Abstract Forward seismic models of outcrop analogues are used in hydrocarbon exploration to generate more coherent geological–geophysical models that provide an important scale link between outcrops and seismic survey data. Exploration within slope carbonate plays can be problematic with uncertainties about the reservoir geometries, distribution and volumes owing to complex seismic imaging and lack of closely spaced wells. This seismic modelling study provides a synthetic seismic characterization of the carbonate platform-to-slope-to-basin transition exposed across the Maiella Mountain, central Italy. This outcrop represents an analogue for exploration in carbonate slope strata in the Adriatic offshore area. Integration of original and previously published data allows 2D and 3D geological modelling, providing a better characterization of relationships between the palaeoescarpment and resedimented deposits. The seismic response of the various geological features of this transitional carbonate system is simulated via synthetic seismic modelling using innovative, modern techniques. The seismic simulation was performed in both post-stack-time- and pre-stack-depth-migrated domains. These synthetic seismic models help in understanding and predicting the seismic architecture and character of the palaeoescarpment and resedimented slope deposits.

Abstract Understanding and predicting architecture and facies distribution of syn-rift carbonates is challenging owing to complex control by climatic, tectonic, biological and sedimentological factors. CarboCAT is a three-dimensional stratigraphic forward model of carbonate and mixed carbonate–siliciclastic systems that has recently been developed to include processes controlling carbonate platform development in extensional settings. CarboCAT has been used here to perform numerical experiment investigations of the various processes and factors hypothesized to control syn-rift carbonates sedimentation. Models representing three tectonic scenarios have been calculated and investigated, to characterize facies distribution and architecture of carbonate platforms developed on half-grabens, horsts and transfer zones. For each forward stratigraphic model, forward seismic models have also been calculated, so that modelled stratal geometries presented as synthetic seismic images can be directly compared with seismic images of subsurface carbonate strata. The CarboCAT models and synthetic seismic images corroborate many elements of the existing syn-rift and early-post-rift conceptual model, but also expand these models by describing how platform architecture and spatial facies distributions vary along-strike between hanging-wall, footwall and transfer zone settings. Synthetic seismic images show how platform margins may appear in seismic data, showing significant differences in overall seismic character between prograding and backstepping stacking patterns.