RESEARCHER SUGGESTS THIRD EAST TEXAS BASIN

Existence of a third major sedimentary basin in East Texas has been suggested by a researcher at Texas A&M University, College Station. Andrew J. Davidoff, a geology doctoral student specializing in basin analysis, suggested that the distinct Brazos basin separates the East Texas basin from the Houston embayment. Davidoff stresses that his preliminary research has indicated the existence of the new basin and says considerably more mapping is needed to verify the basin's authenticity.

Jan. 14, 1991

2 min read

Existence of a third major sedimentary basin in East Texas has been suggested by a researcher at Texas A&M University, College Station.

Andrew J. Davidoff, a geology doctoral student specializing in basin analysis, suggested that the distinct Brazos basin separates the East Texas basin from the Houston embayment.

Davidoff stresses that his preliminary research has indicated the existence of the new basin and says considerably more mapping is needed to verify the basin's authenticity.

The Brazos basin so far has not had the prolific oil production history of the East Texas or Gulf Coast basins, he noted, but results of the study may change that.

In a presentation at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in October 1990, Davidoff said he believes the basin plunges as deep as 30,000 ft below the surface and is about 120 miles long and 50 miles wide.

During 4 years of research, Davidoff examined multifold seismic data to understand the geologic history of East Texas basins.

He believes the Brazos basin extends from Houston and Trinity counties to Austin and Fayette counties. It was originally separated from the East Texas basin by the Houston arch.

Davidoff believes the Brazos basin originated in association with the rifting that opened the Gulf of Mexico during the late Triassic period about 225 million years ago.

Basin development diminished during late Cretaceous 97-66 million years ago. During that time, the Houston arch began to subside and no longer separates the East Texas and Brazos basins, he said.