Abstract: A 3-D Seismic and Aeromagnetic Case Study, Western New York

COPLEY, DAVID L.

In late 1995, a three-square-mile, three-dimensional (3-D) seismic survey was run in Arcade Township, Wyoming County, New York, through a cost-sharing effort between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and private industry partners. The Advanced Reservoir Management Program (ARM) of Los Alamos National Laboratory and the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources provided additional CRADA funding.

The survey's purpose was to assess the viability and applicability of 3-D seismic to explore the Appalachian Basin, seismically image a known Cambro-Ordovician reservoir, and image an untested feature previously defined by two-dimensional (2-D) data.

A tight grid aeromagnetic companion survey also was performed in early 1996 covering a much larger contiguous area including the 3-D area, covering over 200,000 acres across both Wyoming and Erie counties. The study's purpose was to magnetically image basement to define basement features that may control structure in the overlying sedimentary section.

Data from over 400 well logs were used to prepare geologic maps for comparison of the aeromagnetic interpretation, the 3-D survey, and available 2-D data. The results show good correlation between geology and corresponding 3-D and aeromagnetic interpretations, thus indicating that these two disparate geophysical techniques may prove to be bot economical and effective exploration tools in the Appalachian Basin.

The project is an example of successful collaboration between private industry and state and federal governments. The findings are expected to benefit all participants.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90939©1997 AAPG Eastern Section and TSOP, Lexington, Kentucky