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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

GCAGS Transactions

Abstract


Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
Vol. 40 (1990), Pages 737-743

Biostratigraphic Application to Pliocene-Miocene Sequence Stratigraphy of the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico and its Integration to Lithostratigraphy

R. N. Rosen (1), W. A. Hill (1)

ABSTRACT

Detailed biostratigraphic facies analysis and well log characteristics, combined with sequence stratigraphic techniques, assisted in developing stratigraphic basin models for the central and western Gulf of Mexico, which enables correlation between shelf and slope environments. Total abundance of arenaceous and calcareous foraminiferal assemblages assists in identifying high stand and transgressive system tracts. Integration of these biostratigraphic data with well log characteristics and internal sand quality is used to identify sand-prone intervals, which when combined with geophysical data, assists in recognizing low stand system tracts.

Use of highest stratigraphic occurrences of fossils, or "tops," alone is not compatible with seismic stratigraphic techniques. Paleontologic data, when used as a whole, does help identify major sequence boundaries and depositional environments relative to the shelf edge during each sequence cycle. Further, the combination of well logs, for the interpretation of sand quality and quantity from log characteristics, seismic line patterns and paleontological data permits identification of system tracts within each sequence cycle. When constructing a stratigraphic cross section utilizing the above information, vertical and lateral scale can be assigned to sequence cycles not obvious from seismic data alone.


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