--> ABSTRACT: Stratigraphic Architecture of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation, Henry Mountain Basin, Southern Utah - A Virtual Walkthrough on Desktop Computers, by Edmund R. Gustason, Robert Y. Elphick, and Lawrence S. Jones; #90906(2001)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Edmund R Gustason1, Robert Y Elphick2, Lawrence S Jones1

(1) Schlumberger H-RT, Denver, CO
(2) Schlumberger H-RT, Denver

ABSTRACT: Stratigraphic Architecture of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation, Henry Mountain Basin, Southern Utah - A Virtual Walkthrough on Desktop Computers

Outcrops provide a valuable source of qualitative and quantitative information on the stratigraphic architecture of analogous oil and gas reservoirs. For example, outcrop analog databases provide important parameters for variograms used in geocellular modelling. Visualization of this architecture with interactive links to quantitative data on stratigraphic geometries is critical for communication among an interdisciplinary team of engineers and geoscientists.

New technologies allow us to present outcrop images and associated information in an interactive 3-dimensional format. Acrobat (PDF), Browser and QuickTime(tm) players are readily, and cost effectively available for most desktop platforms. We present an example using QuickTime(tm) VR technology to document an outcrop characterization study of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation.

The Salt Wash is a high net-to-gross fluvial deposit that forms spectacular cliff exposures in the highly dissected canyonland country of the Henry Mountains Basin in southern Utah. Stratigraphic architecture (facies and their bounding surfaces) was mapped on approximately 25 kilometers of continuous outcrops. The interpretations were digitized and compiled into a database of stratigraphic geometries. Individual photos were stitched into 120 VR panoramas. These panoramas are linked to topographic maps and can be selected in any order to conduct a virtual walkthrough of the Salt Wash outcrops. A separate layer with the interpretation can be overlain onto the VR panoramas to illustrate the stratigraphic elements captured in the database. "Hot buttons" are used to link important features on the panoramas to descriptive text, paleocurrent rose diagrams, the analog database, close-up photos, measured sections, gamma ray profiles, and available porosity and permeability information.

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