AAPG Studies in Geology No. 48 / SEG Geophysical References
Series No. 11, Chapter 2: Hydrocarbon Systems Analysis of the Northern Gulf
of Mexico: Delineation of Hydrocarbon Migration Pathways Using Seeps and Seismic Imaging,
by Kenneth C. Hood, L. M. Wenger, O. P. Gross, and S. C. Harrison,
Pages 25 - 40
from:
AAPG Studies in Geology No. 48 / SEG Geophysical References Series No. 11:
Surface Exploration Case Histories: Applications of Geochemistry, Magnetics, and Remote Sensing,
Edited by Dietmar Schumacher and Leonard A. LeSchack
Copyright © 2002 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the
Society of Exploration Geophysicists. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
Hydrocarbon Systems Analysis of the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Delineation of
Hydrocarbon Migration Pathways Using Seeps and Seismic Imaging
Kenneth C. Hood
Exxon Exploration Company
Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Current address: ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
L. M. Wenger
Exxon Exploration Company
Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Current address: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
O. P. Gross
Exxon Exploration Company
Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Current address: Esso Production Malaysia Inc., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
S. C. Harrison
Exxon Exploration Company
Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Current address: Consultant, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT
Widespread oil and gas seepage in the offshore U.S. Gulf of Mexico has allowed the
extension of hydrocarbon systems and maturity maps far beyond well control. Analysis of
sea-bottom dropcores and imaging of sea-surface slicks have complemented Exxon's
integrated, multidisciplinary study of sources, maturation, and migration pathways. Our
approach involved development of a regional geologic framework through interpretation of
2-D and 3-D seismic data, identification and mapping of potential source intervals, and
delineation of likely migration pathways to reservoirs and seismic-amplitude anomalies.
Hydrocarbon compositions from more than 2000 reservoired oils, 600 reservoired natural
gases, and 3000 hydrocarbon-bearing, sea-bottom dropcores help constrain such source-rock
characteristics as organic-matter type, depositional facies, level of maturation and, to
some extent, age. East of the Mississippi River Delta, the complete stratigraphic section
is visible on seismic sections, and wells have penetrated deep source intervals. To the
west, correlative organic-rich rocks have been sampled onshore and from sheaths overlying
salt diapirs offshore. Integration of these data into a regional geologic framework
provides a strong basis for hydrocarbon-systems interpretations.
