Sequence Stratigraphy Concepts and Applications: A Review

Abstract

In this paper, a brief historical review on sequence stratigraphy from the renaissance, 1681 A.D., to the present day concepts and practices was attempted. Sequence stratigraphy integrates time and relative sea-level changes to track the migration of sedimentary facies. The strength of this technique lies in its potential to predict facies within a chronostratigraphically constrained framework of unconformity-bound depositional sequences. Sequence Stratigraphy can be used to study sedimentary rock relationships within a time-stratigraphic framework of repetitive, genetically related strata bounded by surfaces of erosion or non-deposition, or their correlative conformities. The application of sequence stratigraphy provides the potential for chronostratigraphic correlation within and among growth-faulted sub-basins, thus improving prediction of stratigraphic and areal distribution of deeply buried lowstand reservoirs. Sequence stratigraphy provides a guide to potential combination traps and the opening of a window on exploration for deep, unexpanded sub-fault reservoirs and traps, thereby enabling explorationists to properly place a given sub-basin into a petroleum system framework in a cost-effective manner.

Keywords: sequence stratigraphy, systems tract, sequence boundary, biostratigraphy