Towards Revised Stratigraphic Columns for Onshore and Offshore Areas of Trinidad & Tobago

Hasley Vincent & Philip Farfan

GSTT Stratigraphic Discussion May 11th 2013

Background & Objective Proposal Format Timelines

Presentation outline

1955

Objective

To obtain; support from the GSTT, participating companies &

professionals to establish a stratigraphic Sub-committee

To attract volunteers for the various posts that will be advertised

To get input from the collective attendees on issues that might help or hinder progress.

Background

14 years since last official update Adherence to International Stratigraphic Code Recent data, studies & findings Areal exclusion

Background

Formal Units Chronostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic Unconformity bounded, magnetostratigraphic polarity

Informal Units Electrical properties, seismic character, stable isotopes, heavy minerals

“way should be open to use any that promise to be useful belongs”

International Stratigraphic Guide, Second Edition, pgs. 8-9

“stratigrahic units must be properly proposed and described to be considered formal”

Stratigraphic Committee Proposal

Establish a Stratigraphic Committee with the goals of assessing the current status of the chart, implementing short term measures geared at addressing uncertainties and execute recommendations adhering to an established Stratigraphic Code

Stratigraphic Committee Objectives

To produce a modern Stratigraphic Chart that: Covers all the known basins across Trinidad and Tobago Meets or exceeds standards of science and

documentation established by the International Stratigraphic Guide

Updates or replaces existing nomenclature based on modern scientific research (biostratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, magneto-stratigraphy etc. )

Incorporates new data

Discern biostratigraphy from lithostratigraphy Consider seismic stratigraphic, mineralogical,

chemostratigrahical, etc. Zonations Status of type sections? Consider templates and individual stratigraphic

columns for individual basins Outdated lexicon What about Tobago? Incorporate extensive log and core database Provide for advances in regional correlation

(Barbados, Venezuela etc.)

Way Forward for the Trinidad &Tobago stratigraphic chart

Proposed Structure

Stratigraphic Sub Committee Chairman, nominated by the GSTT executive 4 executive members representative of key

stakeholders Stratigraphic Working Group

Volunteers GSTT Secretariat Report to the GSTT executive Budget allocation

Proposed Structure

GSTT EXECUTIVE

Stratigraphic Committee Executive1.Chairperson (chosen by GSTT Executive)2. MEEI representative3. Academic Representative4. Industry representatives5. GSTT secretariat Roles and responsibilities

Populates and gives direction to the Working Group

Develops Terms of Reference Solicits support from the companies Manages budget from the GSTT Conflict resolution and manage

expectations Liaison and communications with

stakeholders Next slide

Southern BasinNorthern RangeNorthern Basin TobagoNCMA ECMA Gulf of PariaDeep water

Southern BasinNorthern RangeNorthern Basin TobagoNCMA ECMA Gulf of PariaDeep water

Proposed Structure

Stratigraphic Working Group

Roles and responsibilities Expertise, assistance and compilation of

geologic information Identification of appropriate reference

material Compile, edit, write or forward

documentation when required Formal recommendations to

Stratigraphic sub-committee

Outputs

Collation and publication of type sections & basin templates

Research opportunities The establishment of sites of geological

interests that might be protected from development

A comprehensive field guide that will include type localities where ever possible

Log

Northern BasinLogs: SeismicLithology MYBP: Biostrat

Basin definition and locations of types sections

References

Attachments

Descriptions and definitions

Outputs – Template example

Questions

Litho- or Biostratigraphic?

Saunders et al., 1998

“Poor recovery” “ indeterminate” “no age specific fauna”

Plio-Pleistocene

Strongly

Biostratig

raphi

c

Strongly

Lithostr

atigra

phi

c

Backup