Sedimentary basin analysis is a
geologic
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Eart ...
method by which the formation and evolution history of a
sedimentary basin is revealed, by analyzing the
sediment fill and
subsidence
Subsidence is a general term for downward vertical movement of the Earth's surface, which can be caused by both natural processes and human activities. Subsidence involves little or no horizontal movement, which distinguishes it from slope move ...
. Subsidence of sedimentary basins generates the spatial distribution of accommodation infilling sediments. Aspects of the sediment, namely its composition, primary structures, and internal architecture, can be synthesized into a history of the basin fill. Such a synthesis can reveal how the basin formed, how the sediment fill was
transported
''Transported'' is an Australian convict melodrama film directed by W. J. Lincoln. It is considered a lost film.
Plot
In England, Jessie Grey is about to marry Leonard Lincoln but the evil Harold Hawk tries to force her to marry him and she wou ...
or precipitated, and reveal sources of the sediment fill. From such syntheses models can be developed to explain broad basin formation mechanisms. Examples of such basin classifications include intracratonic, rift, passive margin, strike-slip, forearc, backarc-marginal sea, fold and thrust belt, and foreland basins.
Sedimentary basin analysis is largely conducted by two types of
geologists who have slightly different goals and approaches. The
petroleum geologist
A petroleum geologist is an earth scientist who works in the field of petroleum geology, which involves all aspects of oil discovery and production. Petroleum geologists are usually linked to the actual discovery of oil and the identification of po ...
, whose ultimate goal is to determine the possible presence and extent of
hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon-bearing rocks in a basin, and the academic geologist, who may be concerned with any or all facets of a basin's evolution.
Petroleum industry basin analysis is often conducted on subterranean basins through the use of