Trapping mechanisms of Minnelusa oil accumulations, northeastern Powder River basin, Wyoming

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1972 · Mt. Geol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6275482

Van West, F P

This paper defines and documents trapping mechanisms present in the Permian age Minnelusa oil fields of the NE. Powder River Basin, Wyoming. By far the largest portion of the Minnelusa oil in place has been trapped by paleotopographic highs occurring at the unconformity at the top of the Minnelusa Formation. Smaller amounts of Minnelusa oil have been trapped by updip per permeability pinchouts and by structural closure. Over 85% of the Minnelusa oil found to date occurs in a fairly well-defined triangular-shaped area which largely coincides with the area showing maximum topographic relief. The paleotopographic highs, in which most of the Minnelusa oil fields are located, usually exhibit an anomalous downdip bulge, as contoured on top of the Minnelusa, together with good sand developments, updip erosion, and/or permeability pinchouts. To find new Minnelusa fields, one should concentrate primarily on areas which indicate a combination of these factors.

• OSTI ID: 6275482
• Journal Information: Mt. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Mt. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 9:1; ISSN MOGEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200 -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ELECTRIC LOGGING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PALEOZOIC ERA
PERMIAN PERIOD
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POROSITY
RESOURCES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
USA
WELL LOGGING
WELLS
WYOMING