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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 69 (1985)

Issue: 9. (September)

First Page: 1427

Last Page: 1427

Title: Upper Jurassic Norphlet Hydrocarbon Potential Along Regional Peripheral Fault Trend in Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle: ABSTRACT

Author(s): Ernest A. Mancini, Robert M. Mink, Bennett L. Bearden

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

Recent Upper Jurassic Norphlet oil discoveries associated with the West Bend fault system in Clarke County, Alabama, and Foshee fault system in Escambia County, Alabama, have renewed interest in exploring for hydrocarbons along the regional peripheral fault trend in Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. The recently discovered Chavers Creek and Sizemore Creek oil fields and the Strickland 10-4 2 oil discovery in Escambia County, Alabama, are upthrown to the Foshee fault system. The trapping mechanism at Chavers Creek field is a faulted salt anticline, and the petroleum trap at Sizemore Creek field is an elongate salt anticline. The 1985 Womack Hill Field Unit 14-5 oil discovery in Clarke County, Alabama, is upthrown to the West Bend fault system. The petroleum eservoirs at Chavers Creek and Sizemore Creek oil fields include eolian and wadi sandstones of the Norphlet Formation. Porosity is estimated to be 11-22%, and permeability is estimated to be 14-47 md. Oil gravity in Chavers Creek field is 42.7° API, and that in Sizemore Creek field is 59.9° API.

The Norphlet oil discoveries in Clarke and Escambia Counties, Alabama, and the existence of established productive Norphlet hydrocarbon fields in Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle demonstrate the petroleum potential along the regional peripheral fault trend in central and eastern Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. The key to successful prospecting for hydrocarbons along this fault trend is to delineate faulted salt anticlines or other salt anticlines and identify reservoir-grade eolian, wadi, and marine sandstones of the Norphlet Formation.

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Copyright 1997 American Association of Petroleum Geologists