The remote sensor exploration of the Ardmore and Marietta basins of Oklahoma

Date

1984-12

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

This study defines a procedure for using remotely sensed image data, supported by conventional geological, geophysical and hydrocarbon production information, to re-explore well known and exploited basins and trends. The procedure and its effectiveness are demonstrated through application to the Ardmore and Marietta basins of south central Oklahoma.

In the Ardmore and Marietta basins, reservoir traps of Pennsylvanian and later age occur primarily in fold-generated structural highs. All but the smallest and most subtle of these fold traps are evident at the surface, and are presumed to have been fully exploited. For this reason, this study only considers those geological formations which predate the early Pennsylvanian Wichita orogeny to be valid exploration targets in these basins.

Among the pre-Pennsylvanian formations, sandstones of the middle Ordovician Simpson Group and dolomites of the upper Cambrian to lower Ordovician Arbuckle Group have excellent reservoir potential. The Hunton carbonates, Viola Limestone, Misener Sandstone, and Woodford Shale are good secondary targets. In the Ardmore and Marietta basins production from all of these formations has been associated with fault-generated fracturing, and the most promising trap environment includes both a closed structural high and significant faulting. These two trap elements define the basic exploration model for sensor data analysis in this study.

Imagery in the visible light, reflected infrared and thermal infrared spectral bands from sensors on the LANDSAT and Heat Capacity Mapping Mission satellites, plus mapped bouguer gravity, aeromagnetic, and geological basement data, were selected for processing and analysis. The image data were digitally processed to emphasize tonal and textural differences, define linear features, and prepare displays suitable for geological interpretation. Manifestations of known geological structures in the processed imagery and map data were used as the basis for identifying additional similar features in the study area.

Five directional systems of fault lineaments were resolved in the processed image products. These systems were attributed to events in the tectonic history of the region and correlated with known faulting in producing fields. In addition, nine major tectonic elements, an apparent system of en echelon folds, and 13 individual, apparently closed, structural highs were identified through image product analysis.

The favorable structures were checked against drilling records to eliminate those areas which had already been tested and proven. All but six of the sensor-data derived areas proved to be associated with producing fields. None of the remaining six had been adequately tested by drilling.

The six remaining areas were analyzed for location on fault lineaments associated with known production, for basin location, and for favorable basement relationships. Four of the six areas were selected as providing the best opportunities for further, detailed, exploration due to their positive indications under all criteria, and were established as lead areas.

Seismic data on two of the leads indicate the presence of faulting and structural highs, supporting the sensor data findings. Drilling on or adjacent to the lead areas has had an 82?o success ratio (9 commercially successful completions from 11 wells), compared to a 2l7o success ratio for the remainder of the four county area. One of the lead areas has been developed into a new oil field and one has had a successful discovery well drilled. The remaining two lead areas have had only peripheral drilling and remain effectively untested.

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