Megafossil biostratigraphy of some deep test wells, National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA)

OSTI ID:6844126

Dutro, Jr, J T; Silberling, N J

Fourteen of the exploration wells drilled on the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) since 1975 yielded significant megafossils, which provide new biostratigraphic information for the northern Alaskan subsurface. Fourteen stratigraphic intervals ranging from possible Late Devonian to Albian (late Early Cretaceous) age are documented. Eight of the wells are located near the Arctic Coast, where many formations pinch out against the Barrow High, but five others were drilled into basinal sequences to the south, where Paleozoic and lower Mesozoic strata thicken greatly. By far the best documented well is the second deepest one, Inigok No. 1, drilled in the northern part of the Umiat basin. Tunalik No. 1 well, drilled to a depth of 6198 m (20,335 ft) in the western part of the NPRA about 50 km southwest of Wainwright, apparently penetrated upper Carboniferous strata immediately above the basement. Lisburne No. 1 well, drilled in the structurally complex foothills belt in the southern part of the NPRA, passed through several thrust slices that yielded late Paleozoic and Triassic fossils.

• OSTI ID: 6844126
• Journal Information: United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA), Journal Name: United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA); ISSN XGPPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALASKA
CORRELATIONS
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEVONIAN PERIOD
DIMENSIONS
EXPLORATORY WELLS
FEDERAL REGION X
FOSSILS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRATA
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MESOZOIC ERA
NORTH AMERICA
PALEONTOLOGY
PALEOZOIC ERA
RESERVES
RESOURCES
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
STRATIGRAPHY
THICKNESS
USA
WELLS