Evolução estratigráfica da sucessão drifte regressiva da Bacia Potiguar (NE do Brasil)

Abstract

The Potiguar Basin is located at the intersection between the east and equatorial Brazilian margins, covering areas of the Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará states. The sedimentary filling of this basin is represented by rocks that were deposited from Neocomian to Quaternary, during different tectono-sedimentary stages, being: Rift, Post-Rift and Drift. The last stage, in particular, designates a period of relative tectonic quiescence marked by more modest subsidence rates, which led to the deposition, in an open ocean context, of the Drift Supersequence. This supersequence is subdivided into the transgressive (lower portion) and regressive (upper portion) phases, by means of an important regional unconformity with upper Campanian age. The deposits of the regressive drift phase, target of this study, have their lithostratigraphy designated by the Agulha Group, which consists of the Barreiras, Tibau, Guamaré and Ubarana formations. The main purpose of this research was to perform a stratigraphic analysis of the regressive drift succession of the Potiguar Basin, from the perspective of sequence stratigraphy, aiming at a better understanding of its evolutionary process in the shelf, slope and basin regions. For this purpose, lithological information and gamma ray logs of five exploratory wells were used during a 1D analysis phase. Subsequently, the information from the previous phase helped to interpret seven seismic lines in the course of a 2D analysis phase. At end, the results of the 1D and 2D analyzes were integrated, leading to the individualization of five depositional sequences in the studied succession. In general, in more proximal portions, the two older sequences (1 and 2) were characterized by a preponderance of slope deposits, as well as by strongly progradational patterns. On the other hand, sequences 3, 4 and 5 have a more aggradational tendency and are represented by the sedimentation of shelf deposits. Concerning the Sequence 3, this is marked by a wide development of the carbonate sedimentation, whereas the Sequence 4 is characterized by a significant siliciclastic influx. The Sequence 5, in turn, has its depositional configuration defined by an important stage of global eustatic rise, which resulted in an extensive migration of the deposits from more distal portions to the shallower zones. Finally, in the deep marine context, the five depositional sequences show a similar framework, being denoted by the preponderance of hemipelagic successions, with the secondary presence of deposits associated with gravitational flows that occurs mainly in the two oldest sequences (1 and 2).