These cross sections numerically correspond to previously published onshore cross sections (CS0002--Dodge and Posey, 1981) and extend those sections across the continental shelf into the Miocene, a recent target of renewed petroleum exploration. Lithostratigraphic markers, corresponding to commonly used paleontological markers, have been used to correlate and subdivide the Miocene Series, which constitutes the largest volume of sedimentary fill in the offshore western Gulf Coast Basin.

Several microearthquake recording stations were operated as a network in the East Texas Basin beginning in June 1981. At least six certain and two probable earthquakes as well as hundreds of events of undetermined origin were recorded through August 1982. Three of the earthquakes were felt by people in East Texas, including one earthquake and an aftershock at Jacksonville and one earthquake near Center. The Jacksonville earthquake and the Center earthquake were recorded at enough stations to be located instrumentally.

Gas reservoirs that water out under moderate to strong water drives are normally abandoned when the expenses associated with salt-water disposal make continued operations uneconomical. Under favorable conditions, however, watered-out reservoirs can continue to produce substantial quantities of gas at competitive prices if operators are prepared to dispose of large volumes of water. Enhanced gas recovery (EGR) techniques can extend production from many reservoirs that are now watering out and will soon be abandoned if conventional practices are followed.

Permian strata in the Texas Panhandle exhibit a variety of deformation styles that are attributed to tectonic stresses as well as to collapse caused by evaporite dissolution. At Caprock Canyons State Park, deformation structures above salt dissolution zones include veins, faults, and folds. The geometry and distribution of the structures indicate that systematic regional joints older than the dissolution collapse have influenced salt dissolution.