HAEBERLE, FREDERICK R., Consulting Geologist, Dallas, TX

ABSTRACT: Giant Oil Fields in the United States by Basin Types

One hundred and eighteen giant fields in the United States with 33% of giant-field reserves are in craton margin basins, 105 giant fields with 35% of giant-field reserves are in plate margin basins, 52 giant fields with 22% of giant-field reserves are in rift basins, 33 giant fields with 6% of giant-field reserves are in deltaic basins, and 15 giant fields with 4% of giant-field reserves are in craton interior basins. Basin size does not appear to be closely related to the number of giant fields because plate margin basins have a total basin size of more than 327 million ac, craton margin basins are next with 231 million ac, followed by craton interior basins with 107 million ac, deltaic basins with 60 million ac, and rift basins with 16 million ac. A total of 160 giant fields produce primarily from reservoirs of Cenozoic age with 41% of giant-field reserves, 133 giant fields produce primarily from reservoirs of Paleozoic age with 48% of giant-field reserves, and 30 giant fields produce primarily from reservoirs of Mesozoic age with 11% of giant-field reserves. From 1967 to 1991, 35 giant fields, including Prudhoe Bay field, were found in the United States. Eleven giants were found in deltaic basins, 8 in plate margin basins, 7 in rift basins, 6 in craton margin basins, and 3 in craton interior basins.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90994©1993 AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, Fort Worth, Texas, February 21-23, 1993.