The impact of seaward dipping reflectors on thermal development of volcanic passive margin basins: The case study of Pelotas Basin.
Pelotas Basin; Punta del Este Basin; Continental Ocean Transition; Mantle Plume; Volcanic Passive Margins.
The primary objective of this doctoral thesis is to examine and characterize Seaward Dipping Reflectors (SDR) and their associated volcanic rocks in volcanic passive margin (VPM) basins, using well core samples that intersect units from the Punta del Este Basins in Uruguay and the Pelotas Basins in Brazil. For the completion of this doctorate, a comparison with other VPMs at various evolutionary stages is anticipated. The major focus is to explore the thermal impacts related to SDRs, investigate the potential economic effects of these formations, such as hydrocarbon maturation, and elucidate the geothermal and volcano-sedimentary processes connected to volcanic passive margin basins. To date, petrographic and geochemical analyses of the SDRs and related volcanic rocks from the Punta del Este and Pelotas Basins have been conducted. The acquired data enabled the characterization of distinct lithotypes and the initiation of interpretations concerning the origin and evolution of SDRs. The findings are summarized in a proposed article titled "Direct Observations of Seaward-Dipping Reflectors and Related Rocks in the South Atlantic Ocean" to be submitted to the Gondwana Research journal. This article represents a significant milestone in the research and serves as a foundation for future stages of analysis, including rock dating, identification of analogous basins at different formation phases, and thermal modeling based on data from both the analyzed and analogous basins. Thermal modeling will be a vital component of this study, as it will help determine the suitable zone for oil and gas generation over time by tracking the regions within the generation window. The generation window refers to the range of temperatures and pressures at which organic matter within sedimentary rocks is transformed into hydrocarbons, such as oil and natural gas. Comprehending this window is essential for pinpointing areas with potential for exploration and production of hydrocarbons.