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Abstract

AAPG Bulletin, V. 89, No. 1 (January 2005), P. 1-26.

Copyright copy2005. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

DOI:10.1306/08310403108

Three-dimensional structural model of the Cantarell and Sihil structures, Campeche Bay, Mexico

Shankar Mitra,1 Gerardo Correa Figueroa,2 Jesus Hernandez Garcia,3 Antonio Murillo Alvarado4

1School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019; [email protected]
2Petroleos Mexicanos, Cd. del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico
3Petroleos Mexicanos, Cd. del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico
4Petroleos Mexicanos, Cd. del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico

AUTHORS

Shankar Mitra holds the Monnett Chair in Energy Resources at the University of Oklahoma. He received his Ph.D. in geology from Johns Hopkins University in 1977. His primary interests are in structural interpretation and modeling and their application to hydrocarbon exploration and production.

Gerardo C. Figueroa is a geophysical interpreter in the Ku-Zaap-Maloob Asset team within Petroleos Mexicanos. He received his geophysics degree from the Universidad Nacional Autoacutenoma de Mexico. He has worked extensively on seismic interpretation of the Cantarell and adjacent structures.

Jesus H. Garcia is asset submanager in the Cantarell Asset. He received his degree in petroleum geology from the Instituto Tecnologico de Cd. Madero and an M.B.A. degree from Universidad Autoacutenoma del Carmen-Tulane. He has extensive experience in prospect evaluation and production in the Cantarell Asset.

Antonio M. Alvarado is a geologist in the Ku-Zaap-Maloob Asset team in Petroleos Mexicanos. He received his degree in petroleum geology from the Instituto Tecnologico de Cd. Madero. He has worked as a seismic interpreter in the Cantarell Asset and proposed locations of delineation wells in the Cantarell field.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Petroleos Mexicanos for providing the data and resources of the study. Several Petroleos Mexicanos geoscientists shared their knowledge and insights on the Cantarell field. Centro Nacional de Processado Sismologico (CNPS) provided the seismic velocity models for three-dimensional (3-D) depth conversion. Schlumberger-Geoquest personnel assisted in Charisma data management. Subhotosh Banerjee (University of Oklahoma) provided invaluable assistance in geological data management and 3-D modeling. We also acknowledge Geo-Logic Systems for providing us with their cross section software (Lithotect) and Bob Ratcliff for his technical support. Ron Nelson and an anonymous AAPG reviewer critically reviewed the manuscript and provided some constructive comments to improve the manuscript.

ABSTRACT

The Cantarell and Sihil fields are located in a complex system of compressive structures in the offshore Campeche Bay province in Mexico. The geometry of the Cantarell–Sihil structure varies along trend from a simple fault-related structure in the south to a duplex consisting of the Cantarell and Sihil structures in the central part to a more complex system consisting of compressive blocks separated by Tertiary normal faults in the north. The Cantarell–Sihil structures formed during three main episodes of deformation: (1) Jurassic to Early Cretaceous extension, resulting in the formation of normal faults that displace Tithonian, Kimmeridgian, and Lower Cretaceous units; (2) Miocene compression, during which the Cantarell–Sihil thrust system was formed; and (3) Pliocene to Holocene extension, during which several of the preexisting Jurassic normal faults were reactivated.

The Cantarell field produces out of three separate fault-bounded allochthonous blocks: the Akal, Nohoch, and Kutz blocks. The main field is located in the Akal structure. Secondary fields in the allochthonous block include Kutz, which formed on the crest of a downthrown fault block, and Nohoch, which formed above a west-vergent backthrust. The recently discovered Sihil field is located in a subthrust-compressive structure and consists of two structural lobes formed above the sub-Sihil fault. The Chac structure is formed at the updip edge of a tilted fault block in the autochthonous block. The detailed three-dimensional structural model is being used for future production of the remaining reserves in the Cantarell field as well as for the delineation of the Sihil field.

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