Petroleum Systems of Deep-Water Basins - Gulf Coast Section SEPM

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Mesozoic Carbonate Petroleum Systems in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Area Ernest A. Mancini Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies Department of Geological Sciences Box 870338 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487–0338 e-mail: emancini@wgs.geo.ua.edu Marcello Badali T. Markham Puckett Juan Carlos Llinas Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies Department of Geological Sciences Box 870338 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0338 William C. Parcell Department of Geology Wichita State University Box 27 1845 Fairmount Wichita, Kansas 67260-0027 Abstract Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Miocene deposits are productive of hydrocarbons in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) area of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Based on regional studies of the onshore and offshore shelfal areas, Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous carbonates are projected as viable petroleum reservoirs in the continental slope areas of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The primary petroleum source rocks for these Mesozoic petroleum reservoirs are believed to be Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian carbonates and Aptian to Albian carbonates and shales. Tithonian shales and carbonates are effective source rocks in Mexico and therefore may also have source potential in the OCS area. The Upper Jurassic source beds are postulated to be natural gas and condensate prone in the OCS area of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, while the Lower Cretaceous source beds are believed to be oil prone. The natural gas and condensate produced from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) James Limestone in the OCS shelfal area is speculated to be sourced from Upper Jurassic (Smackover) carbonates, and the oil produced from Cretaceous (Albian and Cenomanian) Washita carbonates in the OCS shelfal area is believed to be sourced from Lower Cretaceous (post-James) carbonates and shales. The principal carbonate petroleum reservoirs in the continental slope areas of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico are postulated to be Upper Jurassic deep-water microbial buildups (boundstones) developed on the outer portion of a carbonate ramp. Lower Cretaceous rudist reef rudstones and boundstones and slope carbonate deposits comprised of forereef debris rudstones and shelf-derived grainstones are believed also to have high reservoir potential in this area. Such deeper water deposits have been observed from seismic reflection profiles located seaward of the Lower Cretaceous rimmed shelf margin. Diagenetic studies of the Washita carbonate reservoirs in the OCS Main Pass Block 253 Field indicate that these reservoirs have been subjected to favorable diagenetic processes of dolomitization, dissolution and karstification associated with repeated exposure of the Cretaceous shelf margin. Seismic reflection profiles indicate the presence of salt-related structures and paleotopographic basement features in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Petroleum traps in this region, therefore, are postulated to be combination traps 27
involving favorable stratigraphic relationships and salt tectonics. The timing of hydrocarbon generation, expulsion, migration and entrapment appears favorable for petroleum accumulation. Therefore, the continental slope areas of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico appear to have high potential for successful hydrocarbon exploration and development. 28
Page 2 and 3: Petroleum Systems of Deep-Water Bas
Page 4 and 5: Foreword The search for petroleum t
Page 6 and 7: Gulf Coast Section Society of Econo
Page 8 and 9: Contributors to the Gulf Coast Sect
Page 10 and 11: Credits Book Layout, Cover Design,
Page 12 and 13: 10:00 a.m. Wood, Lesli J.: ........
Page 14 and 15: 3:30 p.m. Roberts, Harry H., Roger
Page 16 and 17: World-Wide Deep Water Exploration a
Page 18 and 19: Mesozoic Ultra-Deep Water Potential
Page 20 and 21: Regional Mapping and Maturity Model
Page 22 and 23: Basement Controls on Hydrocarbon Sy
Page 24 and 25: Kinematic Evolution of the Gulf of
Page 26 and 27: New Oceanographic Observations of t
Page 28 and 29: Examples of Deep-Water Salt Tectoni
Page 30 and 31: Exploration in Deep Water Basins…
Page 32 and 33: Stratigraphic and Tectonic Framewor
Page 34 and 35: Based on oil-to-seep correlations,
Page 36 and 37: Subsalt Exploration Trap Styles, Wa
Page 38 and 39: The Petroleum System of the Western
Page 40 and 41: The Northern Angolan Margin Imaged
Page 44 and 45: Phase Changes: A Major Aspect of De
Page 46 and 47: The Past and Future Exploration Pot
Page 48 and 49: On the Importance of Understanding
Page 50 and 51: Obstacle and Sinks: Effects on Turb
Page 52 and 53: Potential Deep Water Petroleum Syst
Page 54 and 55: Capillary Seals as a Cause of Press
Page 56 and 57: Determination of Paleogeography and
Page 58 and 59: Gas Capillary Inhibition to Oil Pro
Page 60 and 61: Processes Impacting Deep Water, Sub
Page 62 and 63: Transtension Along an Ancient Linea
Page 64 and 65: Economic Potential of the Yucatan B
Page 66 and 67: Gulf of Cadiz (Western Spain): Char
Page 68: Complex Petroleum Systems Developed

Petroleum Systems of Deep-Water Basins - Gulf Coast Section SEPM

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