ALBERT

Description: The formulation of an integrated sequence-stratigraphic and biostratigraphic framework is fundamental in the design of an effective strategy for petroleum exploration in a sedimentary basin. For the interior salt basins of the Gulf coastal plain of the United States that are filled primarily with Mesozoic postrift nonmarine to marine siliciclastic and carbonate deposits, a sequence-stratigraphic approach using transgressive-regressive (T-R) sequences and integrated with biostratigraphic information has utility as a method for establishing such a framework. The sequence stratigraphy established for Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous strata is used to categorize petroleum reservoirs in the central and eastern Gulf coastal plain. Transgressive aggrading eolian, fluvial, and coastal sandstone facies of the T-R sequences include highly productive hydrocarbon reservoirs in the eastern Gulf coastal plain. Productive reservoirs in the central and eastern Gulf coastal plain include regressive infilling fluvial to nearshore marine sandstone facies, and nearshore marine, shelf, ramp, and reef carbonate facies. Transgressive backstepping nearshore marine facies include highly productive reservoirs in the central Gulf coastal plain. These transgressive and regressive facies are recognized by their wireline log patterns and seismic reflection configurations. Knowledge of the diagnostic wireline log signatures and seismic reflection characteristics assists in the detection of exploration targets. Ernest A. Mancini is a distinguished research professor in petroleum geology and stratigraphy in the Department of Geological Sciences and the director of the Center for Sedimentary Basin Studies at the University of Alabama. His research focus is on sequence stratigraphy, sedimentary basin analysis, petroleum system studies, and reservoir characterization and modeling. Jamal A. Obid earned his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama working on Jurassic sequence and seismic stratigraphy of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. He is currently with Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation working as an exploration geoscientist on domestic and international assets. Marcello Badali graduated from the University of Alabama with a Ph.D. His dissertation research focused on Lower Cretaceous seismic and sequence stratigraphy in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. He is currently a staff exploration geologist in the South Atlantic Basin Group in StatoilHydro ASA. He works on the Cuba team, focusing on carbonate geology and basin modeling. Kaiyu Liu received his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama where his research was on Upper Cretaceous scales of cyclicity and stratigraphic correlation in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. He is currently an exploration geologist for BP in London. William C. Parcell is an associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geography at Wichita State University. His research focus includes stratigraphic modeling, geoinformatics, reservoir characterization, and sedimentary basin analysis.