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AAPG Bulletin

Abstract

AAPG Bulletin, V. 92, No. 12 (December 2008), P. 1655-1686.

Copyright copy2008. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

DOI:10.1306/08130808046

Sequence-stratigraphic analysis of Jurassic and Cretaceous strata and petroleum exploration in the central and eastern Gulf coastal plain, United States

Ernest A. Mancini,1 Jamal Obid,2 Marcello Badali,3 Kaiyu Liu,4 William C. Parcell5

1Department of Geological Sciences and Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies, University of Alabama, 201 7th Ave., Room 202, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0338; [email protected]
2Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, 5 Greenway Plaza, Suite 110, Houston, Texas 77046; [email protected]
3StatoilHydro ASA, Drammensveien 264, Vakero, 0246 Oslo, Norway; [email protected]
4BP, Expat Sunbury, 2nd floor, BLD A, P.O. Box 4381, Houston, Texas 77210; [email protected]
5Department of Geology and Geography, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260; [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The formulation of an integrated sequence-stratigraphic and biostratigraphic framework is fundamental in the design of an effective strategy for petroleum exploration in a sedimentary basin. For the interior salt basins of the Gulf coastal plain of the United States that are filled primarily with Mesozoic postrift nonmarine to marine siliciclastic and carbonate deposits, a sequence-stratigraphic approach using transgressive-regressive (T-R) sequences and integrated with biostratigraphic information has utility as a method for establishing such a framework. The sequence stratigraphy established for Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous strata is used to categorize petroleum reservoirs in the central and eastern Gulf coastal plain. Transgressive aggrading eolian, fluvial, and coastal sandstone facies of the T-R sequences include highly productive hydrocarbon reservoirs in the eastern Gulf coastal plain. Productive reservoirs in the central and eastern Gulf coastal plain include regressive infilling fluvial to nearshore marine sandstone facies, and nearshore marine, shelf, ramp, and reef carbonate facies. Transgressive backstepping nearshore marine facies include highly productive reservoirs in the central Gulf coastal plain. These transgressive and regressive facies are recognized by their wireline log patterns and seismic reflection configurations. Knowledge of the diagnostic wireline log signatures and seismic reflection characteristics assists in the detection of exploration targets.

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