--> 3D Interpretation of a Meteorite Impact Field, Red Wing Creek Field, Williston Basin, Western North Dakota, Herber, Benjamin; Weimer, Paul; Barton, Roger; Hammon, William, #90100 (2009)

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3D Interpretation of a Meteorite Impact Field, Red Wing Creek Field, Williston Basin, Western North Dakota

Herber, Benjamin3
 Weimer, Paul3
 Barton, Roger1
 Hammon, William2

1True Oil, Casper, WY.
2
Terra Spark, Boulder, CO.
3
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.


The Red Wing Creek Field in the Williston Basin of western North Dakota is one of a handful of oil and gas fields in the world that is known to produce from a structure that formed associated with a meteorite impact. Discovered in 1972, this field has produced 17 millions barrels of oil and 25 BCF of gas from 26 wells, of which 22 are still producing. Ultimate recovery is estimated to be at least 60 million barrels of oil. The impact crater consists of a structurally high central core, with two surrounding structurally high areas, an inner and outer rim. The total deformed area is about 65 square km; the central core area is 2.6 square km. Production is primarily from reservoirs in the central core that consist of highly deformed carbonate strata of the Upper Mississippian Madison/Mission Canyon Formation. Production occurs from highly fractured strata with less than 1 mD of permeability. Geochemical analyses of the oil indicate the source rock as the underlying Devonian Bakken Shale.

Regionally, the Upper Mississippian Madison Group consists, at the base, of the Lodgepole Formation, overlain by
Mission Canyon, overlain by anhydrite and salt of the Charles Formation, overlain by the Kibbey Formation (sandstones, shales, and carbonates). However, within the crater, these strata are of variable thickness and not present everywhere.

At the peak of the central core, the steeply dipping vertical
Mission Canyon strata are overlain by sub-horizontal Jurassic strata. The remainder of central core consists of steeply dipping Mission Canyon strata overlain by salt and anhydrite of the Charles Formation that flowed after deformation. In inner rim, the Mission Canyon Formation varies from gentle to steep dips (up to 22 degrees) and is overlain by Charles Formation. The Mission Canyon strata in the outer rim are gently dipping (4-5 degrees), and are overlain by the Charles Formation.


AAPG Search and Discover Article #90100©2009 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition 15-18 November 2009, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil