ABSTRACT

Technology has always been a critical player in the petroleum industry, but as hydrocarbon reserves are depleted its role is ever-increasing. A case in point in the South Elk Basin field located in the northern Bighorn Basin, Park County, Wyoming. Since discovery more than 40 years ago, exploration and development continue. Originally revealed using gravity data and later discovered using "state of the art" seismic technology in 1943, South Elk Basin is a geophysical success story.

As of December 1985, this faulted anticline had produced about 18 million barrels of oil (MMBO) and 34 billion cubic feet of gas (BCFG) from six horizons ranging in age from Pennsylvaman to Cretaceous. A waterflood initiated in 1962 and a polymer flood begun in November 1984 have increased recoverable oil. Further advances in the seismic tool led to a new phase of development in 1971 - infill drilling.

Though much improved since they were first developed, current seismic and modeling capabilities still fall short of revealing more subtle secrets in structurally complex areas. Reserves remaining to be tapped at South Elk Basin and other fields are dependent upon tomorrow's technology.