skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Interpretation of the magnetic anomaly over the Omaha Oil Field, Gallatin County, Illinois

Journal Article · · Geophysics; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443665· OSTI ID:7194255
 [1];  [2]
  1. Schlumberger Technology Corp., Houston, TX (United States)
  2. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS (United States). Waterways Experiment Station

A 40 nanoTesla (nT) magnetic anomaly identified in an aeromagnetic survey over southern Illinois contours as a localized magnetic high on the west flank of a regional magnetic low. This magnetic anomaly is generally coincident with the Omaha Oil Field in northwest Gallatin County, Illinois. It was initially assumed that cultural sources of steel associated with this oil field were the primary source of the magnetic feature; however, similar oil fields overflown by the survey do not exhibit magnetic anomalies in the data set. The Luther Rister et ux [number sign]1 well, drilled near the apex of the Omaha structural dome, encountered two zones of ultramafic intrusive rock containing 9.0% by volume magnetite. These intrusives were identified to be alnoeites which are a class of mantle-derived ultramafic rock that can be associated with the incipient stages of crustal rifting. A ground magnetic survey verified the presence of the anomaly, and provided detailed data for 3-D modeling of the source. Petrophysical evaluations, magnetic susceptibility measurements and thin section modal analysis were made on drill cuttings from the ultramafic intrusives encountered in the Luther Rister [number sign]1 well. These measurements were made to constrain the 3-D magnetic modeling by the petrophysical characteristics of the source. After removal of the regional magnetic field, the resulting 140 nT residual magnetic anomaly was successfully modeled using two ultramafic sills with an igneous feeder plug. The two igneous sills adequately account for the structural closure exhibited in the Omaha Oil Field and raise the interesting possibility of other hydrocarbon trapping structures generated by intrusives emplaced into the sedimentary section.

OSTI ID:
7194255
Journal Information:
Geophysics; (United States), Vol. 59:7; ISSN 0016-8033
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English