Print this pageAAPG ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
Making the Next Giant Leap in Geosciences
April 10-13, 2011, Houston, Texas, USA
Structural Framework of the Corsair and Clement-Tomas Growth Fault Systems in the Texas Continental Shelf, Gulf of Mexico
(1) Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
The Corsair and Clement-Tomas growth fault systems in the Texas continental shelf run roughly parallel to the shoreline. Along these growth fault systems, there are areas where details of structural development and sedimentation history have not been previously published. The objective of the present research is to conduct detailed mapping of the sedimentary stratigraphy and structure of a 770 square-mile section within the Mustang Island federal lease area. A 3D seismic volume and well logs from 36 boreholes, including velocity survey data from 26 wells and paleontological data from 6 wells have been interpreted.
Five biostratigraphic zones in the Miocene are determined from the paleodata; they are Bigenerina ascensionensis (6.76Ma), Discorbis 12 (9.11Ma), Bigenerina humblei (12.25Ma), Robulus L (15.41Ma) and Marginulina ascensionensis (18.10Ma). Seismic horizons corresponding to these biostratigraphic zones have been correlated across the wells and have been mapped throughout the study area. Time structure maps, depth structure maps, Isopach maps and attribute time slice maps have been generated for better understanding of the regional depositional trends and their relationship with the growth faults.
The Corsair and Clement-Tomas growth fault systems trend south-northeast of the study area. Vertical expansion in the middle Miocene is greater than the lower Miocene along the Corsair. While maximum horizontal expansion along the Corsair occurs between the main growth fault and the synthetic faults, the Clement-Tomas exhibits its maximum horizontal expansion between the growth faults and the antithetic faults. Shale mounds, rollover anticlines, synthetic as well as upward convex and normal antithetic faults are observed along both fault systems.