Gulf of Mexico Basin Depositional Synthesis - Institute for Geophysics

Gulf of Mexico Basin
Depositional Synthesis
Contacts:
John Snedden
jsnedden@ig.utexas.edu
William Galloway
galloway@austin.utexas.edu
Patricia Ganey-Curry
patty@ig.utexas.edu
Volume 1, Issue 1
Friends of GBDS (FOG)
We wish all of you a Happy New Year.
December 2012
The GBDS team has been incredibly busy over the past year since John Snedden took over as
Director of the project. We visited with most of our sponsors to introduce John and discuss
forward planning. All were happy with plans to add a new parallel focus on the Mesozoic GoM.
John has taken the lead on developing the GBDS Mesozoic database while Bill Galloway along
with Craig Fulthorpe continues to work the Cenozoic GoM. We have a large team of students
working with us and have added two graduate students to the project. We also have added
several new companies: Apache, McMoRan and Samson and Talisman is now back in the project.
Please make plans to attend the GBDS annual meeting in Houston Jan 23 and 24, 2013. We will
have a full day of meeting presentations and our GBDSGIS workshop will be held the afternoon
of Jan 23, 2013 at the TeachMeGIS Training Center. There are 15 seats available. We will add a
morning session after the number of attendees reaches capacity. The full day meeting will be
hosted at Marathon’s P10 Auditorium.
Workshop:
Wednesday, Jan 23, 2013, TeachMeGIS, Inner Corridor Technologies, Inc.
http://www.TeachMeGIS.com
3000 Wilcrest, Suite 195, Houston, TX, 77042, Tel: 713-278-7883
GBDS Annual Meeting:
Thursday Jan 24, 2013, Marathon Oil Co. P10 Auditorium, 5555 San Felipe, Houston, TX 77056
GBDS Online — Members Only
In April, GBDS went live with its
new online web pages for members
only. GBDS sponsors
received unique logins and passwords
that allow them to access
the complete GBDS database
and tool set. Updates to the
database will be posted on the
website as they are available.
Contact Patty for info.
Mailing Address:
UT Austin
Institute for Geophysics
PRC Bldg. 196
10100 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78758-4445
512-471-0408
A recent addition to the website
is the GBDS bibliography. The
bibliography consists of a comprehensive
list of references in
MS Excel format. A second file
lists key references for the Gulf
of Mexico.
GBDS’ new online data file manager allow sponsors to access data online.
Go to
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/gbds/gbds.htm
and click “Member Login” to sign in.
Website: http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/gbds/gbds.htm

Page 2
2012 Research Progress
Gulf of Mexico Basin Depositional Synthesis
Mesozoic
Obtained limited access to WesternGeco eDOG 3D NAZ survey in WR area
Successfully negotiated agreement with ION for reprocessing of UTIG Gulf of Mexico lines
Progress on obtaining access to Deep East (Fugro) and FloridaSPAN (ION)
Initiated graduate student thesis project:
Map extent of K/Pg boundary unit from Chicxulub crater to deep basin and eastern GOM.
Integrate with available seismic and published well data from Mexico (J. Sanford)
Initiated Map-based restoration of the Northern Gulf Basin, Cretaceous to Base Triassic (Ian Norton)
Nearing completion of Mesozoic stratigraphic chart, including listing of key index fossils (H. Olson)
Construction of “alpha”, initial version of ARCGIS database for Mesozoic
Added wells and tops; digitizing logs and placing into Openworks for Landmark Seisworks and
Decisionspace usage (over 250 wells)
Digitized key structural features, supplementing Cenozoic.
Scanned and georeferenced key figures from several hundred key papers.
Hired Bob Cunningham (consultant) to use oil seep database (GEOMARK) to map Mesozoic
source rocks.
Began collaboration with GUMBO Project (deep crustal refraction) at UTIG (Van Avendonk
and Christeson.
Cenozoic
Adding new wells released by BOEMRE (Fulthorpe and Galloway)
New wells reviewed in seismic/structural context: supra- and sub-salt; carapaces, etc.
Updated biostratigraphy for Cenozoic (H. Olson), referenced global stratigraphy
Planning graduate student dissertation project:
Lower Miocene (GBDS Deposodes LM1 and LM2) Source to Sink (J. Xu);
Potentially to include Detrital Zircon dating of Lower Miocene outcrops and subsurface samples
Progress on Map-based restoration of the Northern Gulf Basin, Cenozoic (Ian Norton)
Updates to Cenozoic ARCGIS
Well adds, datasheet updates, addition of biostratigraphy when released (e.g. Will K)
Reference adds and updates
Corrections and updates
ARCGIS 9 to 10 conversion
Continued QC of ArcGIS and Seismic databases
Lower Wilcox paleogeography map from GBDS’ database.
GBDS In The News
The May 2012 issue of AAPG Explorer presents an
article on the GBDS project. The article highlights the
continuity of the project — over 17 years of Gulf of
Mexico research; the vast amount of data and interpretation
efforts that are the backbone of its 20 paleographic
maps; and GBDS’ commitment to educating the
students who work for the project and training them for
the oil industry workplace.
Go to
http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2012/05may/gom0512.cfm
to read the entire article.

Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
Recent Meetings
AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 3-7 December 2012
Dr. John Snedden presented a paper “Genesis and evolution of a mid-shelf, storm-built sand
ridge, New Jersey continental shelf, USA”
GCAGS/GCSSEPM Convention, Austin, Texas, 21-24 October 2012
Dr. John Snedden served as co-chair for the session, "What Lies Beneath - Structure, Stratigraphy,
and Energy Resources Beneath the Tertiary Blanket of the Gulf of Mexico."
Dr. Snedden, Dr. William Galloway, and Patricia Ganey-Curry presented "Eastward displacement
of deepwater fan deposition during the Middle to Upper Miocene in the Gulf of Mexico Basin"
at the session. Patty was Exhibit Chairperson for the meeting. Great turnout and very
successful meeting.
Former GBDS graduate student, Anthony Rodriguez, is co-author of "Offshore Mexican
Gulf of Mexico stratigraphic and structural framework from Late Jurassic to Recent and
implications for hydrocarbon potential," a presentation of his thesis work. Former GBDS
undergraduate student, Andrew Hartwig, presented "GBDS reprocessing and interpretation:
Sequence stratigraphic framework and play concepts, Alaminos Canyon, U.S., to Bay
of Campeche, Mexico."
GSA Annual Meeting, Charlotte, North Carolina, November 4-7, 2012
Dr. John Snedden served as co-chair for the session, "T116. Constructing Deltaic Depositional
Systems: Integrating Field Examples, Theory, and Modeling" (Monday, Nov. 5, 8:00 - 12:00,
Room 203B) and was co-chair for the session, "T165. Preservation of Environmental Signals in
Deep-Water Depositional Systems" (Tuesday, Nov. 6, 1:30 - 5:30, Room 203A). He is coauthor
on the presentations, "Using Biostratigraphy to Interpret Sea-level Variations - A
Student Exercise" and "The Importance of Time and Time Scales in Sequence Stratigraphy:
Application of a Chronostratigraphic Designation System For Phanerozoic Depositional
Sequence." He is a member of the Joint Technical Program Committee, serving as organizer
for the SEPM review group.
AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California, 22-25 April 2012
Dr. John Snedden served as co-chair for the session, "ACE 3. Theme 3: Sedimentary Processes
and Architectural Products of Confined and Unconfined Deep-Water Systems: Channels, Intra-
Channels, and Lobes II: In Honor of Don Gorsline." Dr. Snedden also presented a talk, "Genesis
and Evolution of a Mid-shelf, Storm-Built Sand Ridge, New Jersey Continental Shelf, USA," for the
session, "ACE 3. Theme 3: Characterization, Styles and Controls of Marginal-Marine and Shallow-
Marine Depositional Architecture II." He was co-instructor for the short course, "Deltas: Processes,
Stratigraphy and Reservoirs."
