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AAPG Bulletin

Abstract

AAPG Bulletin, V. 84, No. 10 (October 2000), P. 1519–1536.

Copyright ©2000. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

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Integrated approach to condensed section identification in intraslope basins, Pliocene–Pleistocene, northern Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoNext Hit (E & P Notes)

Jennifer R. Crews,1 Paul Weimer,2 Andrew J. Pulham,3 Arthur S. Waterman4

1Energy and Minerals Applied Research Center, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309–0399; present address: Texaco Exploration, 4800 Fournace Place, Bellaire, Texas 77401; email: crewsjr@texaco.com
2Energy and Minerals Applied Research Center, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309–0399; email: paul@emarc.colorado.edu
3Energy and Minerals Applied Research Center, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309–0399; email: andy@emarc.colorado.edu
4Paleo-Data, Inc., 6619 Fleur de Lis Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124; email: art@paleodata.com

AUTHORS

Jennifer Crews is currently working as an exploration geologist in the Deepwater Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoNext Hit Business Unit at Texaco Exploration, Bellaire, Texas. She received her B.A. degree in 1995 and her M.S. degree in geology in 1998 from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her research interests include applied biostratigraphic methods and sequence analysis.

Paul Weimer holds the Bruce D. Benson Endowed Chair in Petroleum Geology in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder and is director of the Energy and Minerals Applied Research Center. His research interests are in sequence stratigraphy, reservoir geology, and petroleum systems of deep-water continental margins.

Andy Pulham has a B.Sc. in physical geography and geology from Liverpool University, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. After graduating, he spent 12 years as an international petroleum sedimentologist for British Petroleum. He has worked in the North Sea and South America and spent over three years in Houston working the deep-water Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoNext Hit. Currently, Pulham is leading a reservoir geology research consortium within the Energy and Minerals Applied Research Center in Boulder, Colorado. Andy will be an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer for 2000–2001.

Art Waterman is executive vice president of Paleo-Data, Inc., a biostratigraphic consulting firm in New Orleans. Previously, Art worked as a development geologist and paleontologist for Texaco. Since 1985 Art has specialized in Cenozoic calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy. He received his B.S. degree from St. Lawrence University and his M.S. degree in geology from Indiana University in 1975.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the following people for their help and input with this project: George Clemenceau (BP-Amoco), Anthony C. Gary (EGI, University of Utah), Garry D. Jones (Spirit Energy), and Jim Ragsdale (Agip). We thank the University of Colorado Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoNext Hit consortium sponsors for their support and input: Agip, Amerada Hess, Amoco, Anadarko, Baker-Hughes E and P Solutions, BHP, BP, Burlington, Conoco, CXY, Enterprise, Exxon, Landmark, LLE, Marathon, Maxus, Midland Valley, Mobil, Occidental, Paleo-Data, Paradigm Geophysical, Phillips, Platte River Associates, Shell, Texaco, Unocal, Union Pacific, and Vastar. We thank Halliburton (now Western Geophysical) for use of their seismic data, and Davis Ratcliff and Diamond Geophysical for permission to reproduce a seismic profile. David Knapp and John Roesink provided invaluable input on computer matters. We thank AAPG reviewers Garry Jones, Brian O'Neill, and elected editor Neil Hurley for their careful reviews that improved the manuscript.

ABSTRACT

In this article we present a series of techniques for identifying condensed sections on wire-line logs for sediments deposited in intraslope basins. A sequence stratigraphic framework can be developed quickly by integrating high-resolution biostratigraphic data from wells having wire-line logs, mud logs, and seismic data. We developed these techniques from working with Pliocene–Pleistocene sediments of the northern Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoTop.

We recognize two major types of condensed sections: carbonate-rich condensed sections (CRCS) and shale-rich condensed sections (SRCS). Paleontologically, both CRCS and SRCS are characterized by high calcareous nannofossil and foraminiferal relative abundance and an increase in diversity. The CRCS have a low gamma-ray (siliciclastic sand) signature and high spontaneous potential (SP) (at or near shale baseline) wire-line log response. The SRCS are characterized by gamma-ray and SP responses that are approximately at the shale baseline or slightly higher on wire-line logs. These two types of condensed sections can occur within the same depositional sequence, suggesting multiple factors controlling the kinds of sediments deposited within a condensed section.

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