Seismic reflection profiles from offshore central California: evidence for post-Miocene imbricate thrust faulting

Conference · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6647508

Crouch, J K; Bachman, S

High-resolution, 36-fold seismic reflection data with penetration to 3 sec have been collected recently in the northeastern offshore Santa Maria basin, the northern Santa Barbara Channel, and off Point Conception, California. These profiles reveal major east-over-west thrust in areas previously interpreted as being characterized by strike-slip faults and/or high-angle normal or reverse faults. Like those in well known foreland thrust belts, these faults typically from an imbricate system in which they curve asymptotically downward to a common basal sole thrust. ''Soling out'' generally occurs at depths of 1.5-3km (5000-10,000 ft). Detailed mapping of faults and folds associated with these thrust systems coupled with fault-plane solutions suggest that: these thrust formed within the last 5 m.y.,; many have modern activity; and compressive forces causing them are normal to the strike of the San Andreas fault. These observations agree with present-day plate motion studies which require that Pacific-North American relative plate motion include a component of compression orthogonal to the San Andreas fault. These overthrust regions are all sites of recent major petroleum discoveries. However, these discoveries have all been made on obvious anticlinal structures that generally are attributed to wrench tectonics. Recognition of thrust faulting in these areas may lead to additional discoveries from more subtle geologic traps associated with overthrusting.

• Research Organization: Nekton, Inc., San Diego, CA
• OSTI ID: 6647508
• Report Number(s): CONF-8405216-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 68:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CALIFORNIA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MAPPING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OFFSHORE SITES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SURVEYS
TECTONICS
USA