Seismic stratigraphy and geologic history of middle Cretaceous through Cenozoic rocks, southern straits of Florida

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6832977

Denny, III, W M; Austin, Jr, J A; Buffler, R T ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Texas, Austin (United States)

Multifold and singlefold seismic data and indirect ties to industry wells and Deep Sea Drilling Program and Ocean Drilling Program sites are used to study the middle Cretaceous to Cenozoic history of the southern Straits of Florida. Since the late Albian( ), the southern Straits of florida has evolved from a shallow-water platform to deep-water trough. This evolution is related in part to late Albian( )-middle Cenomanian drowning and segmentation of a shallow-water carbonate [open quotes]mega-bank[close quotes] which extended across the region. Since the Late Cretaceous, shallow-water deposition has continued around Cay Sal Bank and along the southern margin of the South Florida Basin, while deeper water deposition has persisted elsewhere. Evolution of the Straits of Florida is also related to Late Cretaceous-middle Eocene convergence between the North American and Caribbean plates. Regional dip towards the Cuban fold-and-thrust belt suggests that the southern Straits of Florida is an extension of the north Cuban foreland basin. A paleo-Florida Current became active during the early Paleocene along the northern limb of this foreland basin. During this time, the southern Straits of Florida were still relatively shallow and bottom currents persisted over most of the region. Rapid subsidence during the late Eocene caused a change in depositional regimes from current-dominated to predominantly pelagic/hemipelagic sedimentation. Since the late Eocene, the Florida Current has influenced deposition only in the shallower parts of the southern Straits of Florida. There may be potential for stratigraphic traps in this area. Winnowing associated with paleo-Florida Current flow may increase the potential for reservoir quality rocks within these deep-water sediments. 62 refs., 17 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6832977
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 78:3; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
CARIBBEAN SEA
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
FLORIDA
COASTAL WATERS
EXPLORATION
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
DEPOSITION
CENOZOIC ERA
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
RESERVOIR ROCK
SEDIMENTATION
SEISMIC WAVES
STRATIGRAPHY
TERTIARY PERIOD
ATLANTIC OCEAN
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
NORTH AMERICA
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration