--> ABSTRACT: Paleo Salt Structures in the South Additions of Louisiana OCS, Gulf of Mexico, by F. Xue and J. S. Watkins; #91021 (2010)

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Paleo Salt Structures in the South Additions of Louisiana OCS, Gulf of Mexico

XUE, FANGJIAN, and JOEL S. WATKINS

Sediments of the south additions of Louisiana OCS include a variety of salt features. Many are remnants of laterally extensive salt sheets that were largely remobilized and extruded into younger and seaward sediments. These remnants, which consist of salt canopies, sheets, welds, pillows domes stocks, feeders imbedded mainly in Pliocene and upper Miocene sediments.

Our studies suggest that two large paleo salt sheets (or families of salt canopies such as those of the eastern Louisiana shelf and upper slope today) collectively covered much of the south additions. Each was emplaced during late Miocene and early Pliocene, and now is evidenced by extensive welds linking isolated salt bodies, with Pliocene major growth fault families detached above and Miocene minibasins overridden below. One sheet covers East and West Cameron South Additions. Another spreads from Eugene Island to South Timelier South Additions with small secondary upper Pliocene sheets and welds above. Between the two sheets is the Vermilion and South Marsh Island South Additions, where no extensive paleo salt bodies have been recognized. Small isolated salt remnants are seen, however.

We believe that these salt bodies were extruded from older sheets as part of a cycle of extrusion, emplacement and destruction of salt. ALL can host a variety of traps styles and the two large remnants of paleo sheets are capable of trapping significant quantities of hydrocarbon.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91021©1997 AAPG Annual Convention, Dallas, Texas.