Browsing by Subject "Oklahoma"
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Item Characterization of the Cana-Woodford Shale using fractal-based, stochastic inversion, Canadian County, Oklahoma(2016-05) Borgman, Barry Michael; Spikes, Kyle; Sen, Mrinal K; Wilson, Clark RThe past decade has seen a surge in unconventional hydrocarbon exploration and production, driven by advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Even with such advances, reliable models of the subsurface are crucial in all phases of exploitation. This study focuses on the methods used for estimation of the elastic properties (density, velocity, and impedance), which play a key role in targeting reservoir zones ideal for hydraulic fracturing. Well-log data provides high-resolution vertical measurements of elastic properties, but a relatively shallow depth of investigation imposes spatial limitations. Seismic data provides broader horizontal coverage at lower cost, but sacrifices vertical resolution. Thin beds present in many unconventional reservoirs fall below seismic resolution. In addition, the band-limited nature of seismic data results in the absence of low-frequency content of the Earth model, as well as the high-frequency content present in well logs. Seismic inversion is a process that provides estimates of elastic properties given input seismic and well data. Stochastic inversion is a method that uses well-log data as a priori information, with an added aspect of randomness. The method generates many realizations using the same input model and takes an average of those realizations. We implement two separate stochastic inversion algorithms to estimate P-impedance in the Cana-Woodford Shale in west-central Oklahoma. First, we use a fractal-based, very fast simulated annealing algorithm that exploits the fractal characteristics found in well-log data to build a prior model. The method of very fast simulated annealing optimizes our elastic model by searching for the minimum misfit between observed and synthetic seismic traces. Next, we use a principal component analysis (PCA) based stochastic inversion algorithm to invert for impedance at all traces simultaneously. Comparison of the results with traditional deterministic inversion results shows improved vertical resolution while honoring the low-frequency content of the Earth model. The PCA-based inversion results also show improved lateral continuity of the elastic profile along our 2D line. The impedance profile from the PCA-based approach provides a better representation of the vertical and horizontal variability of the reservoir, allowing for improved targeting of frackable zones.Item Conodonts of the Desmoinesian (middle Pennsylvanian) Lost Branch Formation, Oklahoma and Kansas(2005-05) Rosscoe, Steven J.; Barrick, Jim; Chatterjee, Sankar; Lehman, ThomasThe Lost Branch Formation of Oklahoma and Kansas was deposited during the last Desmoinesian (Middle Pennsylvanian) transgressive-regressive cycle of the Midcontinent Sea. The regression of the Midcontinent Sea during Lost Branch deposition records the final occurrences of the conodont genera Neognathodus and Swadelina as well as numerous ammonoids, the Desmoinesian brachiopod Mesolobus, the fusulinid Beedina, and some sponges and palynomorphs. The Lost Branch Formation begins at the top of the Dawson Coal in a sandy shale deposit of the Upper Holdenville Shale. The transgression of the Midcontinent Sea is recorded in the Upper Holdenville Shale, the Homer School Limestone, and the Nuyaka Creek Black Shale Bed. The regression of the Midcontinent Sea is recorded in the “offshore” Upper Holdenville Shale, the Glenpool Limestone, and the upper sandy shale deposit of the Upper Holdenville Shale. The lower outside shale is characterized by a conodont fauna of Idiognathodus species A, Adetognathodus lautus, and Idioprioniodus. As the transgression progressed there was further diversification of the fauna. The Homer School Limestone has the first appearance of Neognathodus dilatus dilatus, N. expansus expansus, and Hindeodus minutus. Specimens of I. expansus, Swadelina nodocarinata, N. dilatus bifurcatus, N. roundyi, N. expansus subspecies B, Gondolella magna, G. denuda, grooved morphotypes of I. expansus, and rounded and nodose morphotypes of Sw. nodocarinata are found in the overlying Nuyaka Creek Shale. The Nuyaka Creek Shale is the only interval where G. magna, G. denuda, and the rounded and nodose morphotypes of Sw. nodocarinata are recovered. The regression of the Midcontinent Sea is reflected in the conodont fauna by a loss of diversity. In the offshore shale of the Upper Holdenville Shale the conodonts Swadelina nodocarinata and Hindeodus minutus are absent. The Glenpool Limestone lacks the grooved morphotype of Idiognathodus expansus, Neognathodus dilatus dilatus, N. dilatus bifurcatus, N. roundyi, N. expansus expansus, N. expansus subspecies B, and Idioprioniodus. The only species found in the upper outside shale are I. expansus, I. species A, and Adetognathodus lautus. A paleoecological model for the Lost Branch Formation is presented that shows species tolerant of turbid waters living in the surface waters of the sea, and species preferring clear waters appearing only in the deeper offshore intervals. Gondolella and Swadelina dominate in clear-water assemblage, while Idiognathodus dominates in turbid waters. The well-preserved conodont fauna and easy clay-shale processing of the Lost Branch Formation provided an opportunity to study conodont Pa element function as it relates to microwear and element morphology. The original texture of blade denticles is fibrous, while the bar of the blade is smooth and featureless. The original texture of the platform forms a polygonal texture on the oral surface and a smooth texture on the aboral surface. Abrasive microwear removes original texture from the elements. Reshaping microwear takes element features, like denticles and ridges, and reshapes them into asymmetric surfaces indicative of their functional significance. By comparing the morphology of an element with the areas of intense microwear it was determined that the Pa element of Idiognathodus expansus served a food-processing and a food-transport function. The blade of the element pushed large food particles onto the ventral platform for crushing. The blade may also have sliced larger food particles. The ventral platform served a crushing and bruising function. The dorsal platform of the element pushed food back to the ventral platform for further processing.Item Conodonts of the Desmoinesian Lost Branch Formation, Oklahoma and Kansas(Texas Tech University, 2005-05) Rosscoe, Steven J.; Barrick, James E.; Chatterjee, Sankar; Lehman, ThomasThe Lost Branch Formation of Oklahoma and Kansas was deposited during the last Desmoinesian (Middle Pennsylvanian) transgressive-regressive cycle of the Midcontinent Sea. The regression of the Midcontinent Sea during Lost Branch deposition records the final occurrences of the conodont genera Neognathodus and Swadelina as well as numerous ammonoids, the Desmoinesian brachiopod Mesolobus, the fusulinid Beedina, and some sponges and palynomorphs. The Lost Branch Formation begins at the top of the Dawson Coal in a sandy shale deposit of the Upper Holdenville Shale. The transgression of the Midcontinent Sea is recorded in the Upper Holdenville Shale, the Homer School Limestone, and the Nuyaka Creek Black Shale Bed. The regression of the Midcontinent Sea is recorded in the “offshore” Upper Holdenville Shale, the Glenpool Limestone, and the upper sandy shale deposit of the Upper Holdenville Shale. The lower outside shale is characterized by a conodont fauna of Idiognathodus species A, Adetognathodus lautus, and Idioprioniodus. As the transgression progressed there was further diversification of the fauna. The Homer School Limestone has the first appearance of Neognathodus dilatus dilatus, N. expansus expansus, and Hindeodus minutus. Specimens of I. expansus, Swadelina nodocarinata, N. dilatus bifurcatus, N. roundyi, N. expansus subspecies B, Gondolella magna, G. denuda, grooved morphotypes of I. expansus, and rounded and nodose morphotypes of Sw. nodocarinata are found in the overlying Nuyaka Creek Shale. The Nuyaka Creek Shale is the only interval where G. magna, G. denuda, and the rounded and nodose morphotypes of Sw. nodocarinata are recovered. The regression of the Midcontinent Sea is reflected in the conodont fauna by a loss of diversity. In the offshore shale of the Upper Holdenville Shale the conodonts Swadelina nodocarinata and Hindeodus minutus are absent. The Glenpool Limestone lacks the grooved morphotype of Idiognathodus expansus, Neognathodus dilatus dilatus, N. dilatus bifurcatus, N. roundyi, N. expansus expansus, N. expansus subspecies B, and Idioprioniodus. The only species found in the upper outside shale are I. expansus, I. species A, and Adetognathodus lautus. A paleoecological model for the Lost Branch Formation is presented that shows species tolerant of turbid waters living in the surface waters of the sea, and species preferring clear waters appearing only in the deeper offshore intervals. Gondolella and Swadelina dominate in clear-water assemblage, while Idiognathodus dominates in turbid waters. The well-preserved conodont fauna and easy clay-shale processing of the Lost Branch Formation provided an opportunity to study conodont Pa element function as it relates to microwear and element morphology. The original texture of blade denticles is fibrous, while the bar of the blade is smooth and featureless. The original texture of the platform forms a polygonal texture on the oral surface and a smooth texture on the aboral surface. Abrasive microwear removes original texture from the elements. Reshaping microwear takes element features, like denticles and ridges, and reshapes them into asymmetric surfaces indicative of their functional significance. By comparing the morphology of an element with the areas of intense microwear it was determined that the Pa element of Idiognathodus expansus served a food-processing and a food-transport function. The blade of the element pushed large food particles onto the ventral platform for crushing. The blade may also have sliced larger food particles. The ventral platform served a crushing and bruising function. The dorsal platform of the element pushed food back to the ventral platform for further processing.Item The curious case of Oklahoma : a historical analysis of the passage of universal pre-kindergarten legislation in Oklahoma(2013-05) Bell, Christian Marie; Reyes, Pedro, 1954-; Gershoff, Elizabeth T.State-funded voluntary pre-K programs have grown steadily over the past decade and now enroll 1.3 million children (Barnett, Carolan, Fitzgerald, J., & Squires, 2012). While the overall trend has been to increase participation in state funded Pre-K, access in most states is targeted to select groups of at-risk 4-year-olds. Unfortunately, targeted programs for disadvantaged children tend to underserve their targeted populations with respect to availability and quality (Gelbach & Pritchett, 2002). In light of this, Pre-K advocates have begun pushing for universal Pre-K. However, only six states offer universal-prekindergarten, and with varying degrees of success. In this environment of modest state funding for Pre-K, the state of Oklahoma has managed to rise to the forefront of the universal Pre-K movement. That a high-quality Pre-K system exists in a conservative state is a very curious case and provides an opportunity for a thorough examination of the political processes. This study seeks not only to explain the development and passage of universal Pre-K in Oklahoma, but to also understand what lessons can be taken from a historical analysis of this issue for contemporary education policy.Item Depth-registration of 9-component 3-dimensional seismic data in Stephens County, Oklahoma(2014-05) Al-Waily, Mustafa Badieh; Hardage, Bob Adrian, 1939-Multicomponent seismic imaging techniques improve geological interpretation by providing crucial information about subsurface characteristics. These techniques deliver different images of the same subsurface using multiple waveforms. Compressional (P) and shear (S) waves respond to lithology and fluid variations differently, providing independent measurements of rock and fluid properties. Joint interpretation of multicomponent images requires P-wave and S-wave events to be aligned in depth. The process of identifying P and S events from the same reflector is called depth-registration. The purpose of this investigation is to illustrate procedures for depth-registering P and S seismic data when the most fundamental information needed for depth-registration – reliable velocity data – are not available. This work will focus on the depth-registration of a 9-component 3-dimensional seismic dataset targeting the Sycamore formation in Stephens County, Oklahoma. The survey area – 16 square miles – is located in Sho-Vel-Tum oilfield. Processed P-P, SV-SV, and SH-SH wave data are available for post-stack analysis. However, the SV-data volume will not be interpreted because of its inferior data-quality compared to the SH-data volume. Velocity data are essential in most depth-registration techniques: they can be used to convert the seismic data from the time domain to the depth domain. However, velocity data are not available within the boundaries of the 9C/3D seismic survey. The data are located in a complex area that is folded and faulted in the northwest part of the Ardmore basin, between the eastern Arbuckle Mountains and the western Wichita Mountains. Large hydrocarbon volumes are produced from stratigraphic traps, fault closures, anticlines, and combination traps. Sho-Vel-Tum was ranked 31st in terms of proved oil reserves among U.S. oil fields by a 2009 survey. I will interpret different depth-registered horizons on the P-wave and S-wave seismic data volumes. Then, I will present several methods to verify the accuracy of event-registration. Seven depth-registered horizons are mapped through the P-P and SH-SH seismic data. These horizons show the structural complexity that imposes serious challenges on well drilling within the Sho-Vel-Tum oil field. Interval Vp/Vs – a seismic attribute often used as lithological indicator – was mapped to constrain horizon picking and to characterize lateral stratigraphic variations.Item Investigation of Soil Moisture - Vegetation Interactions in Oklahoma(2013-03-06) Ford, Trenton W.and-atmosphere interactions are an important component of climate, especially in semi-arid regions such as the Southern Great Plains. Interactions between soil moisture and vegetation modulate land-atmosphere coupling and thus represent a crucial, but not well understood climate factor. This study examines soil moisture-vegetation health interactions using both in situ observations and land surface model simulations. For the observational study, soil moisture is taken from 20 in situ Oklahoma Mesonet soil moisture observation sites, and vegetation health is represented by MODIS-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). For the modeling study, the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) hydrologic model is employed with two different vegetation parameterizations. The first is the model default vegetation parameter which is interannually-invariant leaf area index (LAI). This parameter is referred to as the control parameter. The second is MODIS-derived LAI, which captures interannual differences in vegetation health. Soil moisture simulations from both vegetation parameterizations are compared and the VIC-simulated soil moisture?s sensitivity to the vegetation parameters is also examined. Correlation results from the observation study suggest that soil moisture-vegetation interactions in Oklahoma are inconsistent, varying both in space and time. The modeling results show that using a vegetation parameterization that does not capture interannual vegetation health variability could potentially result in dry or wet biased soil moisture simulations.Item Telychian (Llandovery, Silurian) conodonts from the Chimneyhill Subgroup, West Carney Hunton Field, North-Central Oklahoma(2007-05) Bader, Jeremy D.; Barrick, James E.; Asquith, George B.; Lehman, ThomasTwenty-eight cores from the West Carney Hunton Field (Logan and Lincoln Counties, Oklahoma) yielded late Llandovery (Silurian) conodont faunas from the Chimneyhill Subgroup of the Hunton Group. Five cores yielded late Llandovery (Telychian) conodonts from a previously unknown stratigraphic unit that lies between the Cochrane (Llandovery) and Clarita (Wenlock) formations. The main part of the field is a reef-dominated carbonate shoal consisting of reef facies in the Cochrane and lagoonal facies in both the Cochrane and the new Telychian unit. The lagoonal facies is a complex of pentamerid brachiopod mounds flanked by crinoid-, brachiopod- and/or coral-dominated grainstones. The Telychian lagoonal facies fauna includes Pterospathodus a. amorphognathoides, Pt. a. lennarti, Pt. a. angulatus, Pt. celloni, Ozarkodina polinclinata polinclinata, Ozarkodina polinclinata estonica, and Aspelundia fluegeli? Species of Pterospathodus and Ozarkodina allow recognition of the Telychian Pt. eopennatus through Pt. a. amorphognathoides zones of Männik, which are based on sections in the Baltic region. Two cores in nodular shaly limestones, dolostones, and shale yield deeper water faunas containing Aulacognathus bullatus, Aul. kuehni, Aul. latus, and Oulodus sigmoideus? Three successive biozones based on species of Aulacognathus (Aul. bullatus, Aul. kuehni, and Aul. latus in ascending stratigraphic order) are recognized. The lack of Pterospathodus in the deeper water fauna makes it difficult to correlate this fauna to the lagoonal facies and to the standard Silurian conodont zonation. The occurrence of Pt. a. amorphognathoides at the top of the deeper water cores and the presence of Oz. polinclinata in the lagoonal facies indicates that they are contemporaneous. Many of the species of these Telychian faunas have been found previously in southern Oklahoma only as elements reworked into Late Silurian strata, but the strata from which they originated were unknown.Item Welter of blood: A novel(2011-08) Heinen, Jonathan B.; Patterson, Leslie J.; Covington, Dennis; Borshuk, MichaelThis dissertation, Welter of Blood: A Novel, follows three generations of a family living in Oklahoma and focuses on historical events particular to the state. Set in the fall of 2001, the story uses associative memory to collapse time and allow characters to revisit moments from their past. In 1921, Louis Eishen bears witness to the Tulsa Race Riots and is complicit in concealing that tragedy. His daughter, Martha, is sent to a home for unwed mothers at the end of the Baby-Scoop Era in 1971 and gives up a child for adoption. Her son, Henry, works as an underground tattooist—defying a state-wide ban on tattooing that existed in Oklahoma from 1963 to 2006—and contends with the resuscitation of an old friendship and his family's history. Told in alternating points of view, the story has a polyphonic quality that acknowledges the problematic nature of objectivity and employs one of the privileged modes of narration for the Historiographic Metafiction novel as defined by Linda Hutcheon. Moving from themes of burial to excavation, the novel explores how we understand each other and ourselves through the stories we tell and those we are unwilling or unable to articulate.