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Wheeler Diagrams: A Useful Exploration Tool in the Gulf of Mexico

Trevio, Ramn H.; Brown, L. Frank, Jr.; Loucks, Robert G.; and Hammes, Ursula
Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences,
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713

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One product that resulted from a study of the sequence stratigraphy of the Corpus Christi
Bay region is a time-stratigraphic cross section, commonly known as a Wheeler diagram
(Wheeler, 1958). The cross section portrays time on the y axis (ordinate) and distance on the x axis
(abscissa). The Corpus Christi Bay area comprises a series of growth-faulted subbasins that
become younger basinward. From our research, we were able to delineate six third-order (~13
m.y.) sequences within the Frio Formation. The thickest part of each sequence is the off-shelf lowstand systems tract (i.e., basin-floor fan, slope-fan complex and prograding deltaic wedge). Using
available biostratigraphic data, we were able to calibrate and correlate sequence boundaries and
maximum flooding surfaces of the Frio third-order sequences to global coastal onlap and cycle
charts. In a subsequent study of time-equivalent sections in another part of the Gulf of Mexico
basin, we used the Frio time cross section to predict ages of prospective Oligocene off-shelf lowstands, which had minimal paleontologic control. Using our Wheeler diagram and published fault
maps in conjunction with the hypothesis that significant shale ridges and growth faults approximate paleo-shelf edges, we could estimate the location, stratigraphy, and age of intraslope
subbasins containing highly prospective, off-shelf, lowstand deposits that were basinward from
areas of known biostratigraphic and well control. We propose that Wheeler diagrams, in conjunction with sequence stratigraphy, can be useful, predictive exploration tools.

Introduction
Brown et al. (2004) proposed a hypothesis in which third-order lowstands are the proximate
cause of the development of growth-faulted subbasins. The hypothesis maintains that third-order, lowstand, growth-faulted subbasins develop seaward of the shelf break, where coarser grained sediments
accumulate on unstable slope mud that was deposited in previous transgressive and highstand systems
tracts. The overlying coarse-grained lowstand (i.e., basin-floor fan, slope fan, and prograding wedge)
sediments exceed the ability of the underlying fine-grained sediments to support the overburden. The
result, in conjunction with instability from the continental slope angle, is mud or shale ridges being
squeezed basinward and upward. Meanwhile, volumetric displacement of the mud ridge basinward augments accommodation space on the slope. Associated with mass movement of the shale ridge are
syndepositional growth faults that produce rotational motion (i.e., downward at the shelf edge and
upward and basinward at the mud ridge) of the developing sediment wedge. The growth faults compose
the landward boundaries of subbasins, and the shale ridges compose the basinward boundaries. Growthfaulted subbasins with associated mud (or shale) ridges are common in much of the northern and northwestern Gulf of Mexico and in other similar settings around the worlde.g., Niger delta (Cohen and
McClay, 1996), Amazonas Basin (L. F. Brown, Jr., personal communication), and Mahakham delta
(Ferguson and McClay, 1997).

Wheeler Diagrams and Sequence Stratigraphy

In his seminal paper, Time Stratigraphy, H. F. Wheeler (1958) recognized the utility of incorporating spatial elements with periods of deposition and nondeposition in his time stratigraphic cross
sections, which are commonly known as Wheeler diagrams. Brown et al. (2004) presented a variation
on the Wheeler diagram, in which spatial and time elements exist within the framework of sequence
Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, Volume 55, 2005

830 

Trevio et al.

