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Seismic-Reflection Studies, Offshore Santa Maria Province, California

BIRD, K. J., and J. R. CHILDS, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, D. J. TAYLOR, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO, and C. C. SORLIEN, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA

Well data and seismic-reflection records are being analyzed to provide a subsurface geologic framework for the U.S. Geological Survey's Santa Maria Province project. This project, jointly sponsored by the Evolution of Sedimentary Basins and Onshore Oil and Gas Investigations Programs, is a basin-evolution and petroleum geology study focusing on the geologically complex and tectonically active south-central California margin. The area embraces several basins and basin fragments including the onshore Santa Maria, offshore Santa Maria, Pismo, Huasna, Sur, Santa Lucia, and western Santa Barbara-Ventura. These basins have many similarities, including generally synchronous formation at about the end of the Oligocene, development on a complex assemblage of Mesozoic tectonostratigraphic terra es, and basin fill consisting of Neogene clastic marine and nonmarine deposits, minor volcanic rocks, and organic-rich biogenous deposits of the Monterey Formation. Despite these similarities, basin origins are controversial and paleogeographies uncertain.

In 1990, the U.S. Geological Survey collected approximately 130 line-mi of multichannel seismic reflection data in severn profiles offshore California from Morro Bay south to the western Santa Barbara Channel. These are the first U.S. Geological Survey seismic data collected in this area since the early 1980s exploratory drilling began in

the offshore Santa Maria basin. Profiles were generally oriented perpendicular to structural grain and located to intersect as many well-sites and pre-existing seismic profiles as possible. Profile orientation and spacing were designed to provide the offshore extensions of onshore well-correlation profiles currently under construction. With synthetic seismograms we are integrating the stratigraphy of the wells with these seismic-reflection records.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91009©1991 AAPG-SEPM-SEG-SPWLA Pacific Section Annual Meeting, Bakersfield, California, March 6-8, 1991 (2009)