Chapter 7

Exercise

SUBSURFACE MAPPING AND CROSS-SECTION

1/ Could the subsurface geologist use electric logs in correlating (a) Cenozoic units between coastal Gulf
of Tonkin and coastal Gulf of Southern?

Yes

2/ What are the subsea depths of Markers X, Y, and Z on Figure 1 ?

Figure 1

2873' Log depth Marker X

- 1085' D.F.
- 1788' Subsea depth
4120' Log depth Marker Y
- 1085' D.F.
- 3035' Subsea depth
6411' log depth Marker Z
- 1085' D.F.
- 5326' Subsea depth

1
3/ Draw a structural contour map of marker surface P, using the subsurface data on subsea depths of
markers, subsea depths of fault intersections, and magnitudes of fault cut-outs. Assume fault surfaces
dip 55 and use a contour interval of 100 ft. (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

Figure 1

2
 Figure 2

4/ A.) Figure 1 and Figure 2 are a subcrop map of Algerian Paleozoic units beneath a sub-Mesozoic
unconformity. Does this subcrop pattern indicate Pre-Mesozoic uplift? What is the evidence?

Yes. The Pre-Mesozoic uplift is proved by the fact that older strata are exposed in the

cores of local high features, which accordingly must have been uplifted before Mesozoic

strata were deposited on the regional unconformity.

B.) Given that the principal period of structural trap formation in eastern Algeria was Cretaceous in
age (Austrian orogeny), and given that the source of petroleum is Silurian shale, are the following
statements true or false: Most of the petroleum in the eastern Algerian Sahara did not migrate from its
source rock until Cretaceous or later time. True or False?

Long-distance secondary migration is evident in this province. True or False?

Both statement are true

3
Figure 1

4
 Figure 2

5/ How can an isopach map be construed as a structure map?

5
 Figure 1
Succession: Liên tiếp, dãy, chuỗi
abut: tiếp giáp
- An isopach value, a, is the thickness of a horizontal stratigraphic unit measured in a
vertical hole. An iso-chore value, b, is the thickness of an inclined unit measured in a vertical
hole and not corrected for dip (i.e., deviation of strata from horizontal). Again, an iso-chore
value, b', is the thickness of an inclined unit measured in a non-vertical hole and corrected
for deviation of the hole from vertical but not corrected for dip.

6/ Using the following rough areal values, compute the approximate volume of oil-saturated sand
sketched in Figure 1 .

Mean areas of oil saturation

From OWC to 10' above OWC-1000 acres

From 10' to 20' above OWC-850 acres

From 20' to 30' above OWC-700 acres
From 30' to 40' above OWC-550 acres

6
 Figure 1

⇒ Total volume of oil : 31000 acro fort

7
7/ What type of cross section would you construct if:

(a) You were interested in the relationship of subsurface features 1 million years ago, and;

(b) you wanted to see how these features changed over a large region, and;

(c) the features are thin and have a very gentle dip?

⇒ Stratigraphic cross sections

8/ What type of cross section would you construct if:

(a) You wished to know if a present-day surface feature was reflected in a similar subsurface structure,
and;

(b) the area you were interested in was fairly small, and;

(c) it was important that the section not distort the thickness of the strata it depicted?

⇒ Structure cross sections

9/ What are common sources of error in cross sections and how are they avoided?
- Input data
- Line of section
- Scale
- Datum
10/ (a) Using Equation 1, tandE = V tand , fill in the blanks in this table.

VERTICAL TRUE EXAGGERATED

EXAGGERATION DIP DIP
1a. 7 65 _86,2__
b. 7 80 _88,6__
2a. 4 _36__ 71
b. 4 _49,7__ 78
3a. _10__ 4 35
b. _10,2__ 6 47
4a. 5 _7,1__ 32
b. 5 14 _51,3__
(b) What general rule can you observe in 1a and b?
V = const ⇒ E < d

(c) ... in 2a and b?

V = const ⇒ E < d

(d) What can you observe in 3a, b and 4a, b?

8
V = const ⇒ E < d

11/ Once you have decided what type of cross section you need, what is the construction procedure?

- First, a horizontal datum line is established along the wall. Well locations are scaled off horizontally
according to the relative distances between wells on the line of section. Each log is positioned over its well
location by matching the horizontal datum line and the corresponding elevation or horizon on the log. This
procedure is called "hanging" the log on the datum line. Correlatable strata on each log can be marked with
colored push pins and the geology can be further highlighted by stretching string or elastic bands between the
pins. It