How oil seeps, discoveries relate in deepwater Gulf of Mexico

Journal Article · Mon Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6490937

Sassen, R; Brooks, J M; Kennicutt, II, M C; MacDonald, I R; Guinasso, Jr, N L ^[1]

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1. Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, College Station, TX (United States)

Biomarker compounds of crude oils from deep-water Gulf of Mexico seeps are consistent with an origin from deeply-buried Mesozoic carbonate source rocks. The known oil reserves, however, are trapped in shallow Miocene to Pleistocene sands. Several kilometers of vertical migration must be invoked to explain the presence of crude oil from deep sources in shallow reservoir sands. Salt-related fractures and faults serve as efficient conduits for vertical migration through the thick sedimentary section. Thermal history models suggest that oil migration off Louisiana started during the Miocene and continues at present in some areas. The paper describes visual inspection of seeps; gives an overview of the deep Gulf; and discusses seeps and fields, case histories, and frontier basins.

• OSTI ID: 6490937
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Vol. 91:16; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
GULF OF MEXICO
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
INSPECTION
MESOZOIC ERA
OIL FIELDS
PLEISTOCENE EPOCH
SAND
SEEPS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CENOZOIC ERA
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MASS TRANSFER
MINERAL RESOURCES
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RESOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration