Kenneth J. Bird¹, Naresh Kumar², David J. Taylor³

(1) U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
(2) Growth Oil and Gas, Richardson, TX
(3) U.S.G.S, Denver, CO

ABSTRACT: Seismic-Based Regional Geological Transects Across the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA)

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has initiated a project to reassess the hydrocarbon potential of the NPRA. The reassessment became necessary following the 1994 discovery of the Alpine field (projected recoverable reserves of 400 million barrels) along the eastern boundary of the NPRA. This field produces from a formation heretofore considered to be mainly a source rock.

To provide the geologic framework for the assessment, especially for quantitative 2-D basin modeling, we have constructed four transects: two north-south and two east-west. The seismic base for the transects is mostly formed by data recorded for the USGS from 1974 through 1981. This data has been reprocessed by the USGS using modern, post-stack depth migration techniques and plotted as color amplitude displays. Interpretations were constrained by numerous ties to well control.

The north-south transects are located close to the eastern edge of the NPRA and extend about 250 miles from the Brooks Range thrust-belt to the base of the continental slope in the Beaufort Sea. The east-west transects traverse the Barrow Arch and extend about 110 miles (the Barrow Crest Transect) and 220 miles (the Barrow Flank Transect), respectively. Key intervals ranging from the Pre-Mississippian basement to the Tertiary have been interpreted on each transect. The geologic evolution of the western North Slope of Alaska is amply demonstrated in these transects.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado