This study establishes an architectural framework of sedimentary facies, event beds, and sedimentary bodies for channelized deep-water sandstone and siltstone deposits within the Lower Mount Messenger Formation (LMMF). Well exposed outcrops of the Late Miocene Mount Messenger Formation are present along the Taranaki coast of the North Island, New Zealand. These exposures provide an opportunity to study submarine channel complexes deposited within an inner basin-floor fan to base of slope setting. Sedimentary facies and architectural elements are described from the axis to the margin and overbank of channel complexes to show spatial and temporal variation of subaqueous flow properties operating at the time of deposition. Facies were placed into an architectural framework to show organized changes in the diversity and abundance of bodies across the LMMF. Thirty hydrodynamic facies were described from outcrop exposures. Each facies represents varying hydrodynamic processes and sediment sources present during deposition. Sediments in the LMMF are interpreted to represent deposition by high- and low-density turbidity currents, concentrated and hyperconcentrated density flows, en masse movements, and debris flows. Six channel complexes described from coastal and inland outcrops record the variation of sedimentary facies spatially and temporally throughout their evolution. Analysis of architectural elements and sedimentary facies across the LMMF indicates flows were weakly confined within the basal interval, and progressively became more confined up-dip. This is reflected by multilateral channels near the base, and multistory channels up-section. Minor flow transformations within subaqueous flows are inferred. The sediments within the LMMF reflect an overall temporal decrease in flow strength, flow frequency, and event bed thickness, and a temporal increase in flow variability up-section from the base. Channels were deposited within a 3.5 km wide channel belt with the uppermost channels confined to a 1.7 km wide master erosional channel south of the lowermost channels. Paleoflow was directed to the northwest with little variation between each successive channel complex.

This dissertation focuses on the architecture, depositional setting, fluid dynamics, and stratigraphic evolution of deep-water deposits in the Taranaki and Molasse Basins. This dissertation consists of three chapters: two of them are studies of the Mount Messenger Formation in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, and the third is the study of the Puchkirchen Formation in the Molasse Basin, Austria. Chapter 1 is a field-based outcrop study of the channel-lobe complex in New Zealand which documents the terminal destination of the siliciclastic deposits on the basin floor. Chapter 1 gives a more precise and polished picture to timing of filling and deposition of the channel and lobe complexes, and a larger picture of the paleogeography of the eastern Taranaki Basin. The subsurface study of Chapter 2 explores the interplay between submarine channel belt and overbank deposits in the Molasse Basin in Austria. This chapter describes the interaction between turbidity currents and debris flows within the channel as well as documents in more detail the slope of the foreland basin and gullies developed on it. Chapter 3 explores the hydrodynamics of formation of dune-size ripples under high-density turbidity currents.

Deepwater Sedimentary Systems: Science, Discovery and Applications helps readers identify, understand and interpret deepwater sedimentary systems at various scales – both onshore and offshore. This book describes the best practices in the integration of geology, geophysics, engineering, technology and economics used to inform smart business decisions in these diverse environments. It draws on technical results gained from deepwater exploration and production drilling campaigns and global field analog studies. With the multi-decadal resilience of deepwater exploration and production and the nature of its inherent uncertainty, this book serves as the essential reference for companies, consultancies, universities, governments and deepwater practitioners around the world seeking to understand deepwater systems and how to explore for and produce resources in these frontier environments. From an academic perspective, readers will use this book as the primer for understanding the processes, deposits and sedimentary environments in deep water – from deep oceans to deep lakes. This book provides conceptual approaches and state-of-the-art information on deepwater systems, as well as scenarios for the next 100 years of human-led exploration and development in deepwater, offshore environments. The students taught this material in today's classrooms will become the leaders of tomorrow in Earth's deepwater frontier. This book provides a broad foundation in deepwater sedimentary systems. What may take an individual dozens of academic and professional courses to achieve an understanding in these systems is provided here in one book. - Presents a holistic view of how subsurface and engineering processes work together in the energy industry, bringing together contributions from the various technical and engineering disciplines - Provides diverse perspectives from a global authorship to create an accurate picture of the process of deepwater exploration and production around the world - Helps readers understand how to interpret deepwater systems at various scales to inform smart business decisions, with a significant portion of the workflows derived from the upstream energy industry

A multidisciplinary approach to research studies of sedimentary rocks and their constituents and the evolution of sedimentary basins, both ancient and modern.