--> Abstract: The Nature and Distribution of Salt in the West African Salt Basin, by A. D. Edwards, J. M. McKenna, N. R. Wilson, and P. Philip; #91012 (1992).

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ABSTRACT: The Nature and Distribution of Salt in the West African Salt Basin

EDWARDS, A. D., Fairway Exploration Ltd., Pinner, England, and J. M. MCKENNA, N. R. WILSON, and P. PHILIP,* Geco-Prakla, Woking, England

Recent studies of 25,000 km of regional seismic covering the West African salt basin, from Equatorial Guinea to Southern Angola, have revealed a significant variety of structural styles associated with the Aptian salt.

The West African Salt basin is composed of a complex series of subbasins separated by major structural elements. The character of the salt varies both within and between each basin in terms of present-day thickness and structural style.

The nature of salt deformation is largely determined by the interaction of three major factors. These are the thickness of salt deposited (controlled mainly by the early Aptian topography), the thickness and rate of deposition of the overburden, and the degree of subsequent tilting, faulting, and gliding. Enhanced data quality and deep regional profiles have improved the seismic imaging of the salt-controlled

features. These features can be causally divided into three types: gravity sliding, vertical piercement, and lateral intrusion.

An understanding of the critical controls of the distribution and variety of salt-induced structural styles generated from these seismic data and from appropriate analog basins is central to the creation of a better model of the evolution of the salt basins and predicting the distribution of existing and new hydrocarbon play concepts.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)