ABSTRACT

Horizontal salt bodies are widespread sedimentary salt formations (e.g., Prairie Evaporite-Williston Basin) or salt bodies tectonically moved into a basin (e.g., Sigsbee Escarpment - Gulf of Mexico). Salt structures can be generated above and below horizontal salt bodies by holokinetic and holotectonic mobilization of the salt. The initial movement of salt in response to tectonism is commonly downward into synclines or grabens, forming thickened accumulations (salt bulges) within the horizontal salt bodies. Later holokinetic processes may create diapirs above these thickened salt bodies. Thus, in basins where both holotectonic and holokinetic mobilization has occurred, prospective structural hydrocarbon traps (e.g., anticlines, horsts) below horizontal salt bodies lie between, rather than below, the salt diapirs.

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