Morgans, H.E.G. 2013 Oligocene to Pliocene biostratigraphy of the marine sequences in exploration wells in the Kupe region, South Taranaki Bight, New Zealand. Lower Hutt, N.Z.: GNS Science. GNS Science report 2013/48 v, 99 p.
Abstract: This report, reviews the marine sections from the Kupe and Kupe South exploration wells. Kupe-1 was fully reviewed, with all samples re-examined and new listing made. Kupe South-1 and Kupe South-5 were briefly examined, with key horizons checked where needed. Kupe South-2 (23 new samples); Kupe South-3, 3A, 3B (30 new samples); and Kupe South-4 (43 new samples) were examined more extensively. In Toru-1 only the key biostratigraphic horizons were examined in detail. The older, non-marine, intervals were treated lightly with a brief synopsis of the existing commissioned palynological biostratigraphy. Where available, more recent open-file data was utilised, improving the palynostratigraphy. The Kupe-Kupe South wells, Toru-1, and Tahi-1 were drilled on a major north-south structural feature bounded to the west by the Manaia Fault Zone and to the east by the Taranaki Fault and by a basement high to the south. In the Late Cretaceous a tensional regime produced normal movement on the Manaia Fault and Taranaki Faults and the resultant graben accumulated a thick sequence of Late Cretaceous to Paleogene sediments. The graben was uplifted from the Oligocene onwards when a compressional regime caused reverse faulting on the Manaia Fault system. The result is marine Oligocene sediments unconformably overlying Paleogene or Early Eocene non-marine to marginal marine sediments. (auth)
