Exploration Targets of Offshore Western Florida

Abstract

Abstract The eastern Gulf of Mexico comprises some of the last frontier, virgin hydrocarbon potential of the mature, prolific offshore Gulf of Mexico. To date, several play types have been targeted by drilling activity. On the shelf, shallow marine siliciclastic and carbonate reservoirs and eolian sandstones have been drilled. In deepwater, Cretaceous to Miocene reservoirs on salt-supported structures have been drilled. This study evaluated 43,500 mi (70,000 km) of modern 2D seismic data acquired to identify possible petroleum potential. Selected profiles through the Florida Escarpment demonstrate the variability associated with this margin and the challenge of making reliable correlations between the shelf and the deepwater areas. Eolian reservoirs of the Norphlet Formation, Jurassic in age, are confirmed to exist on trend with the examined dataset. Data inspection reveals this reservoir may be present in the survey area. Siliciclastic deposition along the incipient Florida escarpment resulted in an influx of gravity-flow sedimentation into the deep basin. These deposits interacted with salt movement to form potentially significant reservoirs in play types similar to those of the central Gulf of Mexico region.