--> Abstract: Seismic Data Bearing on Iapetan Opening/Rome Trough-Related Faults, Their Reactivation History and Effect on Deposition in the Appalachian Basin of New York State, by Robert D. Jacobi, Stu Loewenstein, and Gerald Smith; #90039 (2005)

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Seismic Data Bearing on Iapetan Opening/Rome Trough-Related Faults, Their Reactivation History and Effect on Deposition in the Appalachian Basin of New York State

Robert D. Jacobi1, Stu Loewenstein2, and Gerald Smith1
1 University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
2 Quest Energy, Amherst,

In the Appalachian Basin of New York State (NYS), what is the causal mechanism for the arcuate map pattern of oil and gas pools? The similar arcuate pattern of the Alleghanian folds and thrusts in the Basin was generally regarded as a high-structural level feature related to African collisional tectonics. However, because aeromagnetic anomalies, Trenton/Black River plays, and Devonian "stratigraphic" plays are colinear with the arcuate trend, some more complicated toggling of shallow structures, deeper structures, and deposition must exist in the Basin.

Reprocessed seismic reflection lines in western NYS show that Iapetan opening fault systems are coincident with the arcuate lineaments. Some of the fault systems form Cambrian grabens—similar to the Rome Trough faults. Lineaments that mark (reactivated) Iapetan opening/Rome Trough faults extend easterly to ENE-striking faults in central NYS that guided fluid migration in the Trenton/Black River gas plays. Still farther east, these same fault trends were reactivated as the Laurentian plate flexed over the Taconic peripheral bulge and entered the subduction zone. The faults were also reactivated in Silurian and Devonian times. The extent and import of reactivated Iapetan opening/Rome Trough-related faults, coupled with reactivated northerly-striking Precambrian fault systems, is significant. Fault influence on oil and gas plays includes: 1) fault controlled deposition of reservoir quality rocks (e.g., Bradford oil pool), 2) fluid migration along fault systems resulting in vuggy porosity from dissolution and later precipitation (Trenton/Black River), and 3) fracture porosity reservoirs related directly or indirectly to the deep fault systems (e.g., Bass Island Trend).

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005