Tectonic and eustatic controls on sedimentary successions at passive continental margins
- Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, NY (USA)
The configuration and internal characteristics of sedimentary successions at passive continental margins are controlled largely by patterns of tectonically driven subsidence and deformation by eustasy, by the character and flux of available terrigenous sediment, and by the rate of in-situ production of carbonate and other chemical sediments, Rates of subsidence and sediment accumulation are also influenced by the effects of sediment loading and deformation and by the manner in which sediments become lithified through compaction and diagenesis. The purpose of this presentation is to explore, with reference to passive margins of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age, some of the complex interconnections and feedbacks between these controls, their characteristic time scales and rates, and the leads and lags that may be involved. In particular, the authors draw attention to the controversy concerning the roles of tectonics and eustasy in the development of unconformities. A practical application of this ongoing research is the promise of new concepts and tools for the exploration and production of oil and gas. An inherent difficulty is that none of the important variables can be isolated completely, and simplifying assumptions, although necessary for analysis, unfortunately tend to take on the aura of established fact, Models have already outstripped the data available to test them, and at best they can place bounds only on what is possible. The apparent success of a stratigraphic simulation is no guarantee that all (or even any) of the important variables are included within the starting assumptions.
- OSTI ID:
- 7034168
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-900605-; CODEN: AABUD
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Vol. 74:5; Conference: Annual convention and exposition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, San Francisco, CA (USA), 3-6 Jun 1990; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Cenozoic prograding sequences of the Antarctic continental margin - What balance between structural and eustatic control
Stratigraphic signatures of the tectonic and eustatic effects during the post-rift history of the tethyan margin in the southern Vercors (France)
Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
58 GEOSCIENCES
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
TECTONICS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
STRATIGRAPHY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
580000 - Geosciences