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Role of magnetotellurics in exploration of San Juan sag

Conference · · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)
OSTI ID:5631247
;  [1]
  1. Emerald Exploration Consultants, Austin, TX (USA)

The San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, consisting almost entirely of Tertiary volcanic rocks, are bounded on the southwest by the mature oil and gas province of the San Juan basin and on the east by the San Luis basin. Continuation of the sediments from the San Juan basin eastward beneath the volcanics was suspected based on the reported presence of seeps and the evaluation of regional gravity and magnetic data. The objective of applying MT to the exploration of the San Juan sag area was to determine, through the measurement of subsurface resistivity, whether the hydrocarbon-rich sedimentary rocks of the San Juan basin indeed extended eastward beneath the San Juan volcanics and, if so, to what extent. The MT program the authors describe was a reconnaissance profile, one of the initial investigations of the area. MT data were acquired at 12 sites extending from Pagosa Springs east across Wolf Creek Pass to Del Norte on the western margin of the San Luis basin. Data were acquired for calibration at well sites near Pagosa Springs and northeast of Del Norte. Site spacing was 4-8 mi. The 12-site program was designed to test the geologic concept and evaluate for a minimum expenditure the feasibility of applying MT to the problem.

OSTI ID:
5631247
Report Number(s):
CONF-8910195--
Journal Information:
AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 73:9; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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