GBDS associate researcher, Dr. Hilary Olson was co-author of the talk, "The Rio Grande
Fan: A Sand-Rich Braided Distributive System in the Gulf of Mexico: A Modern Analog for the Frio
and Wilcox Formations," presented at the session, "ACE 3. Theme 3: Sedimentary Processes
and Architectural Products of Confined and Unconfined Deep-Water Systems: Channels, Intra-
Channels, and Lobes I." GBDS associate researcher, Dr. Sean Gulick was co-author of the
presentation, "Annealing the Chicxulub Impact: Paleogene Yucatàn Carbonate Slope Development
in the Chicxulub Impact Basin, Mexico," presented at the session, "ACE 4. Theme 4: SEPM Research
Symposium: Deposits, Architecture and Controls of Carbonate Margin, Slope, and Basinal
Settings."
“GBDS reprocessing and
interpretation.”
GBDS researchers
participate in
various
association
meetings,
chairing sessions,
making
presentations,
and giving short
courses.

Gulf Basin Depositional Synthesis Project
The Gulf Basin Depositional Synthesis Project
GBDS
Pickle Research Campus
Bldg. 196
10100 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78758-4445
Phone: 512-471-0408
Fax: 512-471-0348
E-mail: gbds@ig.utexas.edu
About GBDS:
The Gulf Basin Depositional Synthesis Project (GBDS) is an industry-sponsored synthesis of the Cenozoic
The Gulf and Basin Mesozoic Depositional depositional Synthesis history Project of the (GBDS) Gulf of is Mexico an industry-sponsored basin. The project synthesis provides of sponsors the Cenozoic
(well and and Mesozoic UTIG seismic), depositional databases history and of the interactive Gulf of Mexico tools to basin. help provide The project a framework provides for sponsors explo-
data
ration data (well in the and Gulf UTIG of Mexico. seismic), Our databases project and has interactive proven beneficial tools to for help many provide companies a framework getting for started exploration
of in Mexico the Gulf oil of and Mexico. gas exploration, Our project both has onshore, proven near beneficial shore for and many deep companies water. getting started in
in
Gulf
We Gulf are of Mexico identifying oil and gas mapping exploration, successive both Cenozoic onshore, and near Mesozoic shore and sedimentary deep water. supply and crossslope
We are transport identifying axes and to mapping help guide successive petroleum Cenozoic reservoir and prediction Mesozoic in sedimentary onshore, slope, supply deep and basin crossslope
transport exploration axes plays. to help Over guide the petroleum last 16 years reservoir we have prediction developed in a onshore, GIS (geographic slope, deep information basin and
and
subsalt
system) subsalt exploration and set of tools plays. within Over ArcGIS the last for 17 years interactive we have interpretation developed a of GIS Cenozoic (geographic depositional information systems
in system) the Gulf and of set Mexico of tools and within are currently ArcGIS for building interactive a Mesozoic interpretation database. of The Cenozoic project depositional has identified systems and
correlated in the Gulf eighteen of Mexico Cenozoic and are currently genetic sequences building a that Mesozoic record database. major depositional The project episodes has identified of the Gulf and
basin. correlated For each eighteen of these Cenozoic eighteen genetic sequences, quantitative, that record qualitative, major depositional map and interpretative episodes of the data Gulf
have basin. been For systematically each of these compiled. eighteen sequences, Results of quantitative, this synthesis qualitative, are summarized map and in a interpretative series of digital data interpretative
have been maps systematically showing the compiled. depositional Results system of this paleogeography synthesis are summarized for each of in the a eighteen series of sequences digital interpretative
maps the showing Gulf of Mexico the depositional basin. As system we move paleogeography forward we plan for to each map of 14 the or eighteen more Mesozoic sequences
throughout
genetic throughout sequences. the Gulf of Mexico basin. As we move forward we plan to map 14 or more Mesozoic
genetic sequences.
For more information, contact Patricia Ganey-Curry, patty@ig.utexas.edu.
