Seismic imaging of complex subsurface structure, western flank of Denver Basin

Conference · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6811820

Hu, S T ^[1]; Davis, T L ^[2]

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1. Chinese Petroleum Corp., Taipei (Taiwan, Province of China)
2. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)

The subsurface structural configuration within the western flank of the Denver basin and elsewhere in the margin of Rocky Mountain basins has been inaccurately depicted and interpreted on seismic reflection data. As a result, the seismic method has not been used to its potential in assisting evaluation of petroleum prospects in these terrains. Today, application of new processing technologies using the modern seismic workstation lends new hope to properly imaging the structural configuration of the subsurface in these complex terrains. To research application of new processing technologies to seismic imaging in the Denver basin zone of flank deformation, a seismic line shot at Deer Creek Canyon, Jefferson and Douglas counties, Colorado, in 1985 was reported using state-of-the-art processing techniques, including turning wave and prestack depth migrations. Results of this processing are encouraging in that steeply dipping to overturned strata in the subsurface at Deer Creek Canyon are imaged for the first time using these new technologies. Similar setting and problems of seismic imaging occur elsewhere in the Rockies and around the world, indicating that the application of new seismic acquisition and processing methods designed to image steeply dipping to overturned strata could usher in a new era of exploration within the Rockies and elsewhere in similar geological settings.

• OSTI ID: 6811820
• Report Number(s): CONF-940803--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 78:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
COLORADO
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
IMAGE PROCESSING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PROCESSING
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SURVEYS
USA