The Eocene Ainsa Slope Complex, in the South-Central Pyrenean Foreland Basin, has been studied for several years and a consistent 2D database exists which covers from seismic to reservoir scale. This 2D database consists mostly of detailed outcrop characterizations, geological maps and geological cross-sections. Building from these 2D data, a new approach was followed aiming the 3D reconstruction of one of the turbidite systems which occurs in the Ainsa Slope Complex, namely the Ainsa turbidite system.
The Ainsa turbidite system is 320 m thick, 8 km wide and more than 9 km long. It is mostly made of channel fill deposits and contains other associated turbidite elements. The system developed synchronous to the growth of different types of thrust-related folds which occur in different areas of the basin.
The steps of the reconstruction process summarize as follows: I) georeferencing, II) 3D reconstruction and restoration of the folded structure of the area, and III) 3D deterministic reconstruction of the external geometry and internal architecture of the Ainsa turbidite system. The 3D reconstruction process utilized up to date commercial software packages which are specific for structural restoration and reservoir modelling as well as in-house produced software.
The results allow the 3D visualization of the anatomy of the system and reveal various aspects of the relationships between the styles of anticline growth, anticline-related topography and the sedimentary evolution of the Ainsa turbidite system.
AAPG/SEPM: From Outcrop to Simulation I: Using Outcrop Data to Build Reservoir Models