QUANTITATIVE PALEO-HYDRODYNAMIC MODELLING AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE LATE CRETACEOUS CLASTIC SYSTEMS OF THE ANAMBRA BASIN: A REVIEW

Thick successions of fluvial, deltaic, marginal-marine, and shallow-marine clastic deposits make up the Late Cretaceous Anambra Basin in southeast Nigeria. These deposits contain significant hydrocarbon, coal, and groundwater resources. It takes methods beyond descriptive sedimentology to comprehend the stratigraphic architecture, sediment dispersal, and depositional evolution of these successions. With a focus on their combined use for reconstructing ancient depositional systems, this paper examines the principles, techniques, and applications of quantitative paleo-hydrodynamic modeling and sequence stratigraphy.
By utilizing sedimentary structures, grain-size distributions, hydraulic geometry, and transport equations, paleo-hydrodynamic analysis offers quantitative constraints on paleoflow velocity, discharge, shear stress, sediment transport capacity, and bedform formation. Sequence stratigraphy places hydrodynamic interpretations within a temporal and basin-scale framework that is impacted by tectonics, accommodation, sediment supply, and eustatic sea-level fluctuations. It does this by grouping sediments into genetically related packages that are surrounded by important stratigraphic surfaces.
The combined method enhances the interpretation of facies correlations, stacking patterns, paleogeographic evolution, and reservoir heterogeneity in the Campanian–Maastrichtian successions. A review of previous research shows that there is a lack of quantitative flow reconstruction and uncertainty analysis and a greater reliance on qualitative, facies-based interpretations. The study emphasizes the necessity of probabilistic paleo-hydrodynamic frameworks, forward and inverse modeling, and integrated sediment budget estimation.
Sequence stratigraphy and quantitative paleo-hydrodynamics work together to offer a potent, predictive toolkit for improving reservoir characterization, lowering geological uncertainty, and reconstructing basin evolution. In addition to improving knowledge of the Anambra Basin, these techniques provide generalizable strategies for comparable clastic sedimentary systems across the globe.