Passive continental margin basins and the controls on the formation of evaporites: a case study of the Gulf of Mexico Basin

Abstract

Passive continental margin basins are the most important type of oil- and gas-bearing basins and are significant in the formation of oil and gas. The development of evaporites in passive continental margin basins commonly controls the formation and storage of oil and gas. Therefore, it is important to study the factors that control the formation of evaporites in this type of basin. Taking the Gulf of Mexico Basin as an example, this paper discusses the factors that control the formation and development of evaporites during the development of a passive continental margin. These factors include stratigraphy, lithofacies paleogeography, paleocontinental position, paleoclimate, provenance and sea level changes, Based on this analysis, we conclude that the evolution of the passive continental basin was favorable for the formation of evaporites.