Abstract

The Permian Basin is a part of the Mid-Continent craton of North America and partakes of the same structural habits as do all other parts. Major tectonic elements within the Permian Basin are the Central Basin uplift, Pecos arch, Matador-Red River arch, Bend flexure, and the basins between and adjoining these positive features.

Major low-angle thrusts are not known to occur in the Permian Basin. Known gravity faults are of small (e.g. 200 feet or 61 meters) displacement. Strike-slip faults may occur but are difficult to demonstrate convincingly. High-angle reverse faults, high-angle normal faults, and vertical faults are the common fault types of the Permian Basin and are caused by upthrust which originates in the basement.

Fault data from 113 borings indicate approximately twice as many occurrences of “long sections” (repetition and/or abnormal thickening) as of “short sections” (missing intervals) where anomalies exceed 300 feet (91.4 meters) of section. Both types of anomaly are related to upthrust faulting, including those at locations where one borehole intersects the same fault more than once.

Anticlines are classed as the Seminole type (low-relief symmetrical profile) and the Sandia type (after Darton; high-relief asymmetrical profile, usually faulted). Sandia-type anticlines are probably the result of upthrust; Semi-note-type anticlines may be the result of incipient upthrust.