Regional Subsurface Analysis of the Western Anadarko Basin, Western Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle, Employing Computer-Generated Maps and Cross Sections

KOHLES, KEVIN M., RICHARD A. HAINES, and JOSEPH POTTS, Geological Data Services, Dallas, TX

Current computer technology and commercial data sources provide explorationists with important regional perspectives in mature productive areas. Previously, without the computer, comprehensive regional analyses were costly and time consuming and, when accomplished, effectively delayed prospect generation. Regional maps generated by the computer on a wide variety of stratigraphic horizons and intervals often furnish insights which are valuable to exploration efforts.

A large portion of the western Anadarko basin, approximately 16,000 mi2, was analyzed with a commercial database containing over 28,000 well records and approximately 250,000 correlated tops in this area. These formation tops along with commercially available digital land grid and exploration software were utilized to generate a comprehensive suite of structure, contour, isopachous, and isochore maps. An analysis with these maps provides an extensive and detailed look at the western Anadarko basin and reveals stratigraphic and structural relationships which help generate prospect leads. These relationships are usually not recognizable by county-wide or smaller area studies.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91008©1991 AAPG Mid-Continent Section Meeting, Kansas Geological Society, Wichita Kansas, September 22-24, 1991 (2009)