Filling Architecture and Evolution of Upper Miocene Deep-Water Channel in Congo Fan Basin

Deep-water channels are recognized as the very important hydrocarbon reservoir types in the oil industry. The research on the filling structure and evolution of deep water channel is very important for deep-water oil & gas exploration and development. In this paper, based on the well and 3D seismic data, the epoch, structure and evolution of Upper Miocene deep water channel in Congo Fan basin is analyzed. For the purposes of describing the internal architecture clearly, we divided the channels system into different grade channel complex and individual channel, which based on their sequence stratigraphic setting. Individual channel is mainly composed by 6 microfacies. From bottom to up, there are basal lags, slumps, eroded channels, stacked channels, levee, abandoned channels, which is the process of fluid energy gradually reducing; the 3th channel complex in the research area formed in a multi-stage process of erosion and filling. It can be divided into five evolution stages, including initial erosion stage, the initial filling stage, the stacking-filling stage, the later filling stage and the abandon stage. The different stages show the different filling architecture and distribution of 3th channel complex, which is controlled by the sea-level changes, the slope gradient and the rheological properties of gravity flow.