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Mass-Transport Deposits in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and Their Implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration

This study investigates Mio-Pliocene mass-transport deposits (MTDs) in an understudied, hydrocarbon-rich region of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The research utilizes a high-quality 3D seismic dataset with an area of 635 km2, along with wireline logs and biostratigraphic data. With the help of quantitative seismic geomorphology techniques, detailed mapping of MTDs suggests a complex erosional and depositional history. Deposition of a MTD unit resulted in a 180 m topographic high that substantially influenced the distribution and morphology of subsequent MTDs, specifically the bifurcation of later mass-transport flows. This bifurcation contributed to the generation of a non-shielded erosional remnant with an area of 65 km2. Depositional elements of the remnant strata are interpreted to be sediment waves. Instantaneous frequency attribute maps of the erosional remnant suggest a different lithology than the surrounding muddy MTDs; and, thus, the remnant unit is interpreted to be sandy. For the first time in literature, this research documented intra-MTD channel and lobe features. The development of a sinuous channel system encased within MTD gives new insights into mass-transport processes. This provides evidence for considering MTD as amalgamation deposits of multiple and different-type of flow events (e.g., turbidity currents and debris flows), rather than a singular event-deposit.
The channel, lobe, and erosional remnant features examined in this research demonstrate reservoir-prone facies encased within MTD units, forming stratigraphic traps directly associated with mass-transport phenomena. This research contributes to the understanding of seal vs. reservoir rock development and distribution in the study area, as well as presents new developments into mass-transport deposit flow processes and their resulting morphologies.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:WKU/oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-4078
Date01 October 2018
CreatorsArthur, Michael Raymond
PublisherTopSCHOLAR®
Source SetsWestern Kentucky University Theses
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceMasters Theses & Specialist Projects

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