--> Abstract: Structural Styles in the Southwest Part of the Gulf of Mexico, by G. Garcia-Molina and A. W. Bally; #90987 (1993).

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GARCIA-MOLINA, GORGONIO, and A.W. BALLY, Rice University, Department of Geology and Geopysics, Houston, TX

ABSTRACT: Structural Styles in the Southwest Part of the Gulf of Mexico

Structural styles observed in the southwest part of the Gulf of Mexico are shown on seismic profiles. On them a fold and thrust belt of Miocene age is observed; an extensional stage superimposed on this compressional stage also can be seen.

The importance of these structural stages can be understood as they have a tremendous economic relevance, as most of the oil produced offshore comes from the compressional stage, where development of imbricates created the structural traps where most of the oil have been found. On the other hand the extensional stage is a very important one because it created the necessary subsidence where most of the oil was generated.

Detachment surfaces are present in both stages. In the compressive one, Mesozoic along with part of the Tertiary column have been folded, data from wells and seismic profiles date this compressive stage as Early Miocene. The extensional stage is also characterized by the development of a detachment where listric normal faults merge on it, creating block rotations; this detachment is placed at the Oligocene.

Another important factor in the area is the presence of salt, which played a key role in the evolution of the observed fold and thrust belt, as weld as in the development of the extensional detachment; salt related structures are also present in the area.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.