Caveat:

These notes should not be taken as an attempt to write a textbook on Salt Tectonics. They are just an eclectic assemblage of geological models, cross-sections and seismic profiles used during my workshops on Petroleum Geology. The text is reduced to a minimum. On the figures, as well as, on the tentative geological interpretation of the seismic lines, for confidential reasons, the locations and orientations are not indicated. The large majority of figures and proposed tentative interpretations are personal. None of the plates illustrated here may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written author's permission (carlos.cramez@ bluewin.ch or to carloscramez@gmail.com ).

Course Overview:

This salt tectonics short course was designed for petroleum geologists. Its purpose is to acquaint participants with basic concepts of salt tectonics, as well as, demonstrate innovative interpretation techniques for oil and gas exploration utilizing 3D seismic data. The first part of the course will address basic principles and the development of salt-related structures. The second part is a workshop designed to assist geoscientists in interpreting depth and time slices to emphasize the three dimensional geometry of salt structures and surrounding sediments.

Contents:

Introduction

     Part I- Basic Principles in Salt Tectonics

                1- Tectonic Regimes

                 2- Basic Principles

                 3- Growth of Salt Domes

                 4- Stages of Diapirism

                 5- Inter-domal Evolution

                 6- Salt Welding

                 7- Growth Faults, Roll-overs and Grabens

                 8- Salt Reduction

                 9- Extension and Welding

               10- Extension and Rafting

               11- Allochthonous Salt in Gulf of Mexico

               12- Salt Expulsion Basins

               13- Traps Associated with Salt

       Part II:  Salt Tectonics Interpretation Workshop

                  A) Gulf of Mexico Geological Context

                  B) Gulf of Mexico Regional Seismic Lines

                  C) Pattern Recognition & Interpretation of Seismic Slice Data

							C.1- Geological Legend for Time Slices

							C.2- Seismic Slice Pattern Recognition
							
							C.3- Basic Block Diagram Exercises

							C.4- Serial Profile Demonstration
							
							C.5- Profile & Depth Slice Interpretation

							C.6- Seismic Slice Sub-crop Exercises

                  D) Interpretation of a Salt Canopy

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