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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Houston Geological Society Bulletin
Abstract
Abstract: Geology And
Seismic
Modeling
of an
Aneth-Type Desert Creek Mound Trend,
Paradox Basin, Southwest Colorado
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In the Paradox Basin of southwest Colorado, a major facies change from thick, porous algal dolomite to thin, tight anhydrite occurs within the Desert Creek zone of the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation. This northwest-trending algal mound belt is subparallel to and separated from the ancestral Uncompaghre mountain front by lagoonal anhydrite and nearshore arkosic fanglomerates. In the west, carbonate rocks attain a gross thickness of 200 ft., which can include 100 ft. of reservoir quality dolomite. These rocks have an updip and abrupt eastward facies change to thin evaporites which form a regional master trap for potentially significant hydrocarbon accumulations. Reservoir parameters and trapping mechanisms are similar to Utah's Aneth Field, where oil production exceeds 340 million barrels.
Subsurface stratigraphic changes have been seismically
modeled with a microcomputer for the purpose of defining
the extent of each facies. The modeling
is based on sonic
logs from two wells that exhibit the end-member facies of
thick, porous dolomite versus thin, tight evaporite. An
interpolation routine creates intermediate logs between
these end-members, thereby defining the geometry of the
model. The depth model is convolved with a zero-phase
wavelet of 10/20=40/60 hz, and the result is an extra
seismic
cycle where reservoir thickness exceeds 40 ft. Updip loss of
the cycle defines the transition from reservoir dolomite to
trap anhydrite.
Modeling
demonstrates that this major facies change
can be detected at frequencies reasonably attainable by
modern
seismic
methods. Regional subsurface stratigraphic
analysis and modern
seismic
data provide an integrated
approach to hydrocarbon prospecting in the Pennsylvanian
Desert Creek zone.
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