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AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 34 (1950)

Issue: 3. (March)

First Page: 624

Last Page: 624

Title: Stratigraphic and Structural History of Sholem Alechem Oil Field, Southern Oklahoma: ABSTRACT

Author(s): H. R. Billingsley

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

Although southern Oklahoma geology has received considerable study, little is actually known regarding subsurface details of local geologic structures such as the Sholem Alechem structure. This oil field was discovered in December, 1923, on a northwest-southeast trending anticlinal fold in the trough of the Anadarko-Ardmore geosyncline. It extends from Carter County into Stephens County.

Prior to August, 1947, Sholem Alechem was classed as a minor southern Oklahoma oil field. However, the discovery and subsequent development of the deeper Springer sandstone production has increased the total yearly output of the field from 706,853 barrels in 1947 to 4,989,845 barrels in 1948, thus ranking Sholem Alechem as second only to the Velma pool among Oklahoma's biggest and most active producers.

Rocks below the Pennsylvanian sequence of Springer shales have not been penetrated by the drill in this field; therefore, no evidence of the lower Wichita orogeny was found. It is believed, however, that deposition continued uninterrupted from Mississippian until after Springer time.

Thickening northeastward, the Springer sandstones show no indication of thinning on structure, thus suggesting that the anticlinal fold was not present in Springer time. The folding of the Sholem Alechem structure is believed to have been initiated by the post-Morrowan main Wichita orogeny, with the post-Springer pre-Deese unconformity caused by this movement, being partly equivalent to the widespread post-Mississippian pre-Deese unconformity of northern Oklahoma.

Emergent conditions are indicated by the absence of Dornick Hills rocks over the structure, with Deese sediments of a mixed lithologic character being deposited on the Springer.

A minor emergence at the close of Deese deposition, before the initiation of Hoxbar sedimentation is indicated by the disconformity below the County Line limestone. This limestone implies a restricted reef facies of local limestone deposition because it is well developed on the structurally high areas. Thrusting and compression from the south, suggested by the steeper dips on the north flank, occurred during the Arbuckle uplift of late Pennsylvanian time causing the final folding of the Sholem Alechem and other local structures.

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