Fill to Bypass in the N and O Sands, Auger Basin, GOM

Charles W. Bohn¹, Matthew Reilly¹, Joseph Valenti¹, Doruk Seren¹, Peter Flemings², and Turgay Ertekin^3
1Department of Geoscience, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
²Jackson School of Science, University of Texas, Austin, TX
³Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

The N and the O sands in the Auger field (Blocks 426, 427, 471, and 472), Gulf of Mexico, were deposited during a time of decreasing rate of accommodation space creation. Two sheet sands in the O onlap the basin-bounding structural high and thicken off axis. These sands record syn-depositional faulting with expansion on the hanging wall. The overlying N sand also contains two members. However, each member contains two lithofacies: a sheet sand that thickens off axis is truncated by an incised valley that has been filled with low net-to-gross sand. The N sand exhibits no syn-depositional faulting. In both the N and the O, the sheet sand facies has a blocky gamma log character. The valley fill facies is characterized by a serrated gamma log response comprised of individual units that sand or shale upward. The N and O sands mark the transition from localized basin fill caused by accommodation space creation to bypass and erosion. Low net-to-gross sands within the incised fill may significantly impact both water drive and reservoir drainage.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas