--> ABSTRACT: Petroleum Systems in Deltaic Regions: The Cenozoic Gulf of Mexico as a World Analog, by Louis M. Liro, William C. Dawson, Barry J. Katz, Vaughn D. Robison; #91020 (1995).

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Petroleum Systems in Deltaic Regions: The Cenozoic Gulf of Mexico as a World Analog

Louis M. Liro, William C. Dawson, Barry J. Katz, Vaughn D. Robison

A petroleum system includes all elements and processes essential for hydrocarbon accumulation. During the evaluation of petroleum systems, one or several elements or processes will he identified as critical to the development of the system. In the Cenozoic Gulf of Mexico, clastic depopods have created stratigraphic and structural trends and a series of petroleum systems. These systems can be generalized into three basic types: listric fault related, salt piercement related, and active salt basin related. Each system has critical elements essential for exploration and exploitation success.

The listric fault petroleum system involves deep-seated salt or mobile shale acting as a decollement for growth faulting. Depending on the style of deposition, fault trends may be regional linear trends or short arcuate faults. Critical to this system is the fault system continuously or sporadically acting as a migration conduit for hydrocarbons sourced at depth. Re-migration of hydrocarbons may occur, allowing for accumulation of hydrocarbons in reservoirs younger than the time of initial hydrocarbon expulsion.

The salt piercement petroleum system involves significant vertical piercement of salt. Reservoir rocks are deposited prior to salt movement, and are structurally deformed and truncated by the vertical salt movement. Critical to this system is the vertical migration avenue created by salt movement. Cessation of salt movement will "freeze" the system; continued or sporadic salt movement creates the opportunity for re-migration of hydrocarbons into younger reservoirs.

The active salt basin petroleum system involves mobilization of in-place or allochthonous salt masses, creating contemporaneous depositional fairways for lowstand clastic deposits. Hydrocarbons are then introduced and likely several episodes of re-mobilization occur. In this very young petroleum system, significant hydrocarbon reserves are dependent on the emplacement of hydrocarbons from deeper, older sources and the development of lateral and/or pressure seals.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995