The Anadarko basin of western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle continues to be one of the most active and prolific petroliferous provinces of the continental United States. More than 150 companies and an equal number of independent geologists are actively engaged in the exploration for additional oil and gas reserves in this Mid-Continent basin.

The sedimentary sequence in the Anadarko basin is represented by a wide variety of lithologic units ranging in age from Cambrian-Ordovician through Permian. Important reservoir rocks are present and proven in each of these major systems. Regional facies changes from dense limestones to porous dolomites, from porous sandstones to tight limestones, and regional pinch-outs of sandstones in sand-shale sequences all provide the necessary trapping mechanisms for the accumulation of hydrocarbons. In addition, three major unconformities truncate downdip reservoir rocks to create long regional trends of oil and gas production. The possibility of discoveries of additional trends of this nature is considered excellent as demonstrated by current industry activity.

The southern boundary of the Anadarko basin is formed by the Amarillo-Wichita Mountain front fault system. This fault system is characterized by substantial vertical block uplift and regional left-lateral strike-slip movement. The combination of these two Pennsylvanian age tectonic movements creates a complex zone of tensional block faulting, compressional overthrusting, step faulting, and vertical dipping formations.

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