--> Abstract: Stratigraphic Modeling of Two Contrasting Gulf Coast Basins, by G. L. Whittle, C. G. St. C. Kendall, N. M. Sullivan, M. A. Fogarty, C. Krotzer, A. Lowrie, R. L. Cannon, P. Moore, D. R. Hellmann, and K. Spainhour; #90987 (1993).

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WHITTLE, GREGORY L., CHRISTOPHER G. ST. C. KENDALL, and NEIL M. SULLIVAN, Department of Geological Science, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; MICHAEL A. FOGARTY, Exploration Systems, Inc., New Orleans, LA; CHRIS KROTZER, Metairie, LA; ALLEN LOWRIE, Picayne, MS; ROBERT L. CANNON, Department of Computer Sciences, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; PHILIP MOORE, Department of Geological Science, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; and DOUGLAS R. HELLMANN and KEITH SPAINHOUR, Department of Computer Sciences, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

ABSTRACT: Stratigraphic Modeling of Two Contrasting Gulf Coast Basins

A forward modeling procedure of simulated sediment fill, SEDPAK, and an inverse procedure of paleotectonic restoration were used to compare the detailed sequence stratigraphy of the North Louisiana-South Arkansas (NL-SA) Basin with offshore Louisiana to establish what effect sea level positions and tectonic accommodations have on gross sedimetary geometries. Inputs included sedimentation rate, regional subsidence, and sea level oscillation range and rate. Results support the contention that the NL-SA basin, a Mesozoic cratonic basin underlain by continental rock, was an area with relatively low rates of clastic sedimentation and little tectonic accommodation. Further, sequences were punctuated and largely controlled bysea level fluctuations with little vertical expression. In contrast the simulation of the Louisiana offshore, a Neogene passive margin underlain by transitional crust (granitic to basaltic rock), corroborates its greater supply of clastics and magnitude of tectonic accommodation. The outputs from both sets of models enabled a tie between geological and geophysical data, so that quantitative limits could be put on the various geological processes which acted in these basins. These computer models produced information on the general lithologies; depositional history; tectonic behavior of underlying crustal types, including average crustal densities and regional subsidence rates; and sea level oscillation ranges and rates for the two areas.

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