AAPG Studies in Geology No. 48 / SEG Geophysical References
Series No. 11, Chapter 9: Combined Geologic and Surface Geochemical Methods
Used to Discover Agaritta, Brady Creek, Selden, and New Year '95 Fields, Concho County,
Texas, U.S.A., by D. F. Saunders, K. R. Burson, J. J.
Brown, and C. K. Thompson, Pages 209 - 242
from:
AAPG Studies in Geology No. 48 /
SEG Geophysical References Series No. 11: Surface
Exploration Case Histories: Applications of Geochemistry, Magnetics, and Remote Sensing,
Edited by Dietmar Schumacher and Leonard A. LeSchack
Copyright © 2002 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the
Society of Exploration Geophysicists. All rights reserved.
Chapter 9
Combined Geologic and Surface Geochemical Methods Used to Discover Agaritta, Brady
Creek, Selden, and New Year '95 Fields, Concho County, Texas, U.S.A.
D. F. Saunders
Recon Exploration, Inc.
Addison, Texas, U.S.A.
K. R. Burson
Recon Exploration, Inc.
Addison, Texas, U.S.A.
J. J. Brown
Independent Geologist
Addison, Texas, U.S.A.
C. K. Thompson
Recon Exploration, Inc.
Addison, Texas, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT
From December 1987 to March 1991, several operators tested 25 prospects in the lower
King sand (Upper Pennsylvanian Cisco Group) play in Concho County, Texas, U.S.A. They used
combinations of subsurface geology, reconnaissance airborne gas sensing, surface
radiometrics, soil magnetic-susceptibility, and soil-gas hydrocarbon measurements to
define prospects. Six new King sand discoveries or extensions and three deeper Goen
Limestone discoveries resulted in an estimated exploratory success rate of 36%, and the
total exploration and development cost through 1998 was approximately $0.89/bbl of proven
producing oil equivalent. Locations for the discovery wells on each of the successful
prospects were based primarily on combined subsurface geologic and surface geochemical
data.