For more information, contact Patricia Ganey-Curry, patty@ig.utexas.edu.
Current Sponsors include:
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
Apache Corporation
Current Sponsors include:
BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc.
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
BP America, Inc.
Apache Corporation
Chevron Corporation
BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc.
Cobalt International Energy Inc.
BP America, Inc.
ConocoPhillips Inc.
Chevron Corporation
Devon Energy Corporation
Cobalt International Energy Inc.
Ecopetrol America Inc.
ConocoPhillips Inc.
ENI Petroleum Co., Inc.
Devon Energy Corporation
ExxonMobil Exploration Company
Ecopetrol America Inc
Hess Corporation
ENI Petroleum Co., Inc.
Maersk Oil Houston Inc.
ExxonMobil Exploration Company
Marathon Oil Company
Hess Corporation
McMoRan Oil and Gas, LLC
Maersk Oil Houston Inc.
Nexen Petroleum U.S.A. Inc.
Marathon Oil Company
Noble Energy Inc.
Nexen Petroleum U.S.A. Inc.
Petrobras America
Noble Energy Inc.
Repsol E&P USA Inc.
Petrobras America
Repsol E&P USA Inc.
Samson Energy Company, LLC
Shell Exploration and Production Co.
Statoil Gulf of Mexico
Stone Energy Corp.
Total E&P USA Inc.
Woodside Energy (USA) Inc.
Samson Energy Company, LLC
Shell Exploration and Production Co.
Statoil Gulf of Mexico
Amoco Production
Stone Energy Corp.
Arco Oil and Gas
Talisman Energy USA, Inc.
Burlington Resources
Total E&P USA Inc.
Elf Exploration, Inc.
Woodside Energy (USA) Inc.
EnCana Corporation
Japan National Oil Company
Data and Software Contributor:
Kerr McGee Oil and Gas
C&C Reservoirs
Mobil Exploration & Producing US, Inc.
DrillingInfo
NorskHydro
Dynamic Global Advisors
Oryx Energy
Earth Science Associates
Pemex Exploration y Production
Fugro
Phillips Petroleum Company
Geomark
Pioneer Natural Resources
Halliburton (Landmark)
Spinnaker Exploration
ION Geoventures (GXT)
Talisman
PaleoData
Texaco USA
TDI-Brooks
UNOCAL
Western Geco
Vastar Resources
Data and Software Contributor:
DrillingInfo
ESA
Fugro
Geomark
Halliburton (Landmark)
ION (GXT)
PaleoData
Schlumberger (Geoquest)
TDI-Brooks
Earlier sponsors include:

GBDS Annual Meeting
Jan 24, 2013
Marathon P10 Auditorium, 5555 San Felipe, Houston, TX 77056
Time Presenter Topic
7:30—8:00am
8:00—8:10am Terry Quinn Welcome
Check in — Morning Wakeup
8:10—9:10am John Snedden Mesozoic Phase IX Status Report
9:10—9:40am Hilary Olson New GBDS Mesozoic Biostratigraphic Framework
9:40—10:10am Bob Cunningham (consultant) Source Rock Mapping
10:10—10:30am Jason Sanford Thesis Project (K/Pg Boundary Unit)
10:30—10:50am
Break
10:50—11:50am
Bill Galloway
Craig Fulthorpe
Cenozoic Update
11:50—12:10pm Jie Xu Thesis Project (Lower Miocene)
12:10—1:00pm
Lunch
(Box lunches brought in)
1:00—1:30pm Tim Whitaker GIS Project Updates
1:30—2:00pm
Gail Christesen
Harm Van Avendonk
Proposed UTIG GOM Deep Crustal Project
2:00—2:30pm Ian Norton Update on Gulf Basin Reconstruction
2:30—2:50pm
Break
2:50—3:05pm Mark Nibblelink DrillingInfo
3:05—3:20pm Art Waterman PDI's Biostrat Database
3:20—4:00pm John Snedden Sponsor Feedback and Discussion of Forward Plan
4:00pm
Adjourn