A regional subsurface study of the expanded Yegua Formation in the Houston Diapir Province
Conference
·
OSTI ID:45196
- CNG Producing Co., New Orleans, LA (United States)
- West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
The Eocene Yegua Formation, one of a series of Tertiary clastic wedges, prograded across the Houston Diapir province of southeastern Texas and thickens significantly basinward of the platform margin. Sandstones of the expanded Yegua represent neritic, distal mouth-bar, and shelf environments downdip from the strandline. Structural movements (growth faulting and salt diapirism) were contemporaneous with deposition and exerted a strong influence on patterns of sand dispersal, whereas sedimentation mobilized the underlying salts and triggered faulting over the unstable shelf edge. Major depocenters became established along strike-parallel growth faults, and the source for these sediments was dip-oriented feeder systems from the northwestern shelf. The faults, which trend northeastward through Liberty and Hardin Counties, several to localize thicker sand sections on the downthrown side. Salt diapirism created a major depocenter over a large withdrawl syncline in south-central Libery County, assumed to be the source for most piercement features in the study area. Thick sand sections also accumulated in other low areas due to salt withdrawel or sediment loading and to damming behind growing domes. In contrast, salt domes and ridges were generally positive topographic highs that channeled sand through interdomal conduits. Diapirism has thus compartmentalized the depocenters. Multiple Yegua sandstones now occur in several favorable structural positions (especially along growth faults and over the salt-withdrawal syncline), and these areas of thick sand accumulation constitute primary targets for petroleum exploration.
- OSTI ID:
- 45196
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-941065--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A regional subsurface study of the expanded Yegua Formation in the Houston Embayment of the upper Texas Gulf Coast
Variation of faulting on coastal salt basin diapiric structures
Intimate relationships: growth faulting and diapirism in south Louisiana
Journal Article
·
Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994
· AAPG Bulletin
·
OSTI ID:96229
Variation of faulting on coastal salt basin diapiric structures
Conference
·
Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990
· AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)
·
OSTI ID:5968155
Intimate relationships: growth faulting and diapirism in south Louisiana
Conference
·
Thu Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1985
· Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6002933