GSTT (1991) An Evaluation of Post Middle Miocene Geological Sequences Offshore Trinidad

70
AN EVALUATION OF POST-MIDDLE MIOCENE

GEOLOGICAL SEQUENCES, OFFSHORE TRINIDAD
Neil Payne
Trinidad and Tobago Oil Company Limited
Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad
ABSTRACT
The Post-Middle Miocene sediments in the offshore areas around Trinidad can be divided into two (2) main depositional
sequences, which can be distinguished using seismic response differences, stratigraphic relationships, relative age dating
and by identUication of depositional regime. They consist of an older progradational series [Sequence (A)] and a younger,
retrogradational or aggradational series [Sequence (B)]. Sequence (A) sediments filled the already existing Southern Basin
and the syndeposltlonal Northern Basin with sandy clastic facies up to Mid-Pliocene time. Toward the end of the Pliocene,
subsidence and uplift occurred concomittantly along a series of northwest-trending (Type II) faults and northeast-trending
(Type I) faults respectively. This resulted in the formation of sub-basins in which Sequence (B) sediments were deposited,
and the simultaneous uplift of the Southern Basin. Oil migrated into this high along basement-relatedType I faults and splays
of these, becoming trapped in the associated structures. Additional transcurrent movement occurred along Type II faults,
displacing, tc various degrees. the compressive structures formed by the Type I faults.
INTRODUCTION
Inthis paper theterm "Post-MiddleMiocene" refersto that
geological period which is younger that the Globorotalia
menardii planktonic zone of Middle Miocene age. The
sediments of this period have accounted for over eighty
percent (80%) of Trinidad's oil production and are
considered to be highly explored and in a mature state of
development. However, there remain some unanswered
questions about the stratigraphic and structural evolution
of the various sub-basins of this period and, as a result,
their hydrocarbon potential cannot be considered fully
explored.
This paper focuses onthetwo oil-producingsub-basins of
the post-Middle Miocene period, the Northern and
Southern Basins. The north coast Tobago Basin was not
included as rt is considered to be in a different petroleum
province and has been recently discussed in a paper
published by Robertson and Burke (1989).
The analyses were done with the aim of (i) establishing
inter-basinal, relative time-stratigraphic correlations and
identifying common tectonostratigraphic relationships,
(ii) examinin!;J the timing and style of structuring and (iii)
making conclusions on the mode of oil accumulation and
recommending methods for further exploration and
development.
The area of study lies between the Northern Range to the
North and the Amacuro Delta to the South. To the west
and east, tho limits were set at the Venezuelan territorial
boundary and the Trinidad and Tobago deep water
acreages respectively (Fig. 1).
DATABASE AND METHODOLOGY
The data used comprises a small part of an extensive
network of reflection seismic lines and exploration wells
throughout the study area (Fig. 1). The line numbers and
well names have been omitted and replaced by simple
numerical designations, but their correct locations are
indicated.
The method adopted was an integrated one, in which
various data types were analysed to arrive at one common
interpretation. However, the reflection seismic tool
provided the basis for all interpretations as it allowed for
unique subsurface imaging of regional stratigraphic and
structural relationships, a main objective of the study.
Seismic Data
The seismic data examined included all available surveys
intheir respective areas. Most ofthedeeper, regional data
were older lines shot mainlyfor reconnaissanca purposes.
These are stili some ofthe most valuable data for regional
work and have generally improved with reprocessing.
Well Data
The well data used consisted mainly of wireline logs and
of palynological, lithological and biostratigraphic reports
and summaries.
The palynological zonation system was developed byE.
Gonzales, and is familiar to most of the oil companies
operating in Trinidad. This zonation shows some
consistency with seismic correlation and was applied on
a broad basis for correlating formations and seismic
events in time across major fault boundaries. Due to the
Transactions ofthe 2ndGeological Conference oftheGSn; Ed. ](A Gillezeau; Published byGSn; 1991
2nd Geological Conference of the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago - 1991
---,--
71
60"-00'
11'-00
\
\
\
\
"
\,
"
"
\
\
\
\
. ~
I
I
I
i
i
10'-00i,
I
I
i
!
!
I
i
~ - - _ .... !
!
!
I
i
.... 60"-00'!
''-.._._._._._._._1-._._._._.._._._ ...J
61 '-00'
ss Cl.....
..,:\
e: 0.
e" SO S,',
$3
--------..-......
20 4Dk",
, .
, ,
10 2_.
VENEZUELA
62"-00'
62"-00'
11"-00'
Figure 1: Location Map, -.-.-= Limit of Study; =Location of seismic Hnes and sections;
----- =Sub-basin limits
limited information available to this writer on the value of
this classification in defining absolute time markers, the
zones will be used In this paper as a relative
chronostratigraphic tool only.
Lithological and biostratigraphic summaries of mainly
benthonic foraminiferal data were used to identify
formations and the paleoenvironments.
In the Post-Middle Miocene, offshore Trinidad, two (2)
such sequences have been identified. These can be
distingUished mainly by their reflection seismic character
and seismic/stratigraphic relationships. TI1eycanalso be
broadly identified using palynological (p()lIen) and, to a
lesser degree, lithological and paleontological
(foraminifera) data.
STRATIGRAPHY
Depositional Sequences
Theterm"Deposltlonal sequence" is used inthis paper to
signify a genetically related group of sediments which is
governedby aparticular set ofexistingtectonic conditions.
The two sequences represent (i) an oIdElr, high-energy
progradational to aggradational series [Sequence (A)]
and (iI) a younger, lower-energy, retrogradatlonalto
aggradational series [Sequence (6)]. Sequence (A)
sediments are generally of UMI to rnlddle PII age, while
Sequence (6) sediments are from upper 1;)11 to Recent in
age (Figs. 2,3).
The Northern Basin
Thestratigraphic sequence fortheNorthern Basinoffshore
is best observed in Gulf of Paria wells (Fig. 2), where it is
more or less the same as that displayed on the Geological
map of Trinidad (Kugler 1959).
The older series, Sequence (A), estimated by correlation
to be UMI to PI in age in the north, consists of a massive
conglomerate, the Cunapo Formation, which aggrades
along the southern flank of the Northern Range and
interfingers southwards with the Manzanilla Formation, a
prograding deltaic sequence. The members of the
Manzanilla formation, from oldest to youngest, are: the
San Jose Calcareous Silt, the Montserrat Glauconitic
Sandstone and the Telemaque Sandstone. The former
two are interpreted to be shallow-marine shelf sands,
while the latter is a brackish-water deltaic sand with some
lignite beds. In the extreme south of the Basin, the
Manzanilla Sands are fine-grained and mature, and the
top of the sequence is of PII age, indicating a southwards
directed proqradatlon (Figs. 2, 4B).
In the proximal eastern offshore area, the Manzanilla
Formation is assumed to exist, based on extrapolation of
Kugler's map and sections. However, the well N-1, which
was drilled further offshore and to the north, encountered
mainly shales of undifferentiated Miocene and Pliocene
age (Fig. 2), indicating that in this area the high-energy,
sandy facies may have been replaced by a lower-energy,
sand-starved facies.
Themaximumdrilled thicknessoftheManzanillaFormation
and equivalents is about 6,500', but this should increase
along the basin axis where the sequence has not been
fully penetrated.
On seismic, the ManzanillajCunapo group appears as a
series of discontinuous or chaotic events, sometimeswith
bedding attitudes indicative of progradation (Figs. 4, 6).
Sequence (13) in the Gulf of Paria consists mainly of the
shaly and Talparo Formations.
The Talparo is a dominantly marginal marine to brackish
clay formation with few, but widespread sand bodies.
These sands are excellent seismic and well log markers,
the most prominent being the Durham Sands at the base
oftheTalparoand the Sum SumSands which occur atthe
beginning of PIli and Pleistocene times respectively.
The Formation represents the onset of
Sequence (B) conditions and contains abundant shell
fragments and some lignite beds. It isan intermediate unit
and in SOmE! areas, such as along the flanks of the Central
Range, is overlain unconformably by the Talparo group
(Barr and Saunders 1968). The thickness of the formation
varies widely, indicative of changing conditions during its
deposition.
72
Sequence (B) can easily be recognised and distinguished
from Sequence (A) on seismic, appearing as a series of
continuous, high frequency reflectors. The Springvale is
often seen as a zone of poor reflectors between the
Manzanilla and Talparo Formations (Fig. 4).
The Southern Basin
The Southern Basin sediments have been divided into an
eastern and awestern facies, based largelyon lithological
and environmental variations, but both belong genetically
to the same deltaic regime. Sequence (A) and Sequence
(B) sediments can be distinguished from each other,
based on seismic character differences, but Sequence
(B) remains sandy, and changes in lithology and
environment are not easily Identified. However, careful
examination of electriclogcurves reveals a subtle change
from progradational (coarsing upwards) to aggradational
or retrogradational (fining upwards) trends in Sequence
(B) (Fig. 2).
In the Erin Syncline and west Columbus Channel areas
(Fig. 1) Sequence (A) is represented by the Cruse and
Forest Formations (Fig. 2). These formations include the
pro-deltaic Lower Cruse clays which provide much of the
diapiric material associated with the uplifted areas of the
Southern Basin. The Lower and Middle Cruse sands are
mainlyturbidites associated with these deep-water clays,
whereas in the case of the Upper Cruse and Forest
Formations, delta front bars and channels form the main
sand bodies (Fig. 2). The entire sequence can beas much
as 10,000 feet thick.
Sequence (B) consists of the upper Morne L'Enfer and
ErinFormations. Ingeneral,the Morne L'Enfer isinterpreted
to be a marginal-marine to lower delta-plain deposit in
which a large variety of sand deposits occurs.
The Erin Formation, which unconformably overlies the
Morne L'Enfer in the Erin Syncline (Fig. 9 and Barr and
Saunders 1968) is a sand and clay sequence which
contains much evidence (e.g. abundant plant remains) of
being a terrestrial deposit. Wells drilled in the Columbus
Channel have documented Talparo type environments.
In the East Coast, progradation of Sequence (A)
sediments towards the northeast is clearly visible on
seismic datalocated onthe undeformedAmacuroPlatform
(Fig. 4). The depocenter for all this sediment was the large
Columbus Basinareawhere the Lower Cruse, Gros Morne
and Mayaro Formations of UMI to PII age were deposited
(Fig.3).lntheproximal ColumbusBasinarea,this sequence
is 11,000feet thick (Bane &Changpong 1979)I whereas in
the more distal areas thicknesses of over 20,000 feet are
estimated from seismic data. The top of the sequence in
this area has also been interpreted to be possibly as
young as Pili, attesting to the time-transgressive extent of
the progradation.
TheLowerCruse, assumed to havebeenthefirst deposited
73
-1000'
PL
-2000'
-:1000'
P 111
-4000'
P
P II
P 1I1
-seee:
p
-'000'
H
7
-7000'
-.
-8000'
.:.:.
....:.
-'000'
.:.:.
.:.:.
';. .....
-10000'

:-:.
.:.:.
(j
-)1000'
1{
P 1
7
-12000'
.:.:.
"
...

-13000'
p )
-14000'
Nl
0

-;.:.
-ISOOo-
-:.:
)
.... :.
-\6000'
....
.
....
"
....:.
-17000'
S4
S2
0
0
Figure 2: A comparison of selected well logs from offshore areas around Trinidad.
Northern Basin Formations/Members: Ml=Manzani11a; TM=Telemaque; SP=Springvale; T=Talparo;
cO=Cunapo; MO=Montserrat Glauconitic Sand; DS=Durham Sand; SS=Sum Sum Sand.
Southern Basin Formations/Members: LC=Lower Cruse; MC=Middle' Cruse; UC=Upper Cruse;
F=Forest; ML=Morne L'Enfer; L7=Lot 7 Silt; LG=Lower GrosMorne; UG=Upper Gros Morne;
P=Palmiste and Post-Palmiste. Zones: PL=Pleistocene; PI-PI I I=Pliocene;
UMI-UMI I=Upper Miocene; P=Pliocene (undl ferentiated); M=Miocene
Miocene or older; K=Cretaceous.
Progradational series (Sequence A)
c=:J Retrogradational or aggradational series (Sequence B)
NOA:THERN BASIN SOUTHERN BAS I N
74
illlli>
o U:OU[HCr: e
JEQU[HC(.
LSJ' "ROG"AOATION
__ DIA.PIRIC. MOI!JILE SHALE
PRE- MIDDLE MIOCENE FORMAT/ONS
AGE
PALYNC'
ZONES

... z ...
0'"

"'0
w

-'
G.
t:j
G.
...
z
I:l
...
s G.
:J
G.
H
G.
I=l
...
::E
a:z

......
tg

::E
...
C/)
0
0'" z
00
f?
-..J
::EO
'" "'0 z
-'z oC
8C -'
i
G.
NORTH SOUTH
CEDROS
UPPER TALPARO
LOWER TALPARO
PRE-MIDDLE
MIOCENE
FORMATIONS
NORTH
OARlEN RIDGE
NON
DEPOSITION
PALMISTE?
EAST
DEEP WATER
POST PALIrtISTE
PALIrtISTE r
CENTRAL
TEAK, SECC
POST
PALMISTE
SOUTH
AMACURO PLATFORM
POST PALMISTE ?
PALMISTE?
WEST
ERIN SYNCLINE
ERIN
Lo' 7 Silt
MORNE L' ENFER
,.,,,, c/o,
PALYNO AGE .
ZONES
;J1
'"
'"
...
,..
..
z
,.
d
z
n
en
Generalized stratigraphic chart of Trinidad offshore areas (modified after Kugler, 1959).
Note strongly Prograding Sediments of Sequence (A).
pro-delta clays here, have been displaced to a large
degree by diapiric activity intothe cores of uplifted ridges
and rollover anticlines.
Sequence (B) formations in the east coast are not well
documented ill the literature. Although the section remains
quite sandy, e.g. the Palmiste Formation (Fig. 2), the
seismic characer resembles that of the Northern Basin
equivalents (Fig. 4, 8), indicative of a similar change in
depositional This is supported by paleontological
data, e.g. in the Palmiste clay, which displays distinct
marine features.
UNCONFORMITY ANALYSIS AND
TIMING OF UPLIFTS
Northern Bnin
In the eastern Northern Basin (Fig. 5) Upper Miocene,
Pliocene [Sequence (A)] and possibly older sediments
onlapped the Northern RangejTobago metamorphic
basement. Within the Pliocene, uplift began along the
basin axis and southern limits, reSUlting in a narrowing of
the Upper Pliocene basin. Offshore, uplift and erosion
ceased towards the end of the Pliocene, and a relatively
undeformed Pleistocene basin was formed and filled with
Sequence (6) sediments (Fig. 5A). Onshore, however,
compressive stresses persisted longer and only a thin
Pleistocene (Upper Talparo) cover was deposited (Fig.
5B, Kugler 1959).
In the Gulf of Paria (Fig. 6), simultaneous tectonic events
took place. Inthe vicinity ottheEIPilarfaulttrend, collapse
and rotation occurred during and at the end of Sequence
(A) withthe formation of a conglomerate-filled half-graben
(Fig. 6B). As inthe east coast area, uplift ceased at the end
of the Pliocene and Upper Talparo clays (Pleistocene)
were deposited unconformably on the Cunapo
conglomerates. Just south and east of EI Pilar (Fig. 6A)
subsidence occurred slightly earlier with Lower Talparo
clays beingdeposited on the unconformitysurface, which
is also not very strongly erosional in this area. In well N-2
(Fig. 2), the uppermost Cunapo Formation displays a
retrogradational log character. Indicating the onset of
Sequence (B) conditions even before the main erosional
.phase.
Collapse and rotation within the northern Gulf of Parla
occurredalong major northwest/southeast-alignedfaults,
resulting in a wide rifted basinwith two (2) prominent horst
features, the Gulf and Domoll Highs (Fig. 13). Along the
basin axis, this activity continued into the Pleistocene,
resulting in the accumulation of thick Sequence (A) and
Sequence (B) sediments along a major structural
lineament, the Central Range (or Warm Springs) Fault.
South of this Fault zone lies the original Central Range, a
nowburied high on WhiCh (A) onlap
and overwhich Soquence (B) sedimentshavetransgressed
(Figs. 9,10).
75
Southern Basin
In the Southern Basin (Fig. 7), uplift along the Southern
Range /Galeota Ridge occurred at similar times to the
Northern Basin, beginning at the end of Sequence (A) (PII
time) and continuing Intothe Pleistocene. Herealso, local
unconformity/pinchouts can be seen at the base of
reflectors of Pleistocene and PIli age respectively.
In the Columbus Basin (Fig. 8), unconformities were also
formed due to rollovers and slumping across northest/
southwest-trending faults. Growth across fault throws is
largest in the Pleistocene (proximal areas) and Intra-
Pleistocene (distal areas), indicating that the uplifts along
the Southern Range during Sequence (B) time had
narrowed the depocenter of the Columbus Basin. The
clearly discernible difference between the prograding or
chaotic reflectors of the Sequence (A) (Gros Morne/
Mayaro) and the parallel, high frequency reflectors of
Sequence (B) (Palmisteand younger) reflects the change
in depositional conditions and is strongly reminiscent of
sediments in the Northern Basin, where related changes
occurred at the same time.
Central Range
The relationship between the Central Range and the
Northern and Southern Basins is a complex one and
involves the juxtaposition of both older and younger
Highs.
Figure 9 is a seismic section across the Southern Gulf of
Paria. It shows that three (3) high areas exist along the
Northern/Southern Basin Boundary, each with a different
structural expression.
The northernmost feature, the Central Range Fault, is a
young massive flower structure which runs along the axis
of the Northern Basin. .
The Brighton/North Marine High is an older, now buried,
feature, on which Manzanilla and Springvale sediments
onlap both from the north and south (Fig. 10).
The Soidado High is the present-day Northern Basin/
SouthernBasinboundarywhereUpperTalparo [Sequence
(B)] sediments onlap Cruse, Forest and Lower Morne
L'Enfer sediments [Sequence (A)], which themselves
appear to be locally thrusted over Manzanilla [Northern
Basin Sequence (A)] sediments in a complex
compressional event.
Figure 9 also shows that the Soidado High, the Erin
Syncline and the Southern Range are young features
(Post-Sequence (A) time) and that the Erin Formation, a
largely terrestrial deposit, represents the fill of this newly-
formed basin.
---,
Figure 10 (A-C) shows some interpreted seismic sections
along the present-day Northern Basiin/Southern Basin
boundary in the North Marine/ S()ldado area. This
boundary is now actually fault controliled (the Los Bajos
Fault) and the original Central Range, now masked by the
Soldado uplift, is recognised by the onlap of Manzanilla
[Sequence (A)] sediments on the Brighton/NM5 High.
Cruse and Forest [Southern Basin Sequence (A)]
sediments onlap or thin against an older feature which is
no longer in place (Fig. 10 A,B). Assuming that the
Manzanilla sediments of the North Soidado Graben must
haveextended some distanceto the South, it Isquite likely
that they are either (i) an onlap facles of the Southern
Basin, or (ii) the rift system of the Northern Basin which
extendedfurther souththanthe present-dayCentral Range.
In the east coast area, the onlapping of sediments with
both Sequence (A) and Sequence (8)) characteristics is
seen in the vicinity of the Darien R i d ! ~ e (Fig. 11). These
sediments, which represent Southern Basin onlap of the
Central Range, should be of the Gros Morne/Mayaro/
Palmiste suite, but this information was not available to
this writer.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
For some time now, it has been postulated that oblique
collision has occurred in the Tertiary period between the
Caribbean and South American plates, and that strike slip
tectonics have played a major role in the structuring of
Trinidad during the late Pliocene to Pleistocene (Wilson
1968, Persad 1986, Tyson 1988) (Pindell and Barrett,
1988; Robertson and Burke, 1989). This study provides
strong evidence to support this.
Structural Lineaments
Figure 12 is a map of structural trends throughout the
study area. With the exception of the Northern Range,
Central Range and Erin Syncline onshore (Kugler 1959),
the data have been extracted from sub-surface maps
drawn at or near the end of the Pliocenli![(topof Sequence
(A)]. Two main fault types exist: (1) a series of long,
anastomosingeast-west or northeast-southwest trending
lineaments(TypeI) and (2)asubordinat groupof numerous
northwest/southeast-trending faults (Type II).
Type I faults are compressional or transpressional,
exhibiting either flower structures on setsmic (Fig. 9) and/
or possessing diapiric cores, as in the cases of the
Southern Range anticline (Fig. 9) and Darien Ridge (Fig.
11). Based on extrapolation, it is reasonable to assume
that these faults must exist onshore, and that correlative
features, e.g. the Balata/Penal-BarrackporeHigh (Kugler,
1959), are also Pliocene Uplifts of the same type.
Type II faults are extensional to transtensional and appear
to be both basement-involved and detached. Evidence of
the former can be seen in the vicinity of the EI Pilar fault
zone (Fig. 680, the Los Bajos Fault and in the Columbus
N
2 TP
3
4
6
4L ....
T RIN lOAD -+--.. VEr-;EZuELA
I
OEfO,uIATION FRONT
'-__-c'O:::-km __---'
AMACURO
( A)
P LA T F 0 R.M
DATA COURTESY LAOOVEN S ....
2
3
4
6
(BI
s
o "T""----.:::=
',0
2'0
3()
4-0
5km
NORTHERN BASIN GULFOF PARIA
N-4
1]
Figure .. :
(A) North-South progradation of Orinoco delta sediments on the
Amacuro Platform into the Columbus Basin. PL=Pleistocene;
TP=Top Progradation; PS=Prograding Sequence; TK=Top Cretaceous;
MM=Near Top Middle Miocene.
(8) Characteristic Seismic line, Northern Basin, Gulf of Paria.
Note similarities in seismic response between Upper and Lower
sequences with Figure 4(A). UT=Upper Talparo; SS=Sum Sum Sands;
LT=Lower Talparo; DS=Durham Sands; SPV=Springvale;
o Sequence (B)
o Sequence (A)
77
5Km
N
s
NORTHERN RANGE
0- .., .
N-l
(A)
EL PILAR
CENTRAL
RANGE
5km
S
FLANK OF CENTRAL
RANGE
'fJj- 0
(8)
N
NORTHERN EL PILAR
RANGE
o
..

Fiure 5: Structural-Stratigraphic
re ationships along the Eastern
Northern Basin.
(A) Offshore East Coast showing
on1appi ng Mi ocene and Pl i 0-
cene sediments being strongly
uplifted in the Middle Plio-
cene with subsequent re 1ax-
ation of stress and the
formation of a Pleistocene
basin with marked erosional
unconformity at its base.
PL=Pleistocene; P=Pliocene
(undifferentiated); M=Miocene
(undifferentiated); MM=Middle
Miocene; LK=Lower Cretaceous
UK=Upper Cretaceous
(8) Onshore Caroni Basin. Similar situation with onlapping Springvale and Manzanilla sediments (UMI-PII
age) being uplifted along the axis of the Northern Basin. Collapse has also occurred along the El
Pilar trend. Note that there is little Pleistocene present.
UT=Upper Talparo; LT=Lower Talparo; SPV=Springvale; MZ=Manzanilla; c==J Sequence (B);
H::}}:) Sequence (A) .
N
5 km
EL PILAR TREND
GULF
HIGH
s

L-J
!Hm
( A)
Figure 6: Structural-Stratigraphic along the
Western Northern Basin.
(A) Unconformable relationship between Cunapo Conglomerate
(CUN) and the overlying Talparo formation. Note
southward di rected s1umpi og of Cunzpo and Manzanill a
sediments.
(B) Collapse and rotation along a fault within the 1
Pilar trend. The age of the sediments is not known,
but seismic character correlations hove been used.
SS=Sum Sum Sands (Upper Talparo)j DS=Durham Sands (Lower
Talparo); MZ=Manzanillaj MM=Middle Miocene; K=Cretaceous;
LK=Lower Cretaceous; (A)=Sequence Aj (B)=Sequence B
N
L.--.
s
GALEOTA
RIDGE
2
5-6
2
Figure 1: Structural/Strati-
graphic relationships along
the South Flank of the Caleota
Ridge/Southern Range uplift.
DATA COuRTESY AMOCO TR'NIDAD LTD.
\.
o
PL=Pleistocene
c==J Sequence (B)
1;0:/4 Sequence (A)
(A) Eastern Columbus Channel. Initial uplift here
appears to be slightly earlier (End PI) but the
main unconformity is still at the base of
Sequence (B) (PIT time). Note other
unconformities at base PIII and base
Pleistocene.
(8) Proximal Columbus Basin area showing good
seismic to palynology tie. Uplift started at
the end of pII time and continued into Recent
with intermittent interruptions, especially at
Base Pleistocene.
s
(8)
s-z
,-,---------.----'---,- 0
!Hm
SOUlHlRN
RANGE
N
o
r
2
3
4
5
6
7
sw
AMACUROICOLUMBUS
PLATFORM BASIN
I

":=J. .._.
IOkm
S-4
NE
DA TIl COURTESY S. E. C.C. LT D.
o
I'
2
3
4
5
6
8: Deformation in the Columbus Basin. Collapse along main listric fault (a) appears to be related to a deeper-
lYlng break in the underlying platform sequence, assumed here to be Cretaceous. Faults (b) and (c) also appear to be
vertical.
MM=Middle Miocene to Lower Tertiary Shales; TP=Top Prograding Unit; K=Near Top Cretaceous;
1),::1 Sequence (A)
o Sequence (B);
N
IOkm
s
<XI
.....
<
NORTHERN BAS I N SOUTHERN BAS IN
>
CENTRAL RANGE
UPLIFT
CENTRAL "ANOE
FAULT
NORTH MARINE
HIGH
SOLOAOO
HIGH
LOS BAJOS FAULT
ERIN SYNCLINE SOUTHERN
RANGE
OIAPIR
COLUMBUS
CHANNEL
DATA COURTESY TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO OIL COMPANY LTD. AND T'UHMAlit LTD.
Figure 9: Seismic montage across the Southern Gulf of Paria showing structural/stratigraphic relationships between the
Northern and Southern Basins.
Sequence (A): L7=Lot 7 Silt; TF=Top Forest Fm.; TC=Top Cruse Fm.; TMC=Top Middle Cruse Fm.; MZ=Manzanilla.
Sequence (B): SS=Sum Sum Sands; UT=Upper Talparo or equivalent; LT=Lower Talparo Fm.; SPV=Springvale
MM=Middle Miocene or older
The Soldado High and Southern Range are Pliocene uplifts against which Talparo and equivalents onlap from the north and
south. The Columbus Channel and the Northern Basin became separated as a direct result of this uplift. Manzanilla and
Middle to Lower Cruse sediments onlap older, buried Middle-Miocene Highs in the North-Marine/Soldado areas which are now
juxtaposed as a result of movements along the Los Bajos Fault which have stopped only in Upper Talparo (Intra-
Pleistocene). Note massive Flower structure of the Central Range Fault.
.,1
(Al
CENTRAL
RANGE
FAULT
N
o
u
!lk..
NM-!l HIGH
-
--
SOLDADO HIGH ERIN SYNCLINE . SOUTHERN
RANGE
s
CENTRAL
RANGE
fAULT
BRIGHTON/
NM HIGH
NORTH
SOLDADO LOS BAJOS
GRABEN FAULT
SOLDADO HIGH ERIN SYNCLINE SOUTHERN
RANGE
(B)
te)
CENTRAL
RANGE
FAULT
N
BRIGHTON /
NM HIGH
ERIN SYNCLINE SOUTHERN
RANGE
5
ft
o
:
Figure 10: Interpreted Seismic Sections in the Southern Gulf of Paria. Note stratigraphic and structural relationships
[os Bajos Fault Vicinity.SS=Sum Sum Sands; DS=Durham Sands; SPV=Springvale; MZ=Manzani11a; E=Eriin j \ L7=Lot 7 Silt;
Forest; TC=Top Cruse; LC=Top LOfer Cruse; TL=Top Lengua (Middle Miocene); I:}})::! Sequence (A); Sequence (6);
Di aparic Shale
in the
TF=Top
~
83
N
CENTRAL
RANGE
DARIEN RIDGE
.sOUTHERN
BASIN
s
OATA COUfIITESY TAINIOAO ANO TO.AOO IiIlIlt4lSTIn 01' CNCftOY
Figure 11: Seismic line acrosa the Darien Ridge showing
~ e n t r a \ Range being onlapped by Sequence (AI and Sequence
(B) aedimenta. Note Flower Structure with reverse fault at
lower right. HM=Middle Miocene and older.
Figure 12: Structural trend map, Trinidad, ahowlng compreulve (Type I I and extenalonal (Type II I hulta"
--Type I; -- Type II. Note anti clockwise rotation of compressive structures.
A"Arima Fault; e-chupna Fault; P"El Pilar lineament; CR=Central Range Fault; LB=Los Bajoa Fault;,
B=Brighton Anticline; CH-Culf High; DH-Oomoil High; S=Soldado High; NM=North Marine High; O=Debe"
Wellington Anticline; B/e-earrackpore-Balata Anticline; DR-Darien Ridge, CRaCaleotli Ridge; SR-Southerr,
Range; DE=Deformation Edge; RQ..Rock Dome Anticline
Basin, where apparent vertical faults cut Into the Top
Cretaceous "basement" (Fig. 8).These TypeII Faults are
commonthroughoutTrinidad (Kugler 1959) andmay be
single largedisplacements, e.g. LosBajos, or a series of
closelyspaced en echelon faults. Evidence of the latter
canbe foundInmanysub-surfaceoilfieldmaps(Ablewhlte
andHlgglm;, 1968).
Simultaneous Development of
Exterlslonal and Compressional Features
The simultaneous development of extensional and
compressional structures Is a characteristic feature of
strike-slip tectonlcs(Christie-Blick and Biddie, 1985).
Figure 13Is, a comparison of two (2) regional schematic
seismic sections on the east and west coast areas of
Trinidad. The present-day Northern Basin In the Gulf of
Parla appears as a typlcl rift basin, with horsts, grabens
and deep-seated, high-angie, normal-throw faults. The
Southern B,asln ontheotherhand, Iscompressional, with
Indication of' high angle reverse faulting. Evidence of
compression IntheNorthernBasinattheendof Sequence
(A) canalsobeseen, especially Intheeastcoast (Fig. 5).
Fault planes, whenprojectedatdepth,appeartocoalesce
Into a few major fault zones which are vertical and
basement-related.
These compressive and extensional areas arebounded
by malor structural lineaments consisting of bothTypeI
andTypeIIjfaults (Fig. 12). Compressionalongtheformer
andtranscurrent movement alongthelatterhave resulted
In the formation of basins and uplifts of the same age,
adjacenttoeachother. Thisrelationshipwasdocumented
byTyson(1 '988) whodescribedtheeffectsof transcurrent-
reverse fault couplesInthe southwestern Trinidad area.
An analysis. of Fig. 12 shows that other similar couples
exist, e.g.Intheeastern NorthernBasin, andthatadditional
majorshealring appearstooccuralongTypeIIfaultswhen
a certain strain threshold for the TypeI compressions Is
crossed. AlJoodexampleof thisappearstobetheeastern
onshore Nc)rthern Basin areawheremovement alongthe
Chupura (Kugler, 1959) hasapparently pushed and
rotated the eastern portionsof the Central Range south-
eastwards. The degree of displacement Is not large In
situations likethese, whererotationleadsto a resolution
of the forces within the sub-block and transcurrent
movement ceases. ThestressIsthenprobablyiransformed
to anotherblock. Inareas of lessrotation, e.g., alongthe
Los Balos Fault, lateral displacement should be larger.
Thisrotational effectprobablyreflects basement-Involved
adjustment of crustal blocks (Christie-Blick and Biddie,
1985) toa general southeast-dlreeted stressfield, resulting
out of the i:>b1lque collision of the Caribbean and South
American ptatss.
IntheSouthern Basin, deformation wasof amoreplastic
.nature, andthere was'much. shale flowage Into uplifted
04
areas. This diapiric activity, which Is restricted to the
Southern Basin and Central Range, Is a result of under-
compacted or easilymobilized shales Intheseareas (e.g.,
NarlvaFormation, LowerCruseFormation) reactingtothe
compressive stressor flowing Intoextensional faultzones.
The geometric alignment of the major shale ridges Is
probablyrelatedtothepositionsof majorbasement shear
zonesordetached splaysofthese(Fig. 12). Theoccurrence
of a large earthquake of 6.2 magnitude on the Richter
Scale In the distal Columbus Basin In 1988 provides
evidence of suchrecent basement-related movement In
that area.
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS TO
HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION
The results and conclusions of this study could have a
significant Impact on the finding of more hydrocarbons
both Inthe Post- and Pre- Middle Miocene sediments if
someof the postulations outlined belowaretested.
Thiswriter believes that the best opportunities will arise
out of the applications of new structural-related Ideas,
although some unexplored plays of stratigraphic
significance stili exist.
Offsetting of Structures/
Fields along Type II Faults
Wilson (1968) hadIndicated that the LosBalosFault can
displace oil-fields In the Trinidad area. The structural
model proposed Inthis paper supportsthisconcept and
IndicatesthatnumerousTypeIIfaultdisplacementsshould
exist throughout the Island (Fig. 12), particularty In the
SouthernBasin, where compressionwasgreatest. Surface
geological mapping(Kugler, 1959) maynothavedetected
all the fault traces, and evidence of smaller, en echelon
displacements have been mapped In the sub-surface
(AblewhiteandHiggins, 1968). Largeroffsets, liketheLos
BaJos, may be present, and could explain the sudden
disappearance of a productlve trend or an apparent
"shale-out". Byattemptlngtolocatetheseoffsets, valuable
new 011 can be found. One possible example Is the
apparent right-lateral displacement of anticlines alonga
trend northof and parallel to the Los BaJos Fault (Debe-
Welllngton-Barrackpore Antl-cllne, Rock Dome) (Kugler
1959).
Structural Traps
Theclassicwrenchtectonic regime is a difficult placeto
prospectIn, dueto the rapidlychanging traptype along
major shear zonesandthe resulting poor predictability.
Trinidad Is,however, not aclassicstrike-slip regime. Due
.tothecouplingeffectof TypeI andTypeII faUlts, localized
.structural subprovlncesofaparticularstyleexist. Inareas
. ofpurecompression, e.g.theCentral Range, andapparent
detached thrust exists (Kugler 1959). In other
areas, t associated withrifted margin basins
SOUTHERN RANGE
85
NORTH
~
TOBAGO
SHELF
CO .. P"Il IOIt
EL PILAR? CENTRAL OARIEN
RANGE FAULT
+
SCHEMATIC SEISMIC SECTION
EAST COAST, TRINIDAD
II""I'OH
COLUMBUS BASIN
SOUTH
OEFORMATION EOGE M1ACURO PLATFORM
..
SCHEMATIC SEISMIC SECTION
WEST COAST, TRINIDAD
. I
Figure 13: Regional seismic sections on the East and West Coasts of Trinidad. Note rifting and
rotation lextension) in the Northern Basin and compression in the Southern Basin in the Culf of Paria
(Section A). In the East Coast, the compressive Southern Basin is rotated northwards, narrowing the
Northern Basin. The Columbus Basin, on the other hand, remains an extensional area.
L::::::) Sequence (A); W:,j,t] Diapiric shale; 0 Sequence (B)
may occur, e.g. western Northern Basin. This coupling
effect of TypeI andTypeII faults canpresent avariety of
structural plays(HardingandTumlnas, 1988, 1989) which
have not yet been fully explored.
Source Rock Maturity, Timing
of Migration and Uplift
The Upper Cretaceous organic-rich, oil-prone facies of
the Naparima Hill and Gautier Formations has been
determined geochemlcally to bethe only source rock In
Trinidad (Rodrigues 1989). A knowledge of the thermal
maturityofthlssequenceIsakeyfactorinpredictingwhen
peakgeneration, (eqUivalent to expluslon of 011) occurred
andthereforewhen 011 hadbecomeavailabletobetrapped.
Regional geochemical studies In eastern Venezuela
(Talukdar et ai, 1988) have concluded that 011 migration
Intothesouthernmost upliftsoftheMaturlnSUb-basin (the
Plrltal and EI Huesothrusts) hasoccurred from5 MAto
present. A series of. thermal history models (Lopatin
method) by Rodrigues (1986) in the Trinidad area also
concluded thatprimarymigrationof UpperCretaceous oil
In the Southern Basin began approximately seven (7)
millionyears ago andcontinued Intothepresent.
ThisstUdy hasattempted to demonstrate that collapse/
upliftof the Northern andSouthern Baslns began during
thePlioceneandtherefore, 011 couldhavemigrateddirectly
Into traps which were forming at the time. In areas of
maximumcollapse (theColumbusBasinandtheWestern
Gulf of Parla) the timingwould have been thesame and
theseareascouldholdmuchpotential foroilaccumulations
If migration pathways,traps and seals exist.
Migration Pathwa),.
Themigration pathways for theoil appear to be themajor
basement-Involved TypeI faults andsecondary splays of
these (Figs. 9, 13). The splays could appear as thrusts,
either southward or northward-directed, depending on
the particular direction of stress (Fig. 9). In some cases
there may be only one direction, e.g. onshore Central
Range (Kugler 1959), where strong southward-directed
compressionoccurred. Theidentificationof thesefaultsis
important in locating accumulations, which should be
concentrated in hanging-wall structures (Talukdaret ai,
1988). Thesefaultscould be maskedby occurring along
bed boundaries (whichwouldformnatural slippageplanes)
or may not reach the surface at all, stopping as blind
thrustsinthe coresof anticlines.Thismayofferapossible
explanationfor the markeddecreaseintrapped oil within
upperSequenclB(B)sediments (Post-Lot 7silt)throughout
theSouthernBasin. Thesesediments, althoughfoldedto
.some extent, may not be in contact with the Type I fault
systemand thereforewould not be accessed by the oil.
Stratigraphy
In most areas of the Northern and Southern Basins,
Sequence (A). reservoirs are abundant. In the distal
Columbus Basin especially, deep-water turbltes should
abound.ThesoutbemRangeanticline,whichwasadeep
area during the deposition of lower Sequence (A)
sediments, sboud alsohaveaccumulatedsometurbidites.
TowardstheoriginalCentralRange, stratigraphicthinning
of Sequence(A) sedimentsshould providesomedegree
of trapping byupdipshaleout", arelatively untestedform
of play InTrinidad.
CONCLUSIONS
Theconclusions of the study are:
1) Acontldent pictureof the geological evolutionof
the post-Middlet Miocene period in the offshoreTrinidad
area has been achieved using a regional, integrated,
seismic-based approach, in which genetically related
depositional sequences were Identified, correlated and
analysed.
2) Using this Information in combination with a
structuralanalysis, amodel for continuedexplorationand
exploitation of the oil-prone Sequence (A), pre-Middle
Miocene, andtoalesserdegree,Sequence (B)sediments,
has beendeveloped.
3) Theonshoreareasof Trinidad(Kugler, 1959) can
also be confidently re-evaluated usingthe newdata and
model presentedInthis paper.

Theauthorwould liketo thankthefollowingOrganisations
andpersonsfortheirassistance: TRINTOC, especiallyMr.
WayneBertrand, EXploration and Production Divisional
Manager, for supportingthis studyand the publicationof
86
the paper; the Ministry of Energy, Trinidad and Tobago
Petroleum Company Limited (TRINTOPEC), Amoco
TrinidadOil CompanyLimited,TrinmarLimited,Trlntomar
Limited and LAGOVEN, SA, all of which haveWillingly
approved the publication of their data; my colleaguesin
theTRINTOC Regional TertiaryStudyTeam, Inparticular
Messrs Frank Falkenheln, Kenneth Abdulah, Uewellyn
Tyson, Oement Ramroop and Ken La Borde for their
useful discussionsandencouragemenUowrltethepaper,
and specialthanksto Mr. PauloPaJagi of Braspetro, who,
as former Geological Superintendent of TRINTOC's
Offshoreexploration and DeVelopment Division, Initiated
integratedregional,seismic-based studiesIntheTrinidad
offshoreareas.
REFERENCES
Ablewhite, K. and Higgings, G.E., 1968. A Review of
Trinidad, West Indies, 011 development and the
accumulationsat Soldado, Brighton Marine, Grande
Ravine, Barrackpore-Penal andGuayaguayare. Trans.
4thCaribbeanGeological Conference. Port of Spain,
1965, p. 41-73.
Bane, S.C. and Changpong, A.R., 1980. Geology and
development of the Teak oil field, Trinidad, West
Indies. Giant Oil and GasFieldsof the Decade1968-
1978. Amer.Assoc.Petrol.Geol.Mem.30,p. 387-398.
Barr, KW. and Saunders. J.B., 1968. An outline of the
geology of Trinidad.Trans. 4thCaribbeanGeological
Conference, Port of Spain, 1965, p. 1-10.
Barr,KW., Waithe, S.T. andWilson,C.C.,1958. Themode
of oil occurrenceintheMioceneof southernTrinidad,
B.W.1. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Symposium"The
Habitat of Oil", (L.G. Weeks, ed.) p. 533-550.
Christie-Blick, N. andBiddle, KT., 1985. Deformation and
basinformation along strike-slipfaults. In Strike-Slip
Deformation, Basin Formation and Sedimentation:
SEPM Special Publication37, p. 1-34.
Harding, T.P., 1985. Seismic characteristics and
identification of negative flower structure, positive
flower structures and positive structural inversion.
Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 69, Nr. 4, p. 582-
600.
Harding, T.P. and Tuminas, A.C., 1988. Interpretationof
footwall (Iowside) fault traps sealedby reverse faults
and convergent wrench faults. Amer. Assoc. Petrol.
Geol. Bull. v. 72, Nr. 6, p. 738-757.
Harding, T.P. and Tuminas, A.C., 1989. Structural
interpretation of hydrocarbon traps sealed by
basement normal block faults at stable flank of
foredeep basins and at rift basins. Amer. Assoc.
Petrol. Geol. Bull. v. 73, Nr. 7, p. 812-840.
Kugler, H.G., 1956. Trinidad. In: LexiqueStratigraphique
International, Amerique Latlne, Fasc. 26, Antilles, p.
39-116.
Kugler, H.G., 1961. Geological MapandSevenSections/
1:100,000 of Trinidad, Orell Fussll, Zurich and E.
Stanford, Ltd., London.
Lamy, A., 1986. Plio-Pleistocene palynology and visual
87
kerogenstudies, Trinidad,W.I.,with emphasis onthe
Columbus Basin. Trans. 1st Geological Conference
of the G.S.T.T., Port of Spain, 1985, p. 114-127.
Leonard, R., 1983. Geology and hydrocarbon
accumulations, Columbus Basin, OffshoreTrinidad.
Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., v. 67, n. 7, p. 1081-
1093.
Mc Dougall, A.W., 1985. Geology of the East Soldado
Field. Trans. 4th Latin American Geological
Conference, Port of Spain, 1979. v, 2, p. 720-725.
Persad, K.M., 1985. Outlineofthe geology ofthe Trinidad
area. Trans. 4th Latin American Geological
Conference, Port of Spain, 1979, v. 2, p. 738-758.
Pindell, J.L., andBarrett, S.F., 1988. Geological evolution
of theCaribbeanregion:aplatetectonicsperspective,
in J.L. Case and G. Dengo, eds., Decade of North
AmericanGeology, CaribbeanRegion, v.H.
Radovsky, B. and Iqbal, J., 1985. Geology of the North
SoldadoField. Trans. 4th LatinAmericanGeological
Conference, Port of Spain, 1979, v. 2, p. 759-769.
Robertson, P.and Burke,K., 1989. Evolutionof Southern
Caribbean plate boundary vicinity of Trinidad and
Tobago. Amer. Assoc. Petrol, Geol. Bull. v.73, Nr. 4,
p.490-509.
Rodrigues, K., 1986. Thermal history modelling in
petroleum exploration - examples from Southern
Trinidad. Trans. 1st Geological Conference of the
G.S.T.T., Port of Spain, 1985, p. 217226.
Rodrigues, K" Oil source bed recogniticln and crude oil
correlation, Trinidad, Westlndies. AdvancesinOrganic
Geochemistry 1987, Proceedingls of the 13th
International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry,
Venice, 1987.
Salvador, A.andStainforth, R.M., 1968. CluesInVenezuela
to the geology of Trinidad, andviceversa. Trans. 4th
Caribbean Geological Conference, Port of Spain,
1965, p. 31-40.
Talukdar, S. etal., 1988. GenerationandMigrationof 011 In
theMaturlnSub-basin, EasternVene;zuela, Advances
In Organic Gee-chemistry1987, Proceedingsof the
13thInternational MeetingonOrganicGeochemistry,
Venice,l987.
Tyson, L., 1988. A model for the LatePliiocenetectonics
and its effects on Quaternary sedimentation In the
Trinidad area of the East Venezuelan Basin.
Proceedings of G.S.T.T. Technical Seminar, San
Fernando, Trinidad (unpublished).
Van Andel, Tj. J., 1967. The Orinoco delta. Jour. Sed.
Petrology. v. 37, no. 2, p. 297-310.
Wilson, C.C., 1968. The Los Bajos Fault. Trans. 4th
Caribbean Geological Conference, Port of Spain,
1965, p. 87-89.

GSTT (1991) An Evaluation of Post Middle Miocene Geological Sequences Offshore Trinidad

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Deskripsi Asli:

Judul Asli

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

GSTT (1991) An Evaluation of Post Middle Miocene Geological Sequences Offshore Trinidad

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

70

AN EVALUATION OF POST-MIDDLE MIOCENE

Anda mungkin juga menyukai