AAPG Bulletin, V. 84, No. 3 (March 2000), P. 299-313.
Wiggins Arch, Southern Mississippi: New Exploratory Data from 3-D
Seismic
Scott L. Montgomery1
©Copyright 2000. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights
reserved.1Petroleum Consultant, 1511 18th Avenue East, Seattle, Washington 98112;
e-mail:
[email protected] Grateful acknowledgment is given to MB Exploration (Dallas, Texas) for data and
information included in this paper. ABSTRACT
Newly released data from a 65 mi2 (168 km2) 3-D
(three-dimensional) seismic survey on the south flank of the Wiggins arch reopens the
question of exploratory opportunity in this sparsely drilled region. Although surrounded
by significant production from deep Jurassic and more shallow Cretaceous reservoirs, the
Wiggins has not yet been the site of successful exploration. Only nine deep tests,
however, exist within an area over 2000 mi2 (5180 km2) in size;
thus, previous interpretations of low potential on the Wiggins suffer from limited data.
The recently completed 3-D survey, in conjunction with systematic evaluations of existing
sample, well log, and 2-D (two-dimensional) seismic information, shifts the focus of
attention from the Smackover Formation to overlying Haynesville and Cotton Valley
intervals. Data suggest that large-scale oolite shoals exist in the upper Haynesville,
immediately below the Bossier Shale. Potential shoals coincide in occurrence with a major
northeast-southwest-trending anticlinal structure. Changes in the character of the
Haynesville reflector imply significant porosity development, while time structure mapping
and isochron thinning in the Haynesville-Cotton Valley interval indicate an important
degree of potential entrapment in Cotton Valley sandstones. A well planned for an updip
portion of the anticline should yield extremely valuable information for future analyses
of Wiggins arch geology.