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stratigraphy for growth-faulted subbasins (Fig. 1), thus augmenting the utility and predictive ability of
the traditional Wheeler diagram. Figure 1 (Brown et al., 2004) diagrammatically presents the depositional history (via sequence stratigraphy) of the lower Oligocene through lower Miocene of South Texas
(Corpus Christi Bay area). Figure 2 (modified from Brown et al., 2005) contains explanations of color
codes and symbols in Figure 1.
Figure 1 (Brown et al., 2004) displays absolute time on the y axis and relative distance on the x
axis. Absolute time was determined by relating available benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphic data in
Oligocene (Frio Formation) sequences #1 through #6 and one lower Miocene sequence to accepted biozone ages. The benthic biozone ages (Berggren et al., 1985) were adjusted to newer ages (Berggren et
al., 1995; Lawless et al., 1997) using a time-scale conversion program located at http://www.odsn.de/
odsn/services/conv_ts/conv_ts.html. The updated ages are based on more recent, unstable, isotope and
oxygen stable isotope ratios (Abreu and Haddad, 1998). The planktic and calcareous nannofossil biozones are from Berggren et al. (1995). Ages of type 1 (T1 ) unconformities were adjusted from Haq et al.
(1987) to those of Hardenbol et al. (1998). See Hardenbol et al. (1998) for further credits and information. Marine condensed sections (i.e., maximum flooding surfaces) were adjusted from Haq et al. (1987)
to Wornardt (2001). Adjusted biozone ages are presented in the far-right column of the figure. Polarity
chronozones are from Cande and Kent (1992; 1995).
The classic sequence stratigraphic model (e.g., Vail et al., 1977; Mitchum et al., 1994) predicts
that off-shelf lowstand systems tracts of third-order sequences become submerged shelves for subsequent transgressive and highstand systems tracts. The Brown et al. (2004) model states that a growthfaulted subbasin comprises the lowstand of a third-order sequence. The typical pattern in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico of growth-faulted subbasins of similar age aligned along strike can be explained by
applying the two models. Growth-faulted subbasins developed as each subsequent third-order sequence,
in effect, extended (i.e., prograded) the continental shelf basinward. The systematic pattern of subbasin
development resulted in growth-fault segments developing along strike in trends that are commonly
referred to as flexures. According to the Brown et al. (2004) model, the flexures correspond approximately to paleo-shelf edges.
The utility of the Wheeler diagram (Figure 1) manifests itself when used in conjunction with the
Brown et al. (2004) model because the Wheeler diagram can be used to predict reservoir age and systems tracts and, consequently, prospectivity in undrilled areas. For example, an offshore, growth-faulted
subbasin may have few if any deep penetrations. Nonetheless, the subbasins age and potential deep reservoir development can be estimated if a landward-adjacent subbasin can be correlated (in time) to a
Wheeler diagram. Then, the sum of intervening paleo-shelf edges (i.e., number of major growth faults
or flexures) should equal the number of intervening third-order sequences between the known subbasin
and the frontier area. Furthermore, a seismic sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the undrilled subbasin should highlight potential higher quality reservoirs in the lowstand systems tract (e.g., basin-floor
fan and prograding-wedge deltaic depositional systems) and, to a lesser extent, in the transgressive (e.g.,
barrier bars) and highstand systems tracts.
This method was tested in an area along the upper Texas coast. Even though the Wheeler diagram
(Figure 1) was developed for an area more than 100 miles (~ 160 km) from the upper Texas coast location in which the method was tested, initial results suggest good agreement between age of penetrated
section and stratal ages predicted by the Wheeler-diagram correlation method. Owing to proprietary
constraints, specific data cannot be presented.
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Eocene

Downlap surface

top sf
top bff
T1

Proximal 2 TS

Shale
ridge
ro

wt

Direction of shale
movement
hf

au

VICKSBURG

LST
HST

Bolivina perca

26

Marginulina idiomorpha
M. vaginata, and
M. howei

NP
25

CP
196

29

LST

Heterostegina
Bolivina perca
Marginulina idiomorpha
M. vaginata and M. howei
Camerina "A"

C7A

Miogypsinoides "A"

Planktic
biozones

26

C8
27

Cibicides hazzardi

Cibicides hazzardi
Cyclammina sp.
Marginulina
texana

Marginulina
texana

C9
P21b

28

Nonion struma
Nodosaria blanpiedi

NP
24

Bolivina mexicana

30

Nonion
struma

Nodosaria blanpiedi

31

P20

32

C11

30

P19

CP 17
NP
22

NP
21

P16

NP
19
&
20

CP 16a

CP 15b

Anomalina
bilateralis and
Textularia
mississippiensis

32

Textularia
warreni and

CP 16c

P17

Textularia seligi
(mississippiensis)

C12

CP 16b

P18

T1

Marginulina
cocoaensis

Discorbis "D"
29

31

NP
23

Textularia
warreni

mfs

C10

CP 18

Textularia
seligi
(mississippiensis)
Anomalina bilateralis
Textularia
mississippiensis

CP 19a

P21a

Discorbis D
Anomalina F
cocoaensis

top sf

top bff
T1

25

Discorbis gravelli

Bolivina mexicana

mfs
TS
top sf
top bff
T1
HST
mfs
TST
TS
top sf
top bff
T1
HST
mfs
TST
TS

Lenticulina jeffersonensis
24

Miogypsinoides "A"
27

HST

LST

top sf

Liebusella sp.
C6C

C7
P22

top bff
T1

34

~35 mi

CN 1
a+b

Camerina "A"

Cibicides
pippeni

JACKSON
GROUP

NN 1

Heterostegina

33

2 Type 1 Surface

PROXIMAL

top bff
T1

lt

25

28

LST

N4a

23

Discorbis
gravelli

d
Sta

Lenticulina
jeffersonensis

TS
top sf

Siphonina davisi
C6B

24

mfs
TS
top sf
top bff
T1

TST

HST

on
lap

~31 Ma

rve

TS

Co
as
tal

~29.8 Ma

atio

in

CN 1c

C6AA
N4b

23

mfs

TST

Updip 2 TS

TS

on
lap

Calcareous
nannofossils
(N-zones)

Surfaces

Systems tracts
HST

TS

LST

NN 2

Benthic biozones from

Berggren (1985) via Lawless
et al. (1997) calibrated to
Berggren et al. (1995).

Polarity
chronozones
22

Siphonina
davisi

mfs

HST

ed
TS

Co n

Downlap surface

on
lap

Co
as
tal

VICKSBURG

mfs

LST

~28.2 Ma

Bas

Midshelf 2 TS

Calcareous
nannofossils
(OP-zones)

22

TS

2 Aggradation

TS

Approximate
benthic biozones
in common use
in Gulf Coast basins

TST

~26.7 Ma

ion

Downlap surface

on
lap

Co
as
tal

ion
radat
etrog
2 R
Downdip 2 TS
5

Dep
osit

Co
as
tal

TST

~24.8 Ma

Downlap surface
TS

Downlap surface

LST

2 Progra
dation
o

Distal 2 TS

den
s

SHALLOW FRIO

on
lap

JACKSON GROUP

LST (DOMINANT IN REGION)

MIDDLE FRIO

TST

2 Max flood surface

Age
(Ma)

T1

HST

Downlap surface

grad

ANAHUAC
WEDGE

on
lap

Sequence 5 comprises
five well-developed
4 sequences, each
~400-ky duration
(5a, b, c, d, e)

DEEP FRIO

28.5 Ma

RUPELIAN STAGE
PRIABONIAN
STAGE 33.7 Ma

on
lap

2 P
ro

LITHOSTRAT
UNITS

OAKVILLE

TRACTS

SEQ. (3)
DESIGNATION

STAGE

2
HST

TST
o

CHATTIAN STAGE

Y
R
T

EOCENE

Help

Co
as
tal

Search

Co
as
tal

Co
as
tal

R
E
T

LOWER OLIGOCENE

Author

Changes in
Coastal Onlap

Start

Basinward

33

C13

Cibicides
pippeni

34

Marginulina
cocoaensis

C15

DISTAL

Figure 1. From Brown et al. (2004). Chronostratigraphic Wheeler diagram of Frio third-order sequences #1 to #6 and their relationship to geologic
age, microfossil biozones, and other time-related factors. Note that benthic zone ages (Berggren et al., 1985) have been converted to new ages (Berggren
et al., 1995), and that ages of T1 unconformities have been adjusted from Haq et al. (1987) to those of Hardenbol et al. (1998). Marine condensed sections
(i.e., maximum flooding surfaces) have been readjusted from Haq et al. (1987) to Wornardt (2001). See Hardenbol et al. (1998) for further credits and
information.

k
832 

Wheeler Diagrams: A Useful Exploration Tool in the Gulf of Mexico

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UPPER OLIGOCENE

Landward

SERIES

23.8 Ma

AQUITANIAN
STAGE

SYSTEMS

LOWER
MIOCENE

Trevio et al.

3rd- & 4th-Order Systems Tracts

3
7

TST

Transgressive
Systems Tract

LST:pw

Lowstand
Systems Tract:
prograding wedge

HST

Highstand
Systems Tract

LST:sf

Lowstand
Systems Tract:
slope fan

Lowstand
Systems Tract:
incised-valley fill

LST:bff

Lowstand
Systems Tract:
basin-floor fan

LST:ivf

Oligocene 3
Sequence
Designation

3 = 3rd-order

Papers
Sequence Surfaces

Start

Sequence Boundary: Type 1

(on-shelf intervalley ravinement = TS)

T1
mfs = mcs

Author

Transgressive (diachronous) Ravinement Surface

with Coastal Onlap

TS
top sf or bff

Search

sf

Help

Maximum-Flooding Surface =
Condensed Section

mcs

bff

mcs

Top Slope or Basin-Floor-Fan

Surface
Local Autocyclic Abandonment Condensed Section
(overlying sf or bff)
Downlap Surface (dls)
(progradational HST(right) or LST: pw (left))

Ma = mega-annum (millions of years before present)

Figure 2. Legend for Figure 1 modified from Brown et al. (2005).

Conclusions
Wheeler diagrams (Figure 1) provide a useful tool for exploration of the lower Oligocene to
lower Miocene section of the northwestern Gulf when used in conjunction with sequence stratigraphic
principles. Wheeler diagrams for other stratigraphic sections may likewise provide an important exploration tool for other time units. Even in areas of sparse well penetrations, reservoir risks can be
significantly reduced by using such charts, together with sequence stratigraphic depositional models, to
identify potential sand-prone facies.
This article is published with the approval of the Director, Bureau of Economic Geology.

References
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sequence stratigraphy from the Early Oligocene to Middle Miocene: SEPM Special Publication No. 60, p.
245-259.
Berggren, W.A., D.V. Kent, C.C. Swisher III, and M.P. Aubry, 1995, A revised Cenozoic geochronology and chronostratigraphy, W.A. Berggren, D.V. Kent , M.P. Aubry, and J. Hardenbol, eds., Geochronology, Time
Scales and Global Stratigraphic Correlation: SEPM Special Publication No. 54, p.129-212.
Berggren, W.A., D.V. Kent, and J.A. Van Couvering, 1985, Neogene chronology and chronostratigraphy, N.J. Snelling, ed., The Chronology of the Geologic Record: The Geologic Society Memoir No. 10, p. 211-260.

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Wheeler Diagrams: A Useful Exploration Tool in the Gulf of Mexico

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charts are key to regional chronostratigraphic systems tract analysis in growth-faulted basins: American
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