Atlas of Salt Domes in the East Texas Basin

RI0140. Atlas of Salt Domes in the East Texas Basin, by M. P. A. Jackson and S. J. Seni. 102 p., 79 figs., 1984. ISSN:0082335X: Print.

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ABSTRACT
Data collected during the last 5 years on the 15 shallow salt diapirs that extend upward to shallow depths (<4,000 ft, 1,220 m) in the East Texas Basin are presented here in graphical and tabular form. East Texas Basin salt diapirs penetrate and have controlled the deformation of Jurassic and younger units in the central part of the basin. The regional geologic setting of the salt diapirs is summarized, and the meaning and significance of descriptive terms are discussed. This compendium contains both primary and secondary data. Primary data are observations of dome shape, depth, structure, and resources. Examples of primary data are depths to cap rock and salt, cross-sectional area and axial ratio, crestal area and percentage planar crest, axial plunge, tilt azimuth and tilt distance, structural symmetry, side convergence, overhang azimuth and overhang percentage, and a new quantitative classification of dome shape. The structural styles of strata around each dome are also described in terms of the size of the rim syncline and drag zone around the diapir, angular relations between the strata and the salt, and style of faulting. Hydrocarbon production histories, traps, and existing uses of each dome for storage or raw materials are summarized.

Secondary data include deductions and inferences based on the primary data. The growth evolution from the pillow stage, through the diapir stage, to the post-diapir stage is described, together with unconformities resulting from erosional breaching of the dome in the past. Structural stability and hydrologic integrity of each dome are assessed in terms of the age of the most recent known deformation. Geomorphic and hydrologic evidence of dome uplift, subsidence, or brine leakage is given, as is a new classification of drainage patterns above domes.

Keywords: cap rock, diapirs, East Texas Basin, halokinesis, petroleum, salt domes, salt tectonics, structural geology

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

REGIONAL GEOLOGY

EXPLANATION OF ATLAS TERMINOLOGY

Gravity Expression and Depth

Shape of Salt Stock

Dome Structure Adjacent to Salt Stock

Growth History

Structural and Hydrologic Stability

Resources

SIGNIFICANCE FOR EXPLORATION

ATLAS OF SALT DOMES

     Bethel Dome

     Boggy Creek

     Brooks

     Brushy Creek Dome

     Bullard Dome

     Butler Dome

     East Tyler Dome

     Grand Saline Dome

     Hainesville Dome

     Keechi Dome

     Mount Sylvan Dome

     Oakwood Dome

     Palestine Dome

     Steen Dome

     Whitehouse Dome

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

Figures

1. Location map showing the East Texas Basin, Gulf Coast Basin, inland salt-diapir provinces, salt domes, and salt massifs

2. Generalized stratigraphic column, East Texas Basin

3. Map of structure on top of the Louann Salt or on top of the pre-Louann surface, showing the four salt provinces in the East Texas Basin

4. Isometric block diagrams of the East Texas Basin showing three-dimensional configuration of structure contours on top of the Louann Salt or on top of the pre-Louann surface where salt is thin or absent. (A) Northwest view. (B) Northeast view

5. Map showing distribution of salt diapirs, salt pillows, and turtle-structure anticlines in the East Texas Basin

6. Map showing spatial distribution of three age groups of salt diapirs and their surrounding secondary peripheral sinks in the East Texas Basin

7. Definition of diapir shape in plan view. (A) Major axis, minor axis, and major-axis azimuth. (B) Crestal area and percentage planar crest

8. Three classes of diapir shape in plan view defined by different axial ratios

9. Parameters describing inclined diapirs

10. Four classes of structural symmetry applicable to salt diapirs

11. Derivation of a shape parameter to differentiate between diapir crests with straight or slightly curved sides and crests with strongly curved sides

12. Quantitative classification of dome shape and a plot of dome shapes from the East Texas Basin

13. Classification of the slope of the sides of diapirs

14. Parameters describing diapir overhang

15. Definition of the size of a rim syncline and drag zone in cross section

16. Definition of maximum dip of strata and the dihedral angle between strata and the salt-stock flank

17. Classification of antithetic and homothetic (equivalent to synthetic) faults around salt stocks

18. Geometry and lithofacies characteristic of the three stages of salt-dome growth: pillow stage, diapir stage, and postdiapir stage

19. Qualitative classification of drainage systems above domes into four ideal types as a guide to relative movement of the land surface above

20. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Bethel Dome

21. Isometric block diagram of Bethel salt stock

22. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Bethel salt

23. Structural cross section through Bethel Dome

24. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Boggy Creek Dome

25. Isometric block diagram of Boggy Creek salt stock

26. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Boggy Creek salt stock

27. Structural cross section through Boggy Creek Dome

28. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Brooks Dome

29. Isometric block diagram of Brooks salt stock

30. Cross section through Brooks salt stock, which is axially symmetric

31. Structural cross section through Brooks Dome

32. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Brushy Creek Dome

33. Isometric block diagram of Brushy Creek salt stock

34. Cross section through Brushy Creek salt stock, which is axially symmetric

35. Structural cross section through Brushy Creek Dome

36. Map showing shapes, locations, topography, and drainage systems of Bullard and Whitehouse Domes

37. Isometric block diagram of Bullard salt stock

38. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Bullard salt stock

39. Structural cross section through Bullard Dome

40. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Butler Dome

41. Isometric block diagram of Butler salt stock

42. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Butler salt stock

43. Structural cross section through Butler Dome

44. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of East Tyler Dome

45. Isometric block diagram of East Tyler salt stock

46. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of East Tyler salt stock

47. Structural cross section through East Tyler Dome

48. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Grand Saline Dome

49. Isometric block diagram of Grand Saline salt stock

50. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Grand Saline salt stock

51. Structural cross section through Grand Saline Dome

52. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Hainesville Dome

53. Isometric block diagram of Hainesville salt stock

54. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Hainesville salt stock

55. Structural cross section through Hainesville Dome, based on drilling data

56. Structural cross section through Hainesville Dome, based on seismic data

57. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Keechi Dome

58. Isometric block diagram of Keechi salt stock

59. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Keechi salt stock

60. Structural cross section through Keechi Dome and Concord Dome, a deep-diapir area

61. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Mount Sylvan Dome

62. Isometric block diagram of Mount Sylvan salt stock

63. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Mount Sylvan stock

64. Structural cross section through Mount Sylvan Dome

65. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Oakwood Dome

66. Isometric block diagram of Oakwood salt stock

67. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Oakwood salt stock

68. Structural cross section through Oakwood Dome, based on drilling and seismic data

69. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Palestine Dome

70. Isometric block diagram of Palestine salt stock

71. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Palestine salt stock

72. Structural cross section through Palestine Dome

73. Map showing shape, location, topography, and drainage system of Steen Dome

74. Isometric block diagram of Steen salt stock

75. Cross sections through Steen salt stock, which is axially symmetric

76. Structural cross section through Steen Dome

77. Isometric block diagram of Whitehouse salt stock

78. Orthogonal cross sections through major and minor axes of Whitehouse salt stock

79. Structural cross section through Whitehouse Dome



Citation
Jackson, M.P.A., and Seni, S. J., 1984, Atlas of Salt Domes in the East Texas Basin: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Report of Investigations No. 140, 102 p.