ABSTRACT There is a systematic spatial and temporal distribution of facies associations within deepwater depositional systems of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The building blocks that make up deepwater depositional sequences include turbidite, debris flow, slump, and pelagic deposits. These building blocks combine in a variable, yet systematic and predictive, assemblage of facies. Through time, a deepwater depositional sequence stacks in an overall fining-upward succession of higher-energy to lower-energy deposits. Sequence mapping illustrates an overall evolution of the deposy stem from updip to downdip. The active slope deposystem is characterized by a progradational shelf margin, which is often extensively slumped or bypassed. The upper slope is dominated by bypass, erosional channel systems, and/or small-scale leveed-channel systems. The middle and lower slope is prone to deposition of debris flows, lobate (unconfined flow) turbidite sand bodies, and larger-scale leveed-channel systems. In general, the best sand development is observed in the middle and lower slope, directly downdip of the major delta system. Outside of the areas of active deposition, slope sedimentation is minimal, and the time-equivalent section is represented primarily by condensed strata. The base of each depositional sequence is interpreted to represent the fall of relative sea level, and highest energy processes. These processes include shelf margin failure, bypass, erosional channels, which feed sediments into downdip lobate bodies. In the middle and lower slope, high net sand leveed channels also appear to supply sediment to downdip lobate bodies. Sediments of the upper part of the lowstand are focused in the upper slope and shelf margin, with deltas and smaller scale, low net sand leveed channels. Downdip, the equivalent section is characterized primarily by hemipelagic sedimentation. The final stages of the depositional sequence are the transgressive, condensed section and highstand systems tract This interval represents the most time, and slowest sedimentation rates (primarily muds and marls) in the deep-water deposystem.