Deep water deposits of the Tanqua and Laingsburg subbasins, southwest Karoo Basin, South Africa: Analog for the Gulf of Mexico
- Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
The Tanqua and Laingsburg subbasins in South Africa had near-contemporaneous formation and filling and contain Permian-age basin-floor and slope fans that display characteristics similar to deposits in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Outcrop area for each subbasin is about 650 km{sup 2} and individual fans range from 150 to 450 km{sup 2} with lateral continuity of individual fans up to 34 km. Both subbasins were influenced in their formation and in the architecture of their deposits by structures and events associated with the Cape Fold Belt. These fans most likely had a single point source which migrated over the time of basin fill. Unrestricted deposition suggests an open basin depositional setting. The Laingsburg subbasin was strongly influenced by the tectonism associated with the Cape Fold Belt. Deposition occurred in a deeper and narrower basin and the deposits, except for the overlying deltaics cannot be correlated with those of the Tanqua subbasin. The two subbasins, while associated with an active margin, were likely filled at slightly different times. Both had a distant source area which led to deposits exhibiting characteristics of a passive margin depositional environment. Understanding the evolution of the subbasins and the tectonic conditions under which the submarine fans were deposited leads to the determination of the mechanisms that influenced the formation of the fans and their resulting architecture. These fans permit detailed studies on their architecture necessary to (1) increase our understanding of fine-grained, {open_quotes}low{close_quotes} sandstone/shale ratio fans, (2) determine influences of paleostructures and tectonics on basin fill, (3) carry out detailed reservoir simulation programs, and (4) make predictive models of deep-water sands in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
- OSTI ID:
- 150574
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9510222-; ISSN 0149-1423; TRN: 95:007541-0047
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 79, Issue 10; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAGS) Gulf Coast Section meeting, Baton Rouge, LA (United States), 25-27 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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