Sedimentation within the Tobago Forearc Basin with implications for the evolutionary history of the Southern Barbados Accretionary Margin

The Scotland Formation onshore Barbados is often called the only example of a successful hydrocarbon producing accretionary prism reservoir. In spite of this, the hydrocarbon system elements of the BAP have nevertheless not been well studied. Seven outcropping locations of the Scotland were examined to document stacking patterns, key surfaces, depositional element geometries, facies occurrences their vertical and lateral extent, and the unit’s gamma response. Six facies were identified in outcrop: silty muds; laminated, centimeter-scale sandstones interbedded with silts and muds; cross-stratified sandstones; massive, medium to coarse-grained sandstones; very coarse grained sands with gravel or pebbles; and rare conglomerates. These facies combine to form architectural elements—channels, levees, and depositional lobes. Observations from petrographic, outcrop and seismic data suggest that the Scotland Formation was never deeply buried within the prism proper and was possibly deposited within the much larger proto-Tobago Basin.