Research Goals

GBDS Phase 16 – Proposed Work Goals

January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2030

GBDS Applied Science Goals:

Over the last 30 years, GBDS researchers established the 34 tectonostratigraphic units and mapped them across the Gulf Basin.  Recent efforts have focused on the Wilcox depositional system, incorporating data from Mexico, and producing sand grain volume maps for Cenozoic units.  Looking forward over the next five years, GBDS will refocus our efforts to the onshore realm to aid in the identification of zones of interest to operators of emerging and unconventional energies, and to better delineate feeder systems to offshore depocenters.  We will also build new databases, mine existing data to answer questions such as sediment routing, and take advantage of newly released regional 3D seismic cubes.  GBDS also plans on growing the number of students, both undergraduate and graduate, funded by the project.

In Phase 16 we foresee two broad research themes:

Stratigraphic Evolution of the Gulf Basin 

• Seismic mapping of Neogene deltaic feeder systems across continental shelf
  • Miocene provenance with focus on Green Canyon
  • Newly released regional 3D seismic
• Refine depocenter mapping, paleo-river identification, and TOC enrichment of Mesozoic systems and link to deep-water Cretaceous
  • Unconventionals and source-rocks
  • Focus on Bossier, Paluxy, Tuscaloosa, and Eagle Ford/Woodbine systems
  • Reciprocal sedimentation and its controls (climate, tectonics, sea-level)
• Refinement of Oligocene systems, focusing on deepwater
  • Subdivide Frio and Vicksburg systems
  • Relationship of Mexican Oligocene to the northern gulf Frio/Vicksburg play
• Biostratigraphic interpretation of key onshore and offshore wells
  • Age framework 
• Revamp of GBDS biostratigraphic/chronostratigraphic framework 

• Paleoenvironmental interpretation and MFS/condensed section identification
• Mapping of regional seals and pressure barriers
  • Evaluate regional pressure trends in the northern GOM
  • MDT/RCI/RFT/SFT data 
• Expand framework mineralogy database from Paleogene into Neogene
  • Onshore and offshore wells
  • Incorporate rock properties data to understand controls reservoir quality

Emerging Energies and Critical Minerals in the Gulf Basin

• Continue identification of regional CO2 storage suitability zones onshore and offshore
  • Extend cross sections to onshore Louisiana and shallow offshore
  • Subsurface pressure data to evaluate regional containment seals 
  • Aquifer database
• Refine basement maps & evaluate crustal domains, affinities, and provenance
  • Refine new concepts for Gulf Basin opening based on gravity/magnetic data
  • Critical minerals, especially lithium
  • Heat flow maps
• Continue expansion of onshore well database to support new initiatives into geothermal, blue/green hydrogen and other energy transition scientific investigations 

In support of these research topics we will update our databases with new well and seismic data as it becomes available. As we continue to enhance and refine our GIS database and transition to Petrel, we’ll explore new methodologies to create more accurate and wide-spread maps for our GBDS units.

Student Research Projects:

GBDS is currently sponsoring two graduate students in joint projects with the Quantitative Clastics Lab at the Bureau of Economic Geology. Juan Gutiérrez is mapping multiple generations of Pleistocene submarine canyons that have connected the Mississippi and Red Rivers to Mississippi and Bryant submarine fans. Jake Margoshes is using 3Dd seismic reflection data to understand avulsion processes on a Pleistocene submarine channel in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. We look forward to continuing to support graduate student research, including potential new projects utilizing 3D seismic data to map Miocene shelf delta complexes and well data, including core, to map Cretaceous siliciclastic systems. Their projects not only advance our research but they help to train the next generation of geoscience professionals.

Undergraduate students are working on a wide range of projects from building a database of Cenozoic petrographic data, understanding the distribution of unleased and undrilled offshore lease blocks, and mapping the distribution of Mass Transport Deposits (MTD’s) on the Texas and Louisiana shelves. Undergraduate student research topics also include generating Gulf Coast cross-sections, Gulf Coast Aquifer study on potential carbonate storage sites, and a study of the Lavaca Canyon using cores and well logs.

GBDS Database, GIS and Tools:

Curated collection of relevant data, research, and other information GBDS produces annually for its IA members.

• Add to GBDS well control and documentation with newly released data. To include well logs, biostratigraphy, LAS, RCI\MDT and more from the US and Mexico
• Add to GBDS reference library as new publication, presentations, and posters are released
• Creation of new well and seismic cross-sections addressing broader research goals and in collaboration with our third party contributors to highlight areas of interest related to source rocks, CCS, and pressure data.
• Interpretation of biostratigraphic data for key onshore and offshore wells
• Maintain current GoM GIS database and provide interim updates to Industrial Associates. It should be noted that GBDS maintains a large database with 300 plus maps which are updated on a yearly basis with a goal of keeping this database and toolset current so IA members have the most up-to-date and accessible information.
• Continue to update and refine GBDS Tools as science requires
• Support of GBDS tools for ArcGIS Pro
• Expand support for QGIS

GBDS Research Data (The Data Warehouse):

Complete collection of data used by GBDS to produce the GBDS Database and conduct other scientific work. Includes open-access data & data generously licensed by our IA members.

• Migrate borehole, seismic, and other research data from OpenWorks/Landmark to Petrel
• Update related hardware, software, documentation, and procedures
• Complete upgraded security architecture
• Add new seismic, borehole, and other geophysical data as available
• Generate research & interpretation products available through the GBDS Database
• Test new data-science methods to improve automation, data-analysis, and data-visualizations