ABSTRACT

Salt domes in east Texas are possible sites for nuclear waste repositories. Tectonic stability is a critical factor in evaluating suitability as a repository. Subsurface studies were undertaken to determine stratigraphy and structure of strata around the domes, and to ascertain the growth history of the domes as a means to evaluate tectonic stability. This paper presents the stratigraphy and structural relationships of Upper Cretaceous to lower Eocene strata bounding the upper part of the domes. Three main types of domes have been interpreted from well-log data: 1) at Hainesville dome, Upper Cretaceous strata exhibit notable thickening in a rim syncline and stratigraphic markers dip toward the dome except near the contact with domal material; 2) at Keechi dome, strata are uplifted and dip away from the dome with strata thinning toward the dome; 3) at Oakwood dome, strata are approximately horizontal until near the dome edge, where they are upturned; minor thickening of strata occurs toward the dome. Differences in stratigraphy and structure of Cretaceous-Eocene strata in the vicinity of these domes are attributed to differences in growth history.