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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 68 (1984)

Issue: 4. (April)

First Page: 503

Last Page: 504

Title: Computer Modeling of Minnelusa (Pennsylvanian-Permian) Paleotopography in Eastern Powder River Basin, Wyoming, with a Case History: ABSTRACT

Author(s): R. Mark Maslyn, F. Jay Phillips

Abstract:

Most Minnelusa Formation (Pennsylvanian-Permian) oil production in the Powder River basin is from paleotopographic traps. These traps

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occur where upper Minnelusa dune sands are encased in the overlying supratidal red Opeche Shale (Permian). The morphology of these sands suggests northwest-southeast-trending barchanoid sand ridges.

Thickness variations in the Opeche mirror the relief on the Minnelusa surface. Opeche isopahcous maps are one of the main methods used to explore for Minnelusa paleotopographic traps. Hand-contoured isopachous maps can be subject to ambiguous interpretations in areas of low-density control. This difficulty is partially overcome when the map is mathematically produced.

Observations from oil tests in the area indicate that Minnelusa paleotopography is cyclic with a wavelength of approximately 3 mi (5 km). Double Previous HitFourierNext Hit transforms are appropriate in modeling this kind of cyclic data.

For a test township, the calculated double Previous HitFourierNext Hit surfaces showed good correlation with the actual data values. This technique was then applied to a Minnelusa prospect in Campbell County, Wyoming.

Double Previous HitFourierNext Hit surfaces were calculated for several structural datums and isopach intervals. Additionally, regional dip was determined from a polynomial fit, the section was restored to horizontal, and then was modeled to reveal paleotopography.

The paleotopographic-high axes and Opeche thin axes showed remarkable coincidence. This trend is believed to represent the trace of a paleo sand dune.

A test well sited using conventional geologic methods plus input from the double Previous HitFourierTop maps confirmed the accuracy of the calculated surface.

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