About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract

AAPG Bulletin, V. 106, No. 7 (July 2022), P. 1499-1546.

Copyright ©2022. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1306/02032217261

Three-dimensional seismic interpretation of a meteorite impact feature, Red Wing Creek field, Williston Basin, western North Dakota

Benjamin D. Herber,1 Paul Weimer,2 Renaud Bouroullec,3 Roger J. Barton,4 Daniel N. Behringer,5 William S. Hammon III,6 and William S. Gutterman7

1Energy and Applied Minerals Research Center, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado; present address: Shell Exploration and Production, Houston, Texas; [email protected]
2Energy and Applied Minerals Research Center, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado; [email protected]
3Applied Geosciences, TNO, Utrecht, The Netherlands; [email protected]
4Retired, Laguna Vista, Texas; [email protected]
5True Oil, Casper, Wyoming; [email protected]
6Consulting Geologist, Denver, Colorado; [email protected]
7Houston Energy LP, Houston, Texas; [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The Red Wing Creek field in the Williston Basin is one of a few well-known petroleum fields in the world to produce from a structure associated with a meteorite impact. Interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic data set 56 mi2 (145 km2) in area shows the crater is 5.6 mi (9.1 km) in diameter and has three unique structural zones. First, the central uplift complex has a maximum diameter of 3.8 mi (5.1 km), and consists of an uplifted central core, composed entirely of strata of the Mississippian Madison Group, and a flanking inner rim. The seismic reflectivity within the central core is poor, but well log data indicate extensive stratigraphic repetition. The central core is surrounded by an annular rim (1.1 mi [1.7 km] wide), which is structurally thickened by imbricate thrusts that dip toward the central core. This rim comprises eight distinct radial sectors, segmented by nine high-angle, reverse faults.

 The second part of the crater is a depressed annular trough with a maximum diameter of 0.9 mi (1.5 km); its inner limit is bounded by antithetic normal faults and its outer limit by concentrically linked normal faults that dip toward the central part of the crater. This group of faults marks the edge of the third zone, the outer rim. The outer rim is slightly uplifted, relatively undisturbed, and its strata dip at a maximum angle of 8° away from the central crater.

 The results of this study were applied to further field development. Four horizontal wells were drilled in new Madison Group targets, resulting in three new producing wells.

Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $14
Open PDF Document: $24

AAPG Member?

Please login with your Member username and password.

Members of AAPG receive access to the full AAPG Bulletin Archives as part of their membership. For more information, contact the AAPG Membership Department at [email protected].