Abstract: Miocene Deltaic Sedimentation and Hydrocarbon Accumulation: Louisiana Gulf Coast

By

Doris Malkin Curtis

Stratigraphic and structural analysis of south Louisiana Miocene delta-complexes leads to several generalizations that can be used to project sand distribution in areas of sparse control, and possibly to predict hydrocarbon distribution in less-maturely explored deltas.

Composite delta patterns differ as rates of deposition and rates of subsidence vary. The geometry of a rapidly-prograding delta, in which rate of deposition exceeds rate of subsidence, is different from that of one in which rate of deposition is less than rate of subsidence, where marine processes predominate. Recognition of these patterns and relationships allows prediction of the presence or absence of possible downdip unexplored sands by projection from mapped sand distribution patterns.

Depocenters have migrated as basin-filling progressed. Sedimentation, depositional environment, and contemporaneous faulting are intimately related in space and time. Distribution of hydrocarbon accumulations is intimately related to location of depocenters, depositional environment, and contemporaneous faulting.

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