G. Shanmugam’s Deep-Water Processes Blog: Introduction, Pioneers, Process Sedimentology, and Biography

Deep-Water Processes Blog

Introduction

Dr. G. Shanmugam is a person pf Indian origin. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1970 and became a naturalized U. S. citizen in 1990. He is married to Jean (1976–present). He is a pragmatic and an iconoclastic deep-water process sedimentologist. His primary contributions are aimed at documenting the volumetric importance of sandy mass-transport deposits and bottom-current reworked sands in deep-water petroleum reservoirs worldwide and at dispelling the popular myth that most deep-water sands are turbidites. His current research includes not only sandy mass-transport processes and bottom currents, but also oceanic internal waves, cyclonic waves, and tsunami waves.

            The primary purpose of this Blog is to share G. Shanmugam’s published works on deep-water processes. He has also summarized his current views on selected topics (Items # 13, 14, & 15) below.  In a companion Blog “G. Shanmugam's other geological publications” <http://gshanshanmugam.blogspot.com/>, he has shared his publications on various other topics, such as journal cover photographs, oil generation from coal, erosional unconformities, porosity in sandstones, braid deltas, tide-dominated estuaries, Appalachian tectonics, manganese in marine carbonates, etc. with free PDF downloads of selected articles. 

           

Online Resources

UTA Profile: http://www.uta.edu/profiles/Ganapathy-Shanmugam

Blog (Deep-water processes): http://g-shanmugam.blogspot.com/

ResearchGate: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/G_Shanmugam/publications

Editorial Board

Journal of Palaeogeography:  http://www.journalofpalaeogeography.org/EN/column/column340.shtml

Petroleum Exploration and Development:  http://www.journals.elsevier.com/petroleum-exploration-and-development/editorial-board/

Research

His studies are based on sound theoretical, experimental, and empirical (rock-based) analyses. The underpinning objective is to arrive at the truth with conceptual clarity on complex issues. Notable contributions on modern and ancient systems in a multitude of topics are:

1. Sandy mass-transport deposits in deep-water petroleum reservoirs: Elsevier books (2006 & 2012)

2. New perspectives on deep-water sandstones: Implications: Petroleum Exploration and Development (2013)

3. Is the turbidite facies association scheme valid for interpreting ancient submarine fan environments? Geology (1985)

4. Perception vs. Reality in deep-water exploration: World Oil (1996)

5. Deepwater exploration: Conceptual models and their uncertainties: NAPE (Nigerian Assn. of Petrol. Explorationists) Bulletin (1987)

6. High-density turbidity currents: Are they sandy debris flows? JSR (1996)

7. Ten turbidite myths: ESR (2002)

8. The Bouma Sequence and the turbidite mind set: ESR (1997)

9. 50 years of the turbidite paradigm (1950s–1990s): MPG (2000)

10. Experiments on sandy debris flows: MPG (2000) & GSA Bulletin (2001, co-author)

11. Slope failure using limit equilibrium  analysis in soil mechanics: AAPG Bulletin (2014)

12. Reinterpretation of depositional processes in a classic flysch sequence in the Pennsylvanian Jackfork Group, Ouachita Mountains: AAPG Bulletin (AAPG, 1995)

13. Bottom-current reworked sands in deep-water petroleum reservoirs: Elsevier books (2006 & 2012)

14. Deep-marine tidal bottom currents in modern and ancient submarine canyons: MPG (2003)

15. Deep-water Bottom Currents and Their Deposits: Elsevier “Contourites” (2008, Chapter 5)

16. Process sedimentology and reservoir quality of deep-marine bottom-current reworked sands (sandy contourites): AAPG Bulletin (1993)

17. Sandy debrites and tidalites of Pliocene reservoir sands, KG Basin, India: JSR (2009)

18. The tsunamite problem: JSR (2006)

19. The constructive functions of tropical cyclones and tsunamis: AAPG Bulletin ( 2008)

20. Process-sedimentological challenges in distinguishing paleo-tsunami deposits: NH (2012)

21. Modern internal waves and internal tides along oceanic pycnoclines: AAPG Bulletin (2013)

22. Basin-floor fans in the North Sea: Sequence-stratigraphic models vs. sedimentary facies: AAPG Bulletin (1995)

23. The obsolescence of deep-water sequence Stratigraphy: GSL Spl. Publ. (1996) & IJPG (2007)

24. Fan deltas and braid deltas:  Varieties of coarse‑grained deltas:  GSA Bulletin (1987, co-author)

25. Tide-dominated estuarine facies, Sacha Field, Oriente Basin, Ecuador: AAPG Bulletin (2000)

26. Analogous tectonic evolution of the Ordovician foredeeps, southern and central Appalachians:  Geology (1982)

27. Manganese distribution in shallow- and deep-marine carbonates: SG (1983)

28. Unconformity-related porosity enhancement in the Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska: AAPG Bulletin (1988)

29. Porosity development in sandstones beneath erosional unconformities: WTGS (1989)

30. Significance of coniferous rain forests and related Organic matter in generating commercial quantities of oil, Gippsland basin, Australia: AAPG Bulletin (1985)

            G. Shanmugam is grateful to his niece Geetha and her spouse Vaideeswaran, who are professional computer technologists in Atlanta, for their enthusiastic help during the initial stages of development of this blog in 2013, which is still a work in progress.

Author contact: shanshanmugam@aol.com

Sedimentologic and Oceanographic Pioneers of the 20^th Century

The following three pioneers made basic contributions that provided clarity to the understanding of deep-water process sedimentology.





John Essington Sanders (1926–1999)

Ph.D., Yale University, 1953

Affiliation: Yale University, Barnard College, Columbia University, and Hofstra University

(Differentiated turbidity currents from debris flows)



Francis Parker Shepard (1897–1985)

Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1922

Affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography

(Documented deep-marine mass-transport processes and tidal currents in submarine canyons)

Charles Davis Hollister (1936–1999)

Ph.D., Columbia University, 1967

Affiliation: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

(Documented deep-marine contour currents)

 

Process Sedimentology

Process sedimentology has always been the underpinning principle behind all his studies (see Shanmugam, 2006, Chapter 1). Basic requirements of this discipline include a combined knowledge of physics, soil mechanics and fluid mechanics (Sanders, 1963; Brush, 1965), application of uniformitarianism, objective description of the rock, documentation of excruciating details in sedimentological logs, interpretation of processes using sedimentary structures, absolute exclusion of facies models, and the routine use of the common sense.

            The late John Sanders’ pragmatic principles of process has been the foundation of G. Shanmugam’s research. Sanders (1963, p.178) state that “Primary sedimentary structures yield insights into fluid mechanics of moving currents in three ways: (1) they substantiate the fundamental differences between the mechanisms of suspension and traction that were pointed out by G. K. Gilbert in 1914; (2) they emphasize the significance of the recent theoretical analysis of the influence of cohesionless grains made by R. A. Bagnold, and (3) they illustrate what may be the results of mass shearing effects between the fluid and sediment along their common interface.” I have been an ardent advocate of Sanders’ approach in his lectures and printed publications.

References

Bagnold, R.A., 1956, The flow of cohesionless grains in fluids. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A. Math. Phys. Sci. 249, 235-297.

Brush Jr., L.M., 1965, Experimental work on primary sedimentary structures. In: Middleton, G.V. (Ed.), Primary Sedimentary Structures and their Hydrodynamic Interpretation, SEPM Special Publication 12, SEPM, Tulsa, OK, pp. 17-24.

 Gilbert, G. K., 1914, The transportation of d~bris by running water: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 86, 263 p.

Sanders, J.E., 1963, Concepts of fluid mechanics provided by primary sedimentary structures. J. Sedimentary Petrol. 33, 173-179.

 Sanders, J.E., 1965, Primary sedimentary structures formed by turbidity currents and related resedimentation mechanisms. In: Middleton, G.V. (Ed.), Primary Sedimentary Structures and their Hydrodynamic Interpretation, Special Publication 12. SEPM, Tulsa, OK, pp. 192-219.

 Shanmugam, G., 2006. Deep-Water Processes and Facies Models: Implications for Sandstone Petroleum Reservoirs. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 476.







Gravity-driven deep-water processes

The world’s oceans and continental margins remain a significant research frontier because of their importance to petroleum exploration and their link to catastrophic submarine mass movements (geohazards). Sediment failures near the shelf edge are the common cause of gravity-driven downslope processes, which comprise slides, slumps, debris flows, and turbidity currents. Mass-transport processes (i.e., slides, slumps, and debris flows) exhibit elastic and plastic behaviors due to high sediment concentration (25-100% by volume). Turbidity currents are not mass-transport processes and they exhibit viscous fluid behavior due to low sediment concentration (1-23% by volume) (Figure 1). In other words, turbidity currents are innately low in flow density. A simple analogy to high-volume sediment transport by mass-transport processes is the human transport by a double-decker bus with a capacity to carry 73 passengers at a time (Figure 2A). In contrast, low-volume sediment transport by turbidity currents is analogous to human transport by a microcar with a capacity to carry only two passengers at a time (Figure 2B). In this analogy, the concept of “high-density turbidity currents” (HDTC) is like a microcar attempting to carry 73 passengers, which is impossible!

Figure 1. A. Schematic diagram showing four common types of gravity-driven downslope processes (slides, slumps, debris flows, and turbidity currents) that transport sediment into deep-marine environments.  After Shanmugam et al. (1994). B. Sediment concentration (% by volume) in gravity-driven processes. Note that turbidity currents are low in sediment concentration (i.e., low-densitry flows). After Shanmugam (2000). C. Based on mechanical behavior of gravity-driven downslope processes, mass-transport processes are considered to include slide, slump, and debris flow, but not turbidity currents (Dott, 1963).  D. The prefix “sandy” is used for mass-transport deposits (SMTDs) that have grain (>0.06 mm: sand and gravel) concentration value equal to or above 20% by volume. The 20% value is adopted from the original field classification of sedimentary rocks by Krynine (1948). From Shanmugam (2012).

 



Figure 2. Comparison of human transport on land with gravity-driven sediment transport under water. (A) Difference between a double-decker bus with a capacity to carry at least 73 passengers and a microcar with a capacity for only two passengers. (B) Difference between mass-transport processes with high sediment concentration (25-100% by volume) and turbidity currents with low sediment concentration (1-23% by volume). Sediment mass transport = bus transport. Turbidity current transport = microcar transport. Both bus and mass transport are extremely efficient systems for high-volume transport (long arrow). SC = Sediment concentration. From Shanmugam (2012).

Mass-transport processes occur in both subaerial and submarine environments, whereas turbidity currents occur only in subaqueous environments. Long-runout distances of up to 2500 km on Mars and 810 km on Earth are known for mass-transport deposits (MTD). The synonymous usage of the term ‘landslide ‘for all three mass-transport processes is incorrect. Seismic profiles and bathymetric images of modern seafloor may be useful for recognizing MTD as a general category; however, distinguishing a specific type of depositional facies (e.g., sandy debrite) requires a detailed bed-by-bed description of cm-scale features in core and outcrop. Among the 21 triggering mechanisms of sediment failures (see Post # 14), short-term natural events that represent only a matter of a few minutes to several hours, or days (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts, tsunamis, tropical cyclones, monsoon floods, etc.) are more important triggering mechanisms of sediment failures than long-term sea-level lowstands that represent thousands of years. Empirical data for emplacement of coarse sandy and gravelly deposits by mass-transport processes in modern oceans are abundant, whereas observational data for sandy turbidity currents are totally absent. Sandy mass-transport deposits (SMTD) comprise major petroleum-producing sandstone reservoirs in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Gulf of Mexico, offshore Brazil, West Africa, Russia, China, and the Bay of Bengal (India).

Types of Bottom-currents  

Bottom-current reworked sands (BCRS) constitute important petroleum reservoirs (Shanmugam, 2012). In addition to gravity-driven downslope mass-transport processes and turbidity currents, bottom currents are equally important in transporting and depositing sediment in the deep sea. Bottom currents may flow parallel to the strike of the regional slope, may flow in circular motions (gyres) unrelated to the slope, or may flow up and down submarine canyons (tidal), whereas turbidity currents commonly flow downslope (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Schematic diagram showing complex deep-marine sedimentary environments occurring int water depths deeper than 200m (shelf-slope break). In general, sediment transport in shallow-marine (shelf) environments is characterized by tides and waves, whereas sediment transport in deep-marine (slope and basin) environments is characterized by gravity-driven downslope processes, such as mass transport (i.e., slides, slumps, and debris flows), and turbidity currents. Bottom currents are composed of thermohaline contour-following currents, wind-driven currents (circular motion), up and down tidal bottom currents in submarine canyons (opposing arrows), and baroclinic currents related to internal waves/tides (Figure 4). After Shanmugam (2003).

 There are four basic types of deep-water bottom currents. They are (1) thermohaline-induced geostrophic bottom currents or contour currents (Figure 3), (2) wind-driven surface and related bottom currents, (3) deep-water tidal bottom currents, and (4) baroclinic currents associated with internal waves and tides (Figure 3). Internal waves are gravity waves that oscillate along the interface between two water layers of different densities known as pycnocline (Figure 4). A distinctive attribute of reworked sands by thermohaline-induced and wind-driven bottom currents is their traction structures. Deposits of deep-marine tidal bottom currents are characterized by sand-mud rhythmites, double mud layers, climbing ripples, mud-draped ripples, alternation of parallel and cross-laminae, sigmoidal cross-bedding with mud drapes, internal erosional surfaces, lenticular bedding, and flaser bedding. These features represent alternating events of traction and suspension deposition (Shanmugam, 2008).

Figure 4. A conceptual oceanographic and sedimentologic framework showing deposition from baroclinic currents on continental slopes, in submarine canyons, and and on guyots. On continental slopes and in submarine canyons, deposition occurs in three progressive stages:  (1) incoming internal wave and tide stage, (2) shoaling transformation stage, and (3) sediment transport and deposition stage. Continental slopes and submarine canyons are considered to be environments with high potential for deposition from baroclinic currents. In the open ocean, baroclinic currents can rework sediments on flat tops of towering guyot terraces, without the need for three stages required for deposition on continental slopes. In this model, basin plains are considered unsuitable environments for deposition of baroclinic sands. Not to scale.  From Shanmugam (2013).

References

Dott Jr., R.H., 1963, Dynamics of subaqueous gravity depositional processes: AAPG Bulletin, v. 47, p. 104-128.

Krynine, P.D., 1948, The megascopic study and field classification of sedimentary rocks: The Journal of Geology, v. 56, p. 130-165.

Shanmugam, G., 2000, 50 years of the turbidite paradigm (1950s–1990s): Deep-water processes and facies models—A critical perspective: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 17, p. 285–342.

 Shanmugam, G., 2003, Deep-marine tidal bottom currents and their reworked sands in modern and ancient submarine canyons: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 20, p. 471–491.

Shanmugam, G. 2008, Deep-Water Bottom Currents and Their Deposits, in Rebesco, M., and Camerlenghi, A., eds., Contourites: Amsterdam, Elsevier, Developments in Sedimentology, v. 60, p. 59-81.

Shanmugam, G., 2012, New perspectives on deep-water sandstones: Origin, recognition, initiation, and reservoir quality: Amsterdam, Elsevier, Handbook of petroleum exploration and production, v. 9, 524 p.

Shanmugam, G., 2013, Modern internal waves and internal tides along oceanic pycnoclines: Challenges and implications for ancient deep-marine baroclinic sands: AAPG Bulletin, v. 97(5), p. 767-811.

Shanmugam, G., L. R. Lehtonen, T. Straume, S. E. Syversten,  R. J. Hodgkinson, and M. Skibeli, 1994, Slump and debris flow dominated upper slope facies in the Cretaceous of the Norwegian and Northern North Seas (61º–67º N): implications for sand distribution: AAPG Bulletin, v. 78, p. 910–937.

Biography

Personal Background

G. (Shan) Shanmugam is a polemic and a pragmatic process sedimentologist. He is a person of Indian origin and a naturalized U.S. citizen. He is married to Jean (1976–present).

Email: shanshanmugam@aol.com

Professional Preparation

Degree	Major	Institution	Year
Ph.D.	Geology	University of Tennessee, Knoxville, U.S.	1978
M.S.	Geology	Ohio University, Athens, U.S.	1972
M.Sc.	Applied Geology	Departrment of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Bombay, India	1968
B.Sc.	Geology and Chemistry	Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, South India	1965

Research and Expertise 

• Deep-water process sedimentology
• Mass-transport processes and bottom currents 
• Oceanic waves (Internal, cyclonic, and tsunami) 
• Sandstone petroleum reservoirs
• Tectonics and sedimentation.
• Flume experiments
• Sandstone diagenesis 
• Source rock (organic  geochemistry)
  
  

Doctoral Research

Shanmugam, G., 1978, The stratigraphy, sedimentology and tectonics of the Middle Ordovician Sevier Shale basin in east Tennessee: Knoxville, TN, University of Tennessee: Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation in Geology, 222 p. Adviser: Professor Kenneth R. Walker. Field and laboratory study of shelf, slope, and basinal deposits with an emphasis on deep-water sedimentation.

Masters Research

 Shanmugam, G., 1972, Petrographic Study of  Simpson Group (Ordovician) Sandstones, Southern Oklahoma: Athens, Ohio, Ohio University: Unpublished M.S. Thesis in Geology, 85 p. Adviser: Professor Stanley P. Fisher. Petrographic-diagenetic study of sandstones using subsurface samples provided by Texaco Inc.

Shanmugam, G., 1968, Geology of Tankhala Area, Gujarat State: Bombay, India, Civil Engineering department, Indian Institute of Technology: Unpublished  M.Sc. Dissertation in Applied Geology, 84 p. Adviser: Professor A. Parthasarathy. Field, laboratory, and statistical analysis of fluvial and shallow-marine strata of Cretaceous age.

 Employment with Mobil Oil Company, Dallas, Texas

 1978‑1982           Research Geologist

1982‑1984           Senior Research Geologist

1984‑1985           Associate

1985-1989           Research Associate

1989-1993           Senior Research Associate

1993-1996           Assoc. Geological Research Advisor

1996-2000           Geological Scientist (retired)

Duties in Mobil 

Research on wide range of topics (sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, tectonics, diagenesis, paleobotany and organic geochemistry) on petroleum exploration and production. Job duties also included teaching, core and outcrop description worldwide.

 Acknowledgement: G. Shanmugam  is grateful to  Mobil for its unprecedented generosity and enthusiasm  in the history of the petroleum industry for granting permission to publish data and controversial concepts. In 2000, Mobil merged with Exxon and became ExxonMobil. 

 Courses taught at the University of Texas at Arlington

• Spring 2003: Geology 3442 (Sedimentology and Stratigraphy)
• Fall 2003: Geology 5344 and 4305 (Clastic Depositional Environments)
• Spring 2004: Geology 3442 (Sedimentology and Stratigraphy)

 

Publications/Creative Works

His 330 publications during 1970-2013), which include two Elsevier’s Handbook of Petroleum Exploration and Production volumes on deep-water sandstones (2006 and 2012), cover a wide range of topics (e.g., deep-water process sedimentology,  sequence stratigraphy, phenomena of tsunamis, cyclones, erosional unconformities, porosity in sandstones, Appalachian tectonics, Mn distribution in marine strata, etc.).

Publications on Deep-Water Processes

Books 

 Shanmugam, G., 2006, Deep-water processes and facies models: Implications for sandstone petroleum reservoirs: Amsterdam, Elsevier, Handbook of petroleum exploration and production, v. 5, 476 p.

           

Shanmugam, G., 2012, New perspectives on deep-water sandstones: Origin, recognition, initiation, and reservoir quality: Amsterdam, Elsevier, Handbook of petroleum exploration and production, v. 9, 524 p.

 Selected Journal Publications

 Shanmugam, G., 1996a, High-density turbidity currents: Are they sandy debris flows? Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 66, p. 2–10.

Shanmugam, G., 1996b, Perception vs. Reality in deep-water exploration: World Oil, v. 217, p. 37-41.

Shanmugam, G., 1997a. The Bouma Sequence and the turbidite mind set. Earth-Science Reviews, v. 42, p. 201–229.

Shanmugam, G., 1997b, Deep-water exploration: Conceptual models and their uncertainties: NAPE (NigerianAssociation of PetroleumExplorationists) Bulletin, v. 12/01, p. 11–28.

Shanmugam, G., 2000, 50 years of the turbidite paradigm (1950s–1990s): Deep-water processes and facies models—A critical perspective: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 17, p. 285–342.

Shanmugam, G., 2002. Ten turbidite myths: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 58, p. 311–341.

Shanmugam, G., 2003, Deep-marine tidal bottom currents and their reworked sands in modern and ancient submarine canyons: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 20, p. 471–491.

Shanmugam, G., 2006, The tsunamite problem: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 76, p. 718–730.

 

Shanmugam, G., 2007, The obsolescence of deep-water sequence stratigraphy in petroleum geology: Indian Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 16 (1), p. 1-45.

Shanmugam, G. 2008a, Deep-Water Bottom Currents and Their Deposits, in Rebesco, M., and Camerlenghi, A., eds., Contourites: Amsterdam, Elsevier, Developments in Sedimentology, v. 60, p. 59-81.

Shanmugam, G., 2008b, Leaves in turbidite sand: The main source of oil and gas in the deep-water Kutei Basin, Indonesia: Discussion: AAPG Bulletin, v. 92, p. 127–137.

Shanmugam, G., 2008c, The constructive functions of tropical cyclones and tsunamis on deep-water sand deposition during sea level highstand: Implications for petroleum exploration: AAPG Bulletin, v. 92, p. 443–471.

Shanmugam, G., 2009, Slides, slumps, debris flows, and turbidity currents, in  J.H., Steele, S.A. Thorpe, and  K.K. Turekian, eds., Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, 2^nd  ed: Waltham, Massachusetts, Academic Press (Elsevier), p. 447-467.  

Shanmugam, G., 2012, Process-sedimentological challenges in distinguishing paleo-tsunami deposits, in A. Kumar and I. Nister, eds., Paleo-tsunamis: Natural Hazards, v. 63, p. 5–30.

Shanmugam, G., 2013a, Comment on “Internal waves, an underexplored source of turbulence events in the sedimentary record” by L. Pomar, M. Morsilli, P. Hallock, and B. Bádenas [Earth-Science Reviews, 111 (2012), 56–81]: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 116, p. 195–205.

Shanmugam, G., 2013b, Modern internal waves and internal tides along oceanic pycnoclines: Challenges and implications for ancient deep-marine baroclinic sands: AAPG Bulletin, v. 97(5), p. 767-811.

Shanmugam, G. 2013c, Slides, Slumps, Debris Flows, and Turbidity Currents. In: Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Reference Module. Elsevier (online), to be published in August or September 2013.

Shanmugam, G. 2013d. 深水砂体成因研究新进展 (New perspectives on deep-water sandstones: Implications): Petroleum Exploration and Development, v. 40 (3), p. 294-301. DOI: 10.11698/PED.2013.03.05 (in Chinese).

Shanmugam, G., and G. L. Benedict, 1978, Fine-grained carbonate debris flow, Ordovician basin margin, Southern Appalachians:  Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 48, p. 1233-1240.

 

Shanmugam, G., and R. J. Moiola, 1982, Eustatic control of turbidites and winnowed turbidites: Geology, v. 10, p. 231–235. Shanmugam, G., and R. J.  Moiola, 1988, Submarine fans: Characteristics, models, classification, and reservoir potential: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 24, p. 383– 428.

Shanmugam, G., and R. J. Moiola, 1995, Reinterpretation of depositional processes in a classic flysch sequence in the Pennsylvanian Jackfork Group, Ouachita Mountains:  AAPG Bulletin, v. 79, p. 672-695.

Shanmugam, G., J.E. Damuth, R.J. Moiola, 1985, Is the turbidite facies association scheme valid for interpreting ancient submarine fan environments? Geology, v. 13, p. 234-237.

Shanmugam, G., T. D. Spalding, and D. H. Rofheart, 1993, Process sedimentology and reservoir quality of deep-marine bottom-current reworked sands (sandy contourites): an example from the Gulf of Mexico: AAPG Bulletin, v. 77, p. 1241–1259.

Shanmugam, G., L. R. Lehtonen, T. Straume, S. E. Syversten,  R. J. Hodgkinson, and M. Skibeli, 1994, Slump and debris flow dominated upper slope facies in the Cretaceous of the Norwegian and Northern North Seas (61º–67º N): implications for sand distribution: AAPG Bulletin, v. 78, p. 910–937.

 Shanmugam, G., R. B. Bloch, S. M. Mitchell, G. W. J. Beamish, R. J. Hodgkinson, J. E. Damuth, T. Straume, S.E. Syvertsen, and K. E. Shields, 1995, Basin-floor fans in the North Sea: Sequence-stratigraphic models vs. sedimentary facies: AAPG Bulletin, v. 79, p. 477–512.

Shanmugam, G., S. K. Shrivastava, and B. Das, 2009, Sandy debrites and tidalites of Pliocene reservoir sands in upper-slope canyon environments, offshore Krishna-Godavari Basin (India): Implications: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 79, p. 736–756.

First flume experiments on sandy debris flows (1996-1998)

For the first time, to understand mechanics of sandy debris flows and their deposits, a Mobil-funded experimental flume study was carried out at St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), University of Minnesota (1996-1998) under the direction of Professor G. Parker. Results were published in two major articles.

Shanmugam, G., 2000, 50 years of the turbidite paradigm (1950s–1990s): Deep-water processes and facies models—A critical perspective: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 17, p. 285–342.

Marr, J.G., Harff, P.A., Shanmugam, G., Parker, G., 2001, Experiments on subaqueous sandy gravity flows: the role of clay and water content in flow dynamics and depositional structures. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 113, p. 1377-1386.

 

1997 (April) AAPG Convention Debate Panelist, Dallas, Texas

Topic: Processes of Deep-Water Clastic Sedimentation and Their Reservoir Implications: What Can We Predict?

Moderator: H. E. Clifton.

Panelists: A.H. Bouma, J.E. Damuth, D.R. Lowe, G. Parker, and G. Shanmugam

1998 Field Verification of the Bouma Seuence at the Type Locality, Annot Sandstone (Eocene-Oligocene), Peira-Cava area, French Maritime Alps, SE France

To verify the observational validity of the vertical turbidite facies model, known as the Bouma Sequence (Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, and Te divisions), a field study of the Annot Sandstone (Eocene-Oligocene), exposed near Peira-Cava area-the type locality, French Maritime Alps, SE France was carried out in 1998 by Mobil geologists G. Shanmugam, R. J. Moiola, and R. B. Bloch. Results were published in two major articles and in a book.

Shanmugam, G., 2002. Ten turbidite myths: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 58, p. 311–341.

Shanmugam, G., 2003, Deep-marine tidal bottom currents and their reworked sands in modern and ancient submarine canyons: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 20, p. 471–491.

Shanmugam, G., 2006, Deep-water processes and facies models: Implications for sandstone petroleum reservoirs: Amsterdam, Elsevier, Handbook of petroleum exploration and production, v. 5, 476 p.

Awards and Achievements

• 1968: IIT Medal for the top-ranking student in Applied Geology, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India.
• 1995: Best paper award from NAPE (Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists) for his paper “Deepwater Exploration: Conceptual Models and their Uncertainties”
• 2000: Listed in the Millennium Edition (2000-2001) of Marquis Who’s who in Science and Engineering among 470 geologists chosen from 40 countries. 
• His paper ‘High-density turbidity currents: are they sandy debris flows?’ published in the Journal of Sedimentary Research in 1996, has achieved the status of the single most cited paper in sedimentological research published in three world-renowned periodicals - Journal of Sedimentary Research, Sedimentology, and Sedimentary Geology - during the survey period of 1996-2003 (Source: International Association of Sedimentologists Newsletter, August 2003).
•  The above article was also ranked 46^th among the top 50 most-cited JSR articles of all time.  http://m.jsedres.sepmonline.org/reports/most-cited (accessed October 31, 2014)
• He was interviewed by SUN TV, Chennai, India (Televised on December 30th 2003) on his controversial research papers on turbidite sedimentation and their implications for petroleum reservoirs.
• He is an Emeritus Member of SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), member since 1970.

Rock description worldwide used in deep-water research

 

His rock description includes 35 case studies of deep-water systems that comprise many petroleum-producing massive sands worldwide. Description of core and outcrop was carried out at a scale of 1:20 to 1:50, totaling more than 10,000 m, during 1974-2011. These modern and ancient deep-water systems include both marine and lacustrine settings. They are:

1. Mississippi Fan, Quaternary, DSDP Leg 96 core, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

2. Green Canyon, late Pliocene, conventional core, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

3. Garden Banks, middle Pleistocene, conventional core, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

4. Ewing Bank 826, Pliocene-Pleistocene, conventional core, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

5. South Marsh Island, late Pliocene, conventional core, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

6. South Timbalier, middle Pleistocene, conventional core, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

 7. High Island, late Pliocene, conventional core, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

 8. East Breaks, late Pliocene-Holocene, conventional and piston cores, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.

 9. Midway Sunset Field, upper Miocene, conventional core, onshore California, U.S.

 10. Jackfork Group, Pennsylvanian, outcrop, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, U.S.

 11. Sevier Basin, middle Ordovician, outcrop, Southern Appalachians, Tennessee, U.S.

 12. Lagoa Parda Field, lower Eocene, conventional core, Espirito Santo Basin, onshore Brazil.

 13. Fazenda Alegre Field, upper Cretaceous, conventional core, Espirito Santo Basin, onshore Brazil.

 14. Cangoa Field, upper Eocene, conventional core, Espirito Santo Basin, offshore Brazil.

  15. Peroa´ Field, lower Eocene to upper Oligocene, conventional core, Espirito Santo Basin, offshore Brazil.

 16. Marlim Field, Oligocene, conventional core, Campos Basin, offshore Brazil.

 17. Marimba Field, upper Cretaceous, conventional core, Campos Basin, offshore Brazil.

 18. Roncador Field, upper Cretaceous, conventional core, Campos Basin, offshore Brazil.

 19. Frigg Field, lower Eocene, conventional core, Norwegian North Sea.

 20. Harding Field (formerly Forth Field), lower Eocene, conventional core, U.K. North Sea.

 21. Alba Field, Eocene, conventional core, U.K. North Sea.

 22. Fyne Field, Eocene, conventional core, U.K. North Sea.

 23. Gannet Field, Paleocene, conventional core, U.K. North Sea.

 24. Andrew Field, Paleocene, conventional core, U.K. North Sea.

 25. Gryphon Field, upper Paleocene_lower Eocene, conventional core, U.K. North Sea.

 26. Faeroe area, Paleocene, conventional core, west of the Shetland Islands, U.K. Atlantic Margin.

 27. Foinaven Field, Paleocene, conventional core, west of the Shetland Islands, U.K. Atlantic Margin.

 28. Mid-Norway region, Cretaceous, conventional core, Norwegian Sea.

 29. Agat region, Cretaceous, conventional core, Norwegian North Sea.

 30. Annot Sandstone, Eocene-Oligocene, outcrop, Maritime Alps, Southeast France.

 31. Edop Field, Pliocene, conventional core, offshore Nigeria.

 32. Zafiro Field, Pliocene, conventional core, offshore Equatorial Guinea.

 33. Opalo Field, Pliocene, conventional core, offshore Equatorial Guinea.

 34. Melania Formation, lower Cretaceous, conventional core, offshore Gabon.

 35. Krishna-Godavari Basin, Pliocene, conventional core, Bay of Bengal, India.

  

Personal knowledge gained from this robust rock-based data set has allowed Shanmugam to be consistent in his process interpretations. See Figure 5 below for locations.

   

All Outcrop/Field Studies

 

 Deep-water deposits (Ph.D. work): Southern Appalachians (Tennessee, USA)

 Deep-water deposits: Ouachita Mountains (Arkansas and Oklahoma, USA)

 Deep-water deposits: Peira Cava area (SE France)

Shallow-marine deposits: Qassim area (Saudi Arabia)

Tide-Dominated Estuarine deposits: Oriente Basin (Ecuador)

Fluvial and Sahallow-marine deposits: Gujarat State (India)

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami-related deposits: Tamilnadu (India)

Coal deposits: Victoria (Australia)

 Coniferous rain forests: North Island (New Zealand)

Limestone karst: Guilin (China)

 

Organizer of Deep-Water Sandstone Workshops

 1995 (October), UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Edinburgh, Scotland

1996 (November), Mobil, Dallas, Texas

1997 (July), UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.

1998 (June), Petrobras, Mobil, and Unocal, Sao Mateus, Brazil, South America

1998 (August), Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC), Dehra Dun, India

 1998 (November), Petrobras, Mobil, and Unocal, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America

1999 (June), Mobil, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

1999 (August), Petrobras, Mobil, and Unocal, Sao Mateus, Brazil, South America

2002, Hardy Exploration and Production (India) Inc. Chennai, India

2002, 2004, and 2009, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Chennai and Karaikal, India

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, & 2010, Reliance Industries Ltd. Kakinada and Gadimoga,  India

 2009 and 2010, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED) of PetroChina,

2014: China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, China
2014: Yanchang Oil Field Research and Development Research Institute, Yan'an, China:

:

 

Invited Speaker

 

Lamont‑Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University (1980) – USA

Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island (1980) ‑ USA

Saskatchewan Geological Society, Regina (1981) ‑ Canada

University of Texas at Arlington (1982, 1983, 1984, 1987) ‑ USA

University of Texas at Dallas (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987) – USA

Southern Methodist University, Dallas (1984, 1985) ‑ USA

University of Victoria at Wellington (1983) ‑ New Zealand

University of Parma (1984) ‑ Italy

NATO Advanced Study Institute ‑ Conference on "Reading Provenance from Arenites" Calabria (1984) – Italy

Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, Annual Conference, Lagos (1984) ‑ Nigeria

University of Bergen, Bergen (1985) ‑ Norway

Norwegian Petroleum Society, Stavanger (1985) – Norway

Dallas Geological Society, Dallas (1985, 1986, 1990) ‑ USA

Abilene Christian University, Abilene (1985) ‑ USA

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1985, 1987) ‑ USA

West Texas Geological Society, Midland (1986) ‑ USA

Fort Worth Geological Society, Fort Worth (1987, 1990) ‑ USA

Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Dallas (1987) – USA

AAPG Research Conference on "Prediction of Reservoir Quality through Chemical Modeling," Park City, Utah (1987) ‑ USA

Abilene Geological Society, Abilene (1988) ‑ USA

COMFAN II, Parma (1988) ‑ Italy
 

AAPG Research Symposium on "Application of Chemical Modeling to the Prediction of Reservoir Quality", San Antonio, Texas (1989) – USA

West Texas Geological Society Symposium "Search for the subtle trap hydrocarbon exploration in mature basins", Midland, Texas (1989)-USA

Dhahran Geological Society, Dhaharan (1990) ‑ Saudi Arabia

Geological Society of London Symposium: Diagenesis at Unconformities- Implications for Reservoir Quality (1991), London-UK

Dallas Geological Information Library, Dallas (1991) - USA

Arthur Holmes Conference on Deep-water massive sands, Cefalu, Sicily (1992) - Italy

Norwegian Petroleum Society, Stavanger (1993) – Norway

Lafayette Geological Society, Lafayette (1994) – Louisiana

Geological Society of London Symposium: Progress in Sequence Stratigraphy: London (1994) - U.K.

AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Nice (1995), France.

Azerbaijan Association of Petroleum Geologists 2nd Intl Conference, Baku (1995),  Azerbaijan.

Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists 13th Annual Conference, Lagos (1995), Nigeria

Geological Society of London Conference "Reservoir Modelling of turbidite systems", London (1996) - U.K.

AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Caracas (1996), Venezuela.

Tulsa Geological Society, Tulsa (1996) - Oklahoma

Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Denver (1996), Colorado

Houston Geological Society, Houston (1997), Texas

Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin (1997), Texas 

AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Vienna (1997), Austria.

Geoscience 98, Keele (1998), England

Petrotech -99, New Delhi (1999), India

AAPG, San Antonio (1999), Texas

Dallas Geological Society International Group (2002), Texas

Annamalai University, Annamali Nagar (2002), India

I.I.T., Institute Colloquium, Bombay (2002), India

Association of Petroleum Geologists, Mussoorie (2002), India

EMGI Distinguished Lecturers Symposium, Dallas (2003), Texas

Association of Petroleum Geologists, Kajuraho (2004), India

Association of Petroleum Geologists, Goa (2006), India

6^th China National Petroleum Sequence Stratigraphy Conference: Hangzhou (2010), China

8^th International Conference & Exposition on Petroleum Geophysics, “Hyderabad-2010”,  SPG-India

AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, New Orleans (2010), Louisiana

CAPG (Chinese Association of Petroleum Geologists): Beijing (2011), China

Texas A&M University, College Station (2012), Texas   

Journal and Special  Volume Editors of G. Shanmugam’s Publications

G. Shanmugam would like to acknowledge a select group of editors who published his contributions on  deep-water processes and on other topics during the past 45 years (1970-2014):

1. J. Southard (Journal of Sedimentary Research)

2. P. McCarthy (Journal of Sedimentary Research)

3. C. North (Journal of Sedimentary Research)

4. O. Pilkey (Journal of Sedimentary Petrology)

5. A.D. Miall (Sedimentary Geology and Earth-Science Reviews)

6. G.D. Klein (Earth-Science Reviews)

7. G.M. Friedman (Earth-Science Reviews)

8. R. Steinmetz (AAPG Bulletin)

9. J.A. Helwig (AAPG Bulletin)

10. S.A. Longacre (AAPG Bulletin)

11. K.T. Biddle (AAPG Bulletin)

12. N.F. Hurley (AAPG Bulletin)

13. E.A. Mancini (AAPG Bulletin)

14. G.M. Gillis (AAPG Bulletin)

15. S.E. Laubach (AAPG Bulletin)

16. M.L. Sweet (AAPG Bulletin)

17. D.G. Roberts (Marine and Petroleum Geology)

18. E.M. Moores (Geology)

19. H.T. Mullins (Geology)

20. R.E. Arvidson and M.E. Bickford (Geology)

21. R.D. Hatcher, Jr. and W.A. Thomas (GSA Bulletin)

22. P. Carling (Sedimentology)

23. A.J. Michael (Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America)

24. A. Kumar and I. Nister (Paleotsunamis: Natural Hazards)

25. B.W. Flemming and M.T. Delafontaine (Geo-Marine Letters)

26. A.J. Van Loon (Geologos)

27. J. Rodgers, J.H. Ostrom, and P.M. Orville (American Journal of Science)

28. K.R. Walker and D. Roeder (Appalachian Geodynamic Research:             American Journal of    Science)

29. A.H. Bouma, W.R. Normark, and N.E. Barnes (Submarine Fans and

            Related Turbidite Systems: Springer-Verlag)

30. G.G. Zuffa (Provenance of Arenites: D. Reidel Publishing Company)

31. I.D. Meshri and P.J. Ortoleva (Prediction of reservoir quality through chemical modeling:     AAPG Memoir 49)

32. G.C. Brown, D.S. Gorsline, and W.J. Schweller (Deep-Marine

            Sedimentation: Depositional Models and Case Histories in Hydrocarbon

            Exploration and Development: SEPM Short Course No. 66)

33. K.L. Kleinspehn and C. Paola (New Perspectives in Basin Analysis: Springer-Verlag)

34. S.P. Hesselbo and D.N. Parkinson (Sequence Stratigraphy in British Geology: Geological   Society of London Special Publication No. 103)

35. R.D. Winn, and J.M. Armentrout (Turbidites and Associated Deep-

            Water Facies: SEPM Core workshop No. 20)

36. D.A.V. Stow and M. Mayall (Deep-water Sedimentary Systems: Marine and Petroleum             Geology)

37. E. M. Moores and F. Michael Wahl (The Art of Geology:  GSA Special Paper 225)

38. J.H Steele, K.K. Turekian, and S.A Thorpe (Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, 2nd edition:             Academic Press-Elsevier)

39. M. Rebesco and A. Camerlenghi (Contourites: Developments in Sedimentology, v. 60,             Elsevier)

40. S. Lichen (Petroleum Exploration and Development, Elsevier)

41. J. Cubitt (Handbook of Petroleum Exploration and Production series, Elsevier)

42.  Zeng-Zhao Feng (Journal of Palaeogeography)

Of over 300 reviewers who reviewed his papers,Shanmugam would like to single out (1) the late Charles Hollister for his review of paper by Shanmugam, Spalding, Rofheart  on bottom-current reworked sands (1993, AAPG Bulletin), and (2) the late John Sanders for review of paper by Shanmugam  on the Bouma Sequence and the turbidite mind set (1997, Earth-Science Reviews).