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

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Gulf of Cadiz (Western Spain): Characterized by a Complex Petroleum System Luis Somoza ITGE: Geological Survey of Spain Rio Rosas 23 E-28003 Madrid, Spain e-mail: Luis.Somoza@itge.es Bradley M. Battista Consultant 1507 Dunbar Avenue Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39520 U.S.A. Joan Gardner Code 7420 Naval Research Labs 4555 Overlook Drive Washington, D.C. 20375-5320 U.S.A. e-mail: gardner@qur.nrl.navy.mil Allen Lowrie Consultant 238 F. Z. Goss Road Picayune, Mississippi 39466-9458 U.S.A. e-mail: alowrie@webtv.net Abstract The petroleum system is that series of interrelated processes by which hydrocarbons are generated and migrate to reservoirs from which they can be extracted commercially. The complex geology of the Gulf of Cadiz provides three separate heat sources for thermal maturation, while energetic downslope movement of crustal blocks has created reservoirs and traps that result from both structure and stratigraphic complexity. Westward extension by continental margin collapse of the Alboran Sea microplate in the Early Neogene has initiated large slump-block movements along the Iberic and Moroccan continental margins. Extensive allochthonous Late Cretaceous-Paleogene salt, deposited in a paleobasin having a western limit of 10°W to 12°W may underlie the slump-blocks at depths from 20 to 25 km and temperatures from 450° to 600°C, assuming 25°C/km gradient, and could serve as a lubricant for gravity-driven translation. Overall movement may exceed 400 km. The migrating blocks, operating as thin-skinned tectonics, and associated down-dip debris flows may be trapping mechanisms for hydrocarbons. Migrating debris covers an area as great as 90,000 km2, an area approximately equivalent to that covered by salt in the Gulf of Mexico. The eastern terminus of the Azores triple junction is well marked by shallow earthquakes (
along the salt wedges/layers and diapirs; salt is from two to three times as heat conductive as sandy clay sediment. In their often-interrupted upward migration, hydrocarbons may be stored beneath the thrusted crustal blocks. The specifics of this crustal tectonics have not been deciphered; deeper seismic penetration is needed. The possibility that the Gulf of Cadiz could contain abundant hydrocarbons is discussed. The potential oil and gas reserves may rival the size of those in the subsalt play if source rocks, maturation processes, migration routes, and reservoir systems are found to occur. At present, some 180,000 to 360,000 km3 of sediments 2 to 4 km thick in the Gulf of Cadiz have never been explored by drilling. 52
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Petroleum Systems of Deep-Water Bas
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Foreword The search for petroleum t
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Gulf Coast Section Society of Econo
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Contributors to the Gulf Coast Sect
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Credits Book Layout, Cover Design,
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10:00 a.m. Wood, Lesli J.: ........
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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 42 and 43: Mesozoic Carbonate Petroleum System
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 68: Complex Petroleum Systems Developed
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Petroleum Systems of Deep-Water Basins - Gulf Coast Section SEPM

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