Estimation of salt thickness and restoration of cross-sections with diapiric structures: a few critical comments on two powerful methods

Estimation of the initial thickness of a salt layer that has produced diapirs in a sedimentary basin provides information about basin history and evolution of the resulting salt structures. In many cases quantifying sedimentation and deformation history assists the understanding of hydrocarbon entrapment by salt structures. Limitations of the methods that are used to estimate salt thickness and restoration of profiles with salt structures may cause great error in thickness calculation or interpretation of deformation history. These limitations also cause confusion if they are not explained clearly during presentation of results. Restoration of profiles of extension areas where salt structures are present could give erroneous results when the regional extension and the flow of salt in and out of the profile along strike and within the profile are not incorporated in the restoration. Scaled analogues demonstrate that restored profiles of diapiric structures may show incorrect evolution history of salt structure and initial salt thickness.