Crustal, Thermal, and Structural Controls on Hydrocarbon Systems in the Delaware Basin, West Texas, and Southeastern New Mexico

This dissertation presents an integrated analysis of the geophysical and geothermal expression of Mesoproterozoic – early Miocene tectonic events affecting hydrocarbon production in the Delaware Basin, the western physiographical province of the complexly structured, intracratonic Greater Permian Basin based on the interpretation of gravity and magnetic data, 3D seismic, and well data. Initial ambiguity of petroleum systems modeling results led to the discovery of unconstrained thermal and tectonic parameters within the Delaware Basin. Each chapter in this study contributes new constraints on the thermal and tectonic history of the basin and develops new and repeatable associated methodologies. Chapter 2 uses gravity and magnetic data and structural mapping based on the stratigraphic correlation of 27 horizons using 11,433 formation top picks from 1,181 wells constrained by pre-stack depth migrated (PSDM) 3D seismic interpretation to address the influence of Proterozoic basement on interval-specific geothermal gradient calculations and Wolfcampian production trends within the Delaware Basin. The study highlights the importance of empirically derived temperature-depth functions revealing significant variability in the geothermal profiles due to: 1) upper crustal lithology; 2) proximity to basement-rooted fault systems; and 3) burial of the western basin by late Cretaceous Laramide strata. I interpret lateral temperature variation within the Wolfcampian–Precambrian interval to be influenced by the radiogenic heat production (RHP) of underlying igneous intrusive complexes and northeast-southwest-trending crustal terranes associated with Paleo-Neo-Proterozoic accretion and collision processes. Chapter 3 explores the seismic characterization and structural modeling of shallow extensional fault systems impacting hydrocarbon production within the west-central Delaware Basin using multi-layer 3D seismic attribute analysis, fault framework modeling, and well data to establish a correlation between shallow lineaments, drilling complications, elevated water-oil ratios (WORs), and excessive H2S production. I establish a repeatable seismic workflow for 3D imaging and subsequent structural modeling of 60 previously undocumented faults along 27 newly mapped features within the southwestern Delaware Basin and constrain the timing of regional extension and exhumation to the middle Oligocene-early Miocene in response to Basin and Range tectonism and Rio Grande rifting.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geophysics

Grantor

University of Houston

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Petkovsek, Chesney 1993-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mann, Paul

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Sun, Jiajia
• Castagna, John P.
• Shoemaker, Michael

• Geophysics
• Geology

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10657/20693

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/20693