YE, MIKE Q.¹ and BRIAN E. O'NEILL^2
1Texaco Exploration and Production Inc., New Orleans, LA
²Texaco Exploration, Inc., Houston, TX

Abstract: Integrated Characterization of Deep-Water Turbidite Systems Using Cores, Well Logs, and 3-D Seismic Data

Three turbidite systems from the Gulf of Mexico are presented here. Each system has a conventional core which is taken from overbank, channel, and lobe facies, respectively. Some common features are observed. (1) Each individual sand bed displays incomplete Bouma sequence. (2) 4 to over 20 sand-shale beds comprise a fining upward unit with thickness ranging from 5 to 20 ft. (3) The overall overbank facies, channel facies, and lobe facies show fining upward. And (4) three types of shales are observed: (a) dark laminated shale; (b) dark massive shale; and (c) light gray shale. The first type is interpreted as part of the turbidite system; the second as hemipelagic shale, but is still part of the system; and the third as pelagic shale deposited during sea-level highstand. It usually separates different turbidite systems.

The overbank facies from the first system is 140 ft thick and composed of 6 fining upward units. The channel-overbank relationship is clearly seen on seismic amplitude map. The core is about 800 ft away from the channel that has a width of 150 to 200 ft. The core taken from the second system has 110 ft thick channel facies and is composed of over 10 fining upward units. Rip-up shale clasts are common at the base. It is a meandering channel shown on horizon map. The lobes in the third system are 30-40 ft in thickness. Each of them is composed of 3 to 4 fining upward units. They are detached from channels on seismic horizon maps.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90928©1999 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas