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Syn-Rift Systems Evolution of the Cuban Northwest Offshore (Deep Waters)

 

Sanchez, Jorge R.1, Fabrice Gaumet2, Jean Letouzey2, Isabelle Moretti2, Jean-Claude Lecomte2, Caroline Magnier2, S. Zimine3, José O. Lopez1, Juan G. Lopez1 (1) Centro de Investigaciones del Petroleo (CEINPET), Havana, Cuba (2) Institut Français du Pétrole, Rueil Malmaison Cedex, France (3) Compagnie Générale de Géophysique, Massy, France

 

This contribution presents the syn-rift tectono-paleogeographic evolution of the south­eastern Gulf of Mexico (Cuban North-West offshore) by using seismic stratigraphy and the input of Cuban geology where is recorded in outcrops and wells.

The seismic stratigraphy interpretation is based on a detailed analysis of multifold seis­mic data of the CGG survey carried out in the year 2000.

Two tectono-stratigraphic phases are considered: a) Syn-rift Previous HitsystemNext Hit JI (Lower Jurassic to Middle Jurassic), in relation with the rifting stage between Laurentia (North American plate) and Gondwana (South American and African plates); it ended with late-rift Callovian salt deposits, mainly developed in the Gulf of Mexico and along the proto-Caribbean margin too. b) Syn-rift Previous HitsystemNext Hit JII (Oxfordian to Berriasian),which corresponded to the ocean spreading in the Gulf of Mexico and related rift propagation between Yucatan and Florida.

The sequence A was formed during the syn-rift Previous HitsystemNext Hit I, while the syn-rift Previous HitsystemNext Hit II started with the deposition of sequence C. The syn-rift character of sequence A (Upper Triassic?-Mid Jurassic?) is evidenced in the northern Central basin, as along the Yucatan and Florida margins. Clastics were deposited in grabens and half-grabens. Anhydrites and dolomites seem to be inter-bedded with clastics in southern domains.

The sequence B (Callovian) is thin to the north and only deposited in two restricted marine intra-continental basins. Hyper-saline conditions prevailed during the sequence B deposition. A thicker unit extends to the Florida domain.

There are evidences of the potential of a deep Previous HitpetroleumNext Hit Previous HitsystemTop in the silici-clastic rift sequence. The shales from the Middle Jurassic syn-rift section appear to have an initial good potential.