29.12.2013 Views

A Deterministic Evaluation of eismic Fidelity using Velocity Modeling ...

A Deterministic Evaluation of eismic Fidelity using Velocity Modeling ...

A Deterministic Evaluation of eismic Fidelity using Velocity Modeling ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

2.6 Geologic <strong>Modeling</strong><br />

Historically, models <strong>of</strong> the Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico Basin have progressively developed as new<br />

information has become available implying that detailed information has been acquired<br />

basinward. For example, to describe Gulf Coast salt structures the updip basin margin is<br />

a progression <strong>of</strong> low-reflief structures that become high-relief salt stock structures on<br />

coastal Louisiana, and then develop into the salt structures found in the outer shelf and<br />

slope. A different approach is to analyze the salt structures in a reverse manner, start<br />

with the abyssal plain and work toward the coastal areas. Starting from the abyssal plain<br />

and working updip has the advantage <strong>of</strong> providing analogs <strong>of</strong> the early history <strong>of</strong><br />

structures buried deeper updip from structures imaged on the modern slope. There are<br />

several reasons for <strong>using</strong> this approach. Starting from the most recent geology and<br />

moving towards the older geology provides the impetus to reevaluate less recently<br />

studied areas, such as the Vinton Dome area, and other inner shelf and onshore areas <strong>of</strong><br />

the Gulf Coast. Such an approach also provides a modern perspective to establish a<br />

consistent comprehensive tectono-stratigraphic framework <strong>of</strong> the Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico Basin<br />

(Diegel, et al., 1995).<br />

In order to construct to regional framework <strong>of</strong> the Upper Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico Basin the<br />

complexity <strong>of</strong> structures must be resolved. The mechanisms <strong>of</strong> gravity spreading or<br />

gliding associated with the progressive tilting <strong>of</strong> the margin and gravity spreading <strong>of</strong> the<br />

salt layer under differential loading by prograding deposits (Letouzey, et al., 1995) have<br />

helped to create the complexity <strong>of</strong> structures that vary both along strike and dip. There<br />

21

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!