Towards Revised Stratigraphic Columns for Onshore and Offshore Areas of Trinidad & Tobago Hasley Vincent & Philip Farfan GSTT Stratigraphic Discussion May 11 th 2013

Background & Objective Proposal Format Timelines Presentation outline 1955

Objective To obtain; support from the GSTT, participating companies & professionals to establish a stratigraphic Sub- committee To attract volunteers for the various posts that will be advertised To get input from the collective attendees on issues that might help or hinder progress.

Background 14 years since last official update Adherence to International Stratigraphic Code Recent data, studies & findings Areal exclusion

Background Formal Units Chronostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic Unconformity bounded, magnetostratigraphic polarity Informal Units Electrical properties, seismic character, stable isotopes, heavy minerals  “way should be open to use any that promise to be useful belongs” International Stratigraphic Guide, Second Edition, pgs. 8-9  “stratigrahic units must be properly proposed and described to be considered formal”

Stratigraphic Committee Proposal Establish a Stratigraphic Committee with the goals of assessing the current status of the chart, implementing short term measures geared at addressing uncertainties and execute recommendations adhering to an established Stratigraphic Code

Stratigraphic Committee Objectives To produce a modern Stratigraphic Chart that: Covers all the known basins across Trinidad and Tobago Meets or exceeds standards of science and documentation established by the International Stratigraphic Guide Updates or replaces existing nomenclature based on modern scientific research (biostratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, magneto-stratigraphy etc. ) Incorporates new data

Discern biostratigraphy from lithostratigraphy Consider seismic stratigraphic, mineralogical, chemostratigrahical, etc. Zonations Status of type sections? Consider templates and individual stratigraphic columns for individual basins Outdated lexicon What about Tobago? Incorporate extensive log and core database Provide for advances in regional correlation (Barbados, Venezuela etc.) Way Forward for the Trinidad &Tobago stratigraphic chart

Proposed Structure Stratigraphic Sub Committee Chairman, nominated by the GSTT executive 4 executive members representative of key stakeholders Stratigraphic Working Group Volunteers GSTT Secretariat Report to the GSTT executive Budget allocation

Proposed Structure GSTT EXECUTIVE Stratigraphic Committee Executive 1.Chairperson (chosen by GSTT Executive) 2. MEEI representative 3. Academic Representative 4. Industry representatives 5. GSTT secretariat Roles and responsibilities  Populates and gives direction to the Working Group  Develops Terms of Reference  Solicits support from the companies  Manages budget from the GSTT  Conflict resolution and manage expectations  Liaison and communications with stakeholders Next slide

 Southern Basin  Northern Range  Northern Basin  Tobago  NCMA  ECMA  Gulf of Paria  Deep water  Southern Basin  Northern Range  Northern Basin  Tobago  NCMA  ECMA  Gulf of Paria  Deep water Proposed Structure Stratigraphic Working Group Roles and responsibilities  Expertise, assistance and compilation of geologic information  Identification of appropriate reference material  Compile, edit, write or forward documentation when required  Formal recommendations to Stratigraphic sub- committee

Outputs Collation and publication of type sections & basin templates Research opportunities The establishment of sites of geological interests that might be protected from development A comprehensive field guide that will include type localities where ever possible

Log Northern Basin Logs: Seismic Lithology MYBP: Biostrat Basin definition and locations of types sections References Attachments Descriptions and definitions Outputs – Template example

Questions

Litho- or Biostratigraphic? Saunders et al., 1998 “Poor recovery” “ indeterminate” “no age specific fauna” Plio-Pleistocene

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