A major Miocene deepwater mud canopy system: The North Sabah–Pagasa Wedge, northwestern Borneo

Abstract Three-dimensional seismic reflection data, well and analogues from areas with extensive shale tectonics indicate that the enigmatic deepwater “shale nappe or thrust sheet” region of northern offshore Sabah, Malaysia, now referred to as North Sabah–Pagasa Wedge (NSPW), is actually a major mobile activity characterized by mini-basins mud pipes, chambers, volcanoes. A short burst volcano produced submarine canopy complex composed ~50 centers (each probably multiple volcanoes) cover individual between 4 80 km2. The total area dense development ~1900 During middle Miocene, post-collisional NSPW was predominantly overpressured shales were loaded much km thickness clastics in series mini-basins. Following mini-basin development, there very important phase volcanism, which built canopies (coalesced flows) vent complexes. affected deposition overlying interfingering deposits, including late early Miocene turbidite sandstones, are reservoirs some fields (e.g., Rotan field). presence volcanoes indicates large volumes gas had be generated within drive volcanism. Sabah example only second system described literature largest most complex.