--> Abstract: 3-D Structural Evolution of the Salt-Controlled Frampton Anticline, Atwater Valley Fold Belt, Deep Water Gulf of Mexico, by Gianluca Grando, Zsolt Schleder, Ryan Shackleton, Graham Seed, Tim Buddin, and Ken McClay; #90078 (2008)

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3-D Structural Evolution of the Salt-Controlled Frampton Anticline, Atwater Valley Fold Belt, Deep Water Gulf of Mexico

Gianluca Grando1, Zsolt Schleder1, Ryan Shackleton1, Graham Seed1, Tim Buddin2, and Ken McClay3
1Midland Valley Exploration, Glasgow, United Kingdom
2BP Exploration, Sunbury, United Kingdom
3Royal Holloway University of London, London, United Kingdom

The salt-controlled Frampton anticline is part of the Atwater Valley/Southern Green Canyon frontal fold belt system in the deep water Gulf of Mexico. A kinematic model and structural evolution of the growth fold is proposed based on the interpretation of high quality 3D depth migrated seismic data and 3D structural restoration.

2D and 3D restoration is frequently used as a tool to validate structural models and to examine the evolution of structures. In this study, results of structural restoration have been integrated with true thickness map analysis. Because isopach maps of unrestored models can provide insight to the structural evolution with a smaller number of iterations normally required in restoration. Restoration was performed using the 4DRestore tool box developed by Midland Valley Exploration, which is a full 3D surface and volume restoration tool based on a mass-spring geophysical solver.

Mapping and structural restoration show that small wavelength salt pillows separated by minibasins formed soon after the deposition of the Middle Jurassic Louann salt during an early contractional event. These precursor structures controlled the geometry and location of Tertiary folding. The main phase of fold amplification occurred during the late Miocene and early Pliocene synchronous with basal salt withdrawal and formation of synclinal welds.

3D sequential restoration techniques applied in this study could be used to infer the fold kinematics for less well imaged hydrocarbon-bearing growth folds in the deep water province of the Gulf of Mexico; particularly those that result from non plain strain deformation.

 

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