Preservation potential of the Last Interglacial lower Rhine delta relative to the Holocene Rhine-Meuse delta

Abstract

In order to improve our insights in the sequence stratigraphic and architectural development of lower deltaic hydrocarbon reservoirs we study the Last Interglacial Rhine delta (MIS-5), and compare it to its well investigated counterpart, the Holocene (MIS-1) Rhine- Meuse delta (Berendsen & Stouthamer, 2000). The Last Interglacial record has experienced a full glacialinterglacial cycle of sea-level and climate change in a subsiding tectonic setting, and arguably is in a more relevant state of preservation when the delta is to be used as a reservoir analogue.