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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1990; v. 50; p. 203-219;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1990.050.01.10
© 1990 Geological Society of London

Structural styles of growth faults in the U.S. Gulf Coast Basin

J. A. Lopez

Amoco Production Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Structure and sediments related to shelf margin growth faults are an important exploration objective in the Cenozoic in the U.S. Gulf Coast basin. The syndepositional nature of these fault systems has been recognized for decades with well control and seismic. Recent seismic of higher quality and deeper penetration has begun to reveal more clearly the variety of structural styles of the ‘typical’ Gulf Coast shelf margin growth fault.

Generally five different shelf margin growth fault types are recognized: (1) listric faults which detach above undeformed older section, (2) listric faults which detach on mobile, overpressured shales above older undeformed sediments, (3) faults which sole into autochthonous salt withdrawal basins, (4) faults which detach along allochthonous salt sill intrusions, and (5) non-detached faults caused by differential compaction of thick shale intervals or basement faulting. The first four are the dominant structural types and their different structural styles reflect various modes of accommodation of fault offset within the sedimentary section. The fifth structural type, although not as commonly recognized, may be obscured by other structural complexities.

These five fault types have different structural and stratigraphic characteristics which create different trap-source-reservoir relationships for each type. By understanding and identifying the distribution of these structural types one may better understand the complex production trends established in the Gulf Coast basin and more accurately assess potential production on prospective traps.





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