--> ABSTRACT: A New Tectonic Map of the World

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A New Tectonic Map of the World

Markwick, Paul J.1; Mazur, Stanislaw 1; Hammill, Michael 1; Eue, Dorothea 1; Bouatmani, Rkia 1; Stewart, Matthew 1; Henshaw, Nicola 1; Hill, Catherine 1
(1) GETECH Group plc., Leeds, United Kingdom.

Tectonics underpins our understanding of basin dynamics and thereby any evaluation of hydrocarbon prospectivity. It also dictates landscape evolution, which in turn defines source to sink relationships, and the interaction of surface processes and climate.

As part of a global initiative to remap the world’s structural framework and kinematic history back to the Late Proterozoic, we have developed a new global map and database of structures, crustal types, plate boundaries and basin definitions. This underpins new, self-consistent global and regional plate models. Together these tools can be used by explorationists to aid their understanding of the timing and kinematics of proven and potential hydrocarbon-bearing around the world. This mapping is based on a detailed interpretation of potential fields data and their derivatives (gravity and magnetic), 2D gravity and magnetic models, SRTM3 digital elevation models, Landsat and other remote sensing data, geological maps, ocean isochrons and magnetic picks, available seismic and geological section data, wells and other observational input where available. The compilation scale is 1:2,000,000, with a precision scale of 1:200,000. This is an ongoing task and has been designed to grow as new and more detailed work is completed. This means that the resulting plate model is constantly being revised to reflect new understandings and discoveries.

In this presentation we show the latest Global Map with a description of the methodologies, how this work differs from other interpretations and examples of the application of this work to exploration problems.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90135©2011 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 23-26 October 2011.