Evaporite flowage in the early South Atlantic and salt deformation rates and mechanisms.

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences

Abstract

Atlantic opening was accompanied by widespread deposition of evaporites, which are now associated with major petroleum reserves. The dynamic processes occurring then has been poorly resolved because of the deposits' depth beneath margin sediments and salt mobilisation by overburden stress. The Red Sea is a potentially useful analogue. New geophysical data reveal glacier-like bodies of evaporites flowing into one of the central deeps. We will now explore whether similar flowage can be deduced from the new high-quality 3D seismic data being collected off Brazil and examine deformation rates generally. This will provide datasets for a PhD study and help understand the hydrocarbon potential of the pre-salt stratigraphy.

Publications

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Mitchell N (2014) Nature of crust in the central Red Sea in Tectonophysics

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Mitchell N (2009) Submarine salt flows in the central Red Sea in Geological Society of America Bulletin

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Mitchell N (2020) Reconstructing the level of the central Red Sea evaporites at the end of the Miocene in Basin Research

 
Description This funding was provided to allow us to explore whether findings of a project on the Red Sea (geophysical data showing evidence of evaporite flows) would help understand geological evolution of the South Atlantic where similar large thicknesses of evaporites were deposited when Africa rifted from South America. Discussions were held with industry scientists from Hess, British Gas and Petrobras. Although these showed a lack of detailed data on the stratigraphy exist, some seismic datasets and future drilling may yield interesting projects in the future to explore this analogy.
Exploitation Route The knowledge of the Red Sea processes may guide the understanding of temperature evolution of South Atlantic reservoirs in the future. No exploitation has currently been undertaken.
Sectors Energy,Environment