Relation between stratigraphic architecture and multi-scale heterogeneities in carbonate platforms: The Barremian-lower Aptian of the Monts de Vaucluse, SE France

These depositional sequences can be grouped into two distinct carbonate sedimentary systems characterized by specific sedimentary profiles and skeletal and non-skeletal components: 1) a carbonate platform with stronger hydrodynamic gradients, rimmed by a narrow belt of high energy deposits with corals and rudistid rudstone facies and 2) a carbonate ramp dominated by orbitolinids fine-grained facies, including an elongated high energy oolitic shoal. The two-dimension architecture of the depositional sequences (dimensioned geometries, thickness and facies variations) and the morphology of the shelf reflect a strong interaction between tectonic (differential subsidence), sediment production and global environmental conditions. At the km-scale, the “Gorges de la Nesque” stratigraphic motif could represent a nested stratigraphic structure within the large-scale model, which could be implemented for up-scaling petrophysical properties from the well to a full-field model. The association of coral facies to the rudist-dominated system in the Provence platform is a very clear proxy of the polarity of the carbonate platform and is critical for subsurface facies-property modeling based on well data. Finally, at the global scale, the stratigraphic architecture and the step-wise drowning events of the Provence platform confirm and document the precursor events associated with environmental perturbations that affected the carbonate factory prior the Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a).