Forming and Filling of the Gulf of Mexico Basin: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Tectonics, Source Rocks, and Petroleum Systems

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 8:20 am – 4:10 pm

The Gulf of Mexico formed in the Jurassic as a small ocean basin with extensive rifted margins (the ‘Gulf Coast basins’). The geometry of the opening and the texture of blocks and basins that were generated profoundly affected later deposition of source rocks and hydrocarbon reservoirs, the maturation and migration of hydrocarbons, and movement of salt. These effects were strongest in the Jurassic and Cretaceous— just the times when most of our significant source rocks were deposited.

The symposium includes:

• Two papers on the tectonics of Gulf of Mexico opening (Pindell; Harris and others), followed by an overview of the petroleum systems of the basin (Creaney).
• Examination of depositional systems and sequences of the basin fill for the Jurassic (Mancini and Ahr) and Cretaceous (Scott).
• The Jurassic is the focus of several papers, on paleogeography as shown by detrital zircons in the Norphlet (Lovell), stratigraphy and exploration in the Smackover (Petty), source rocks in the Smackover (Sassen), and Kimmeridgian (Haynesville-age) oolites in Mexico (Flores and others).
• Finally, the entire Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous section is examined for exploratory potential in the South Texas frontier(Ewing) and Gulf-wide for hydrocarbon resource assessment (Dubiel and others).

This is a special invited symposium in memory of Fred Stricklin, eminent Cretaceous and Jurassic stratigrapher and explorer.Presentations are 30 minutes long, and allow time for discussion. Also part of the symposium is the GCSSEPM and SymposiumLuncheon, a separately ticketed event.

Stricklin Syposium Schedule

Symposium Conveners: T. E. Ewing, Frontera Exploration Consultants, San Antonio, Texas E. A. Mancini, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas