Weimer, Paul¹, Renaud Bouroullec¹, Jay Austin¹, John Roesink¹, Hector Gonzalez¹, John Martin¹, Ryan Sincavage¹, David Pyles¹, Veit Matt¹, Sarah Melton¹ 
(1) University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

ABSTRACT: Sequence Stratigraphic Setting of the Neogene Sediments, Mississippi Canyon and Northern Atwater Valley, Northeastern Deep Gulf of Mexico

The sequence stratigraphic setting of the central and southern Mississippi Canyon, Atwater Valley, and Lloyd Ridge protraction areas are described using 19,557 miles of 2-D seismic, 387 square miles of 3-D seismic, 160 wireline logs and biostratigraphic data. Twelve depositional intervals are interpreted: 24, 15.3, 13.0, 10.75, 9.0, 7.45, 6.2, 5.5, 4.1, 3.6, and 1.3 Ma. 
The area consists of a multi-level allochthonous salt system that developed throughout the Mesozoic-Cenozoic. To the east, the area consists of a largely unstructured slope with unconfined turbidite systems extending from shelf to the base-of-slope. Fields in this area consist primarily of channel-fill reservoirs lapping out against salt structures. 
Towards the west, the area changes to a series of complex intraslope minibasins created from salt, basement, and strike slip deformation. Turbidite systems began to pond against the growing salt structures at about 15 Ma. Turbidite elements include the stacking of sheets, channels, overbank, and slides in predictable patterns. The highest net:gross intervals are deposited in (1) early of stages of allochthonous salt withdrawal where accommodation is actively created, (2) between salt bodies, and (3) in the unconfined abyssal plain and is later deformed by structures, e. g. turtles, foldbelt.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90026©2004 AAPG Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, April 18-21, 2004.