--> Abstract: Evaluation of Regional-Scale to Field-Scale Seafloor Morphology in the Ultra-Deepwater Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, by J. L. Gibson and T. W. Neurauter; #90039 (2005)
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Evaluation of Regional-Scale to Previous HitFieldNext Hit-Scale Seafloor Morphology in the Ultra-Deepwater Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

J. L. Gibson1 and T. W. Neurauter2
1 Shell International E&P, Inc, Houston, TX
2 Geoscience Earth & Marine Services, Inc, Houston, TX

The lower continental slope of the ultra-deepwater northwestern Gulf of Mexico is an area of spectacular seafloor morphology that has resulted from the combination of widespread emplacement of shallow salt canopy complexes, episodes of tectonic folding and faulting, and erosion and deposition during sea level lowstand. Industry operators have only just begun to evaluate the feasibility of installing production infrastructure in this frontier area. The issues span a range of scales from regional, for Previous HitexampleNext Hit export pipeline routing, to Previous HitfieldNext Hit-scale, flowlines and subsea structures.

Within the past five years, Shell, together with JV partners have acquired, assembled and interpreted a large amount of 3D Previous HitdataNext Hit over the area, including approximately 10,000 km2 of exploration 3D seismic Previous HitdataNext Hit and approximately 70 km2 of high-resolution site survey Previous HitdataNext Hit (acquired with an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, AUV). The regional-scale 3D seismic coverage combined with high- resolution site survey Previous HitdataNext Hit presents a unique opportunity to investigate seafloor morphology in a geologically complex region over a range of scales. Regional-scale seafloor features include toe of slope escarpments, submarine canyons, salt minibasins and salt-cored domes. At a Previous HitfieldNext Hit-scale, seafloor features include fault scarps, slumps, furrows, fluid expulsion structures, density flow scours and buried debris flows. In addition to the identification of seafloor morphologic features, the Previous HitdataTop help to reveal the association of seafloor morphology to the underlying structural geology and stratigraphy.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005