Potential of FLUMY, a Meandering Fluvial Process-based Model, to Simulate Submarine Channels

Sinuous submarine channels are a very common feature of deep-water environments. The hydrocarbon reservoir potential of the associated deposits has been proved and many of them are exploited in several areas in the world. Several approaches exist to model submarine channels but all with limitations. The process-based and stochastic FLUMY model simulates meandering channelized reservoirs. It represents realistic geometries of an evolving meandering river migrating on a floodplain and the resulting sedimentary bodies such as point-bars, crevasse splays, overbank alluvium... The planform geometry and geomorphologic features (e.g. point bars, abandoned loop, levees, overbank, crevasse splays, or avulsion) of sinuous submarine channels and meandering rivers are analogous and it was confirmed by our data: the comparison of meandering river and sinuous submarine channel geometrical characteristics reveals that the wavelength and the amplitude for submarine channels are 2 to 3 times greater than the ones of sinuous rivers for a given bankfull width. Consequently, we propose to adapt the FLUMY model to the submarine environment. The submarine channel simulation carried out with FLUMY, taking into account the correction factor, shows that the simulated submarine channel planform morphology is consistent with natural systems, even if the number of meander cutoffs is very high.