Serrano, Isabel C.¹, Alfred Lacazette², Charles H. Blumentritt¹, Kurt J. Marfurt¹, E. Charlotte Sullivan¹ 
(1) University of Houston, Houston, TX 
(2) Natural Fractures, Houston, TX

ABSTRACT: Structural Interpretation of The Dollarhide Field in West Texas Utilizing New Seismic Attributes

We present a developmental structural model of a complexly faulted anticline in the Central Basin Platform of the Permian Basin at the Texas and New Mexico boundary. Our interpretation uses newly developed seismic attributes that reveal structural geometry. These new attributes include: curvature, a second-derivative attribute, first-derivative and other surface-derived attributes as dip and azimuth which highlight important structural features at and beyond the normal limit of seismic resolution when used together with coherent energy. 
Previous work shows that this area underwent multiple phases of deformation since the Paleozoic. The field is a N-S trending anticline composed of NW-SE trending segments separated by NE-SW trending, high-angle faults. The asymmetric anticline has a steep eastern limb that is bounded by a NNE-trending high angle fault-related fold with 2,500 ft of displacement at the top of the Devonian reservoirs. The NE-trending high angle faults both cut the upthrown block and displace the NNE-trending boundary fault. Curvature analysis shows that these faults cut the crystalline basement creating a contractional duplex at a bend in the boundary fault in response to wrench faulting. 
We find that the Dollarhide structure was produced by two phases of deformation. An older phase created the NW-trending anticline cut by NE-normal faults associated to the main NNE-dextral strike slip fault under a NE-oriented shortening. Subsequent E-W compression tightened the anticline and reoriented the axis to the present N-S orientation. During this time NE-trending faults became right lateral strike slip faults.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90026©2004 AAPG Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, April 18-21, 2004.