Regional setting of Niobrara Formation in Northern Great Plains
Natural gas is currently produced from the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation in northeastern Colorado, northwestern Kansas, and several small fields in Nebraska. As a part of studies of low-permeability gas reservoirs in the northern Great Plains, the regional geologic setting of the Niobrara has been investigated in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Structural contours of the Ardmore Bentonite Bed suggest that the area of thin Niobrara strata presently approximates the south flank of the Williston basin and north flank of the Denver and Kennedy basins. Chalk tongues are interpreted as low-angle shelf surfaces, known as carbonate ramps, which sloped gently to the northwest and southeast off a paleotectonic high. The paleotectonic high cut obliquely across the seaway and was close to the position of the Transcontinental arch that influenced Paleozoic sedimentation. As a result, the present-day stratigraphy and structural setting of the Niobrara are different north and south of the arch crest. 58 references, 13 figures, 1 table.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Denver, CO
- OSTI ID:
- 5502575
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 68:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Cretaceous Niobrara play
Geologic setting and natural gas potential of Niobrara formation, Williston Basin
Related Subjects
GREAT PLAINS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
STRATIGRAPHY
BENTONITE
COLORADO
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
KANSAS
LIMESTONE
NATURAL GAS
NEBRASKA
NORTH DAKOTA
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SHALES
SOUTH DAKOTA
TECTONICS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CLAYS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VII
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration