Computer-assisted reconstruction of stratigraphic framework of an Anderson coal deposit, Powder River Basin, Wyoming

Conference · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5105754

Pierce, F W; Molnia, C L

The Big George coal bed, 30 mi (48 km) west of Gillette, Wyoming, is the thickest part of a large Anderson coal deposit. The coal resources of this central core, essentially a single bed of coal up to 202 ft (62 m) thick, were previously estimated at 113 billion short tons. This deposit is in the Paleocene Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation; overburden ranges from 700 to 2400 ft (213 to 732 m). The Big George bed was initially outlined using geophysical logs from nearly 300 oil and gas drill holes. More logs were studied in the northern portion of Big George and as far north as the Montana state line to examine the entire system of coal beds that includes this thick bed. We interpreted geophysical logs primarily for coal and sandstone, digitized lithologic intervals, and generated strip logs of lithologic sequences using a microcomputer. These computer-generated strip logs of lithologic sequences using a microcomputer. These computer-generated logs were generated in lines of sections, on matching elevations, to reconstruct the stratigraphic framework of subsurface coal in this part of the Powder River basin. The framework was used to trace the interval containing the Anderson deposit into the Decker, Montana, and Recluse, Wyoming, areas. This interval appears to be confined by the Smith coal bed above; the bottom of the interval is less well defined. Lithologic patterns of the framework suggest that a major fluvial channel system defined part of the northwestern boundary of the Big George coal bed. The locations of these channels may have been controlled primarily by Laramide deformation in the Powder River basin.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Denver, CO
• OSTI ID: 5105754
• Report Number(s): CONF-8506201-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 69:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CENOZOIC ERA
COAL DEPOSITS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGY
LITHOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
POWDER RIVER BASIN
RESOURCES
STRATIGRAPHY
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA
WYOMING