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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
AAPG Bulletin, V.
1Manuscript received April 17, 1996; revised manuscript received
December 27, 1996; final acceptance July 21, 1997.
2ARCO Exploration and Production Technology, 2300 West Plano
Parkway, Plano, Texas 75075.
3ARCO Exploration and Production Technology Company, 2300
West Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75075. Present address: ARCO International
Oil and Gas Company, 2300 West Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75075.
ABSTRACT
Basement-involved structures commonly occur as long, irregular chains
of uplifts in foreland basins. These structures commonly contain significant
hydrocarbon accumulations, with most major fields located on the broad
crests of these structures. The search for complex traps in deeper targets
and in subthrust structures requires an improved understanding of the geometry
and evolution of these structures. Characteristic features of basement
structures include deformation zones within the sedimentary cover that
dissipate significant fault
slip, and gently dipping frontlimbs and backlimbs.
Fault
slip in the basement is usually accommodated in the cover by a triangular,
widening-upward deformation zone on the forelimb, with the nature of deformation
controlled primarily by the mechanical stratigraphy. If the cover contains
interlayered competent and incompetent units, the incompetent units are
characterized by significant penetrative deformation, whereas the competent
units are faulted after a relatively small amount of penetrative deformation.
Depending on the competency contrast between the basement and cover, the
nature of basement, and the physical conditions of deformation, the deformation
zone may also propagate downward into the basement. Gently dipping backlimb
and frontlimb panels are related to movement of the hanging wall over synclinal
and anticlinal bends in the major
fault
, respectively. Many basement faults
are characterized by a number of synclinal
fault
bends within the basement,
which result in long and gently dipping backlimbs. Forelimb panels are
related to anticlinal bends that typically occur at the basement-cover
interface, as well as at one or more locations in the sedimentary cover.
Case studies of well-constrained examples of structures from the Bighorn
and Uinta basins and the Central Basin platform, demonstrate the development
of these characteristic features and their strong dependence on the mechanical
stratigraphy. These models and case studies will be useful in interpreting
foreland basement structures in areas with poor or limited data.
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