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1 Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain manuel.segura{at}uah.es
2 Geolog SpA, Via Carlo Porta 21, 20098 San Giuliano Milanese, Milano, Italy
3 Departamento Química Agrícola, Geología y Geoquímica, Universidad Autónoma, 28049 Madrid, Spain
4 Departamento Estratigrafía, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
The logs from six oil wells drilled between 1960 and 1980 in the Upper Cretaceous succession of the Tagus Basin were analysed and correlated with surface outcrops, to estimate sedimentary environments and to detect cyclicity in sedimentation. Log interpretation has been carefully checked with outcrop data, because high peaks in gamma-ray logs, usually considered to represent open marine facies, may correspond either to open marine or to muddy coastal deposits. The former correspond to the maximum flooding surfaces of depositional sequences, whereas the latter correspond to sequence boundaries. Three second-order depositional megasequences have been recognized (MS-2, MS-3 and MS-4). The basal megasequence onlaps older rocks, grading upwards from continental to marine deposits. The megasequence MS-3 shows a basal marly transgressive interval and a thick carbonate pile at the top, grading to the SE to sabkha environments. The top megasequence is hardly recognized in surface outcrops, but in well logs it is a thick evaporite — claystone unit of mainly sabkha environments that grade westwards to coastal deposits. Sedimentation of megasequences MS-3 and MS-4 extended farther west than previously considered, covering areas considered as part of the exposed Hesperian Massif. These were areas of marine and coastal sedimentation where organic matter accumulation could be potentially high, and can be considered potential areas for oil or gas exploration.
