MAIONE, STEVEN J. , Coherence Technology Company, Houston, TX

The Jurassic Louann salt layer in the East Texas Basin has played a dominant role in influencing the structural and depositional history of the basin, particularly during the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. Salt tectonics is closely associated with sandstone distribution, depositional facies, reef growth, and consequently, with petroleum traps found in the basin. Several salt withdrawal basins formed during the Lower Cretaceous are present in the basin. These salt-induced features formed following development of salt pillows and are characterized by the presence of an expanded stratigraphic section of Lower Cretaceous marine and deltaic facies. Recognition of fault sets associated with the evolution of salt withdrawal basins has gone undetected until the recent Coherence Cube^Tm processing and analysis of a speculative 3-D seismic survey conducted by Schlumberger in the La Rue dome--Fairway field area, Henderson County, Texas.

Images from Coherence Cube data aptly exhibit extraordinary sets of concentric ring faults that comprise the periphery of two salt withdrawal basins. The Fairway oil field is located at the junction of two sets of ring faults. The style of high-angle ring fault patterns creates a multitude of possible fault traps in a previously unattractive structural setting. Early Cretaceous age of the ring faults establishes these previously unrecognized faults as significant elements in evaluating petroleum migration patterns and traps in the basin.

The revelation of Early Cretaceous ring faults in East Texas Basin by Coherence Cube processing brings new perspectives to development and exploration drilling in this mature petroleum province.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90908©2000 GCAGS, Houston, Texas