ka
and ripple base and tidal influence Laminated and (Older)
creeks
sand
base and tidal burrowed
influence
2 ka
at
top
and
ripple
marks
creeks
mud
sand
bar
at
top
30ka1028 kaka
marks
Trough and planar
30 ka
Estuarine/exposure/
cross bedding with
depositional surface
60 ka
High tide reactivation surface
Lithology

Silt
vfs
fs
ms
cs
vcs
Granule
Pebble
Cobble

Clay

Grain size, sedimentary

structure and paleontology

60ka
Water level

Cliff line beach

Cliff line pebble

beach
and boulder
in mud
matrix
boulder
69kapebble and
in mud matrix

120ka

Scale

Low tideEarlier (> 20 ka)

basal scour and
incision surface

98 ka

98ka

Salt marsh
Mangrove mud flat
Laminated and
burrowed mud

5m

69 ka

120 ka

SN

Basal scour and

incision surface
of 18-20 Ka

Scale
5m

Basal scour and

incision surface

Putting facies into a spatial framework helps understand river valley

evolution

Deposition of this valley fill sequence is measured in thousands of years

18

Estuaries: channel fill distribution in a time scale

Holocene Sea Level Trends

0 2

18

10

120

20

60

lli
Fa

el
ev
L
ea
gS

l
eve
Maximum Incision

Dated Valley Incision (Khadkikar et al., 2005)

Sea Level Curve (After Khadkikar et al., 2005)

Extrapolated Sea Level Curve

Inferred Valley Incision

Incision Event Defining Channeling within
Valley and Appearance of Terraces

140

20
0
40

Incision Defines
Valley Base
Repeated Incision/
Cutting/Erosion
Low Preservation
Potential of Fluvial
Sand

Sea Level Curve (After Hashimi et al., 1995)

Terrace Ages

100

80

Sea Level (m)

L
Sea

ing
ed
Ris
nc
lue
inf Mud
ally nd
Tid nd a
Sa

High Preservation
Potential

Break in time

Dabka

Present Sea Level

Incision due
to either
high
monsoon
or local
tectonics

Year BP

Year BP
26

120
160

Sea Level Curve (After Chappell and

Shackleton, 1986)

The Holocene sequence of the last 120 ka years records a

single valley incision and fill cycle which we will apply to a
typical Oligo-Miocene sequence
Speculative interpretation of valley cut and fill processes-a working model

The Gulf of Khambhat

Plot of tidal sand bar data

8000
7000
6000

Width vs. height plot

Tidal coastline

4000

Open seas

Heads of bays
25

3000
2000

River Delta

1000

20

Outer Gulf
River Mouth

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

Length (km)

60

70

80

90

Height (m)

Width (m)

5000

0
Outer Gulf
River Mouth

Length vs. width plot

-5
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

Width (m)

Distinct variation in the tidal bar sizes

5000

6000

7000

Under The Gulf of Khambhat gas Model - ongoing

Model of tidal bar using the modern day data

Geo-cellular model of the modern

day tidal bar

Geo-cellular model of the OligoMiocene HC reservoirs

Comparison of Present Day tidal sand distribution to the Oligo-Miocene

The Gulf of Khambhat - ongoing

Relevance of modern tidal sand

sedimentology to subsurface equivalents

Stacking patterns in outcrop : relevance to the Oligo-Miocene fields

Conclusions
Combination of satellite and sonar remote mapping techniques with ground truth
from outcrop and core data enables tidal sand deposits to be characterized

Outer Gulf Giant tidal bars - elongate and asymmetric in nature with curved
crest. 50 km length, 3-5 km width, up to 20m high and N-S oriented

Estuarine tidal bars- lozenge shaped with lower relief. 1-7 km length, width
300m to 1 km, 1-3 m high and E-W oriented

50 % probability of finding the tidal bar of length-1229 m, width- 470 m,

spacing 321 m and height 1.2 m

Surfaces overlap in this type of basin characterized by incision and flooding

The present day sediments are an excellent analogue for depositional processes
during the equivalent Oligo-Miocene incision and flooding cycles in hydrocarbon
reservoirs
Study of present day and Holocene processes enables interpretive model of
channel evolution to be developed that can be applied to better understand and
characterize subsurface reservoir geometry and extent in areas where seismic
imaging is sub-optimal
This research is supported by the Tapti Concession JV ONGC, RIL & BG

Thank You

Key references

Chappell, J., Shackleton, N.J., 1986. Oxygen isotopes and sea level.
Nature, 324, 137140.
Hashimi, N.H., Nigam, R., Nair, R.R., Rajagopalan, G., 1995. Holocene
sea level curve and related climatic fluctuations for western Indian
continental margin. An update. J. Geol. Soc. India, 46, 157162.
Khadkikar, A.S. and Rajshekhar, C., 2005. Holocene valley incision
during sea level transgression under a monsoonal climate:
Sedimentary Geology, 179, 295-303.
Off, T., 1963. Rhythmic linear sand units caused by tidal currents:
AAPG Bulletin, 47, 324341.
Pandey, J., 1986. Some recent palaeontological studies and their
implications on the Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Indian subcontinent.
Bulletin of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, 23, 1-24.
Wood, L. J., 2004. Predicting tidal sand reservoir architecture using
data from modern and ancient depositional systems, in Integration of
outcrop and modern analogs in reservoir modeling: AAPG Memoir, 80,
45 66.