Production trends of Gulf of Mexico: exploration and development
The Gulf of Mexico represents a matured hydrocarbon province with a long exploration and development history. The hydrocarbon occurrences in this province are delineated into several approximately shore-parallel trends of Miocene to Pleistocene age and a recently discovered northwest-southeast-trending deep Jurassic Norphlet trend. In addition, an Oligocene trend of limited extent is present in the western gulf. The current hottest plays of the Gulf of Mexico include the Jurassic Norphlet trend, the middle Miocene Corsair trend, and the Pliocene-Pleistocene Flexure trend. The Cenozoic sediments of the Gulf of Mexico, which are primarily regressive, were deposited in fluvial, deltaic, and interdeltaic barrier-plain environments. As the sediment source moved from the Rio Grande Embayment to the Mississippi Embayment during the Cenozoic, so did the depocenters. Salt-shale tectonics played a major role in forming hydrocarbon traps in this otherwise tectonically stable area. Most of the hydrocarbons are associated with the salt-shale domal structures and their associated fault systems and with growth faults and their associated rollover structures. Historical leasing activity on the continental margin of the Gulf of Mexico indicates that the oil industry steadily moved exploration and development activity into deeper waters and plays. Area-wide lease sales have significantly accelerated exploration and development activity of this area. Historically, the response of the activity in the Gulf of Mexico to fluctuations of oil and gas prices has differed from other areas of the US. The short-term adverse impact of declining prices on the exploration and development in the Gulf of Mexico, especially the deep-water areas, may be significant, but the long-term effect will be minimal.
- Research Organization:
- Minerals Management Service, Metairie, LA
- OSTI ID:
- 6931832
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8610199-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 70:9; Conference: 36. annual meeting of the Gulf Coast Association Geological Societies and the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, 22 Oct 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Cenozoic structural evolution and tectono-stratigraphic framework of the northern Gulf Coast continental margin
Tectonic evolution, structural styles, and oil habitat in the Sonda de Campeche, Mexico
Related Subjects
GULF OF MEXICO
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
RESERVOIR ROCK
SOURCE ROCKS
TERTIARY PERIOD
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CENOZOIC ERA
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration