PROCESSES AND PATTERNS OF GRAINSTONE SHOALS, WESTERN BAHAMAS

Bahamian Holocene and Pleistocene deposits providekey evidence to understand processes and patterns ofcarbonate shoals. New datasets ofhigh-resolution satellite images, acoustic Dopplermeasurements, sub-bottom profiles, core and sedimentsamples elucidate factors in the deposition of ashoal and assess how facies and diagenesiscontrol petrophysics of similar ancient deposits.Holocene morphology are linked tohydrodynamics. Seismic data image Holocene shoalsand reveal how antecedent Pleistocene topographyaffected its morphology and evolution. Core analysisof a subsurface Pleistocene section compares faciesarchitecture with the Holocene and examinesfacies-petrophysical relationships in ooliticreservoirs and compares relationships with ancientlimestones. This book integrates both modern andancient carbonate systems to offer a betterunderstanding of the controls on shoal morphology,and petrophysics that are crucial to the oilindustry. It is hoped that this book can be used asa guide for interpreting heterogeneity and reservoirproperties of ancient carbonate shoals when exploringnew plays or pursuing efficient development of suchreservoirs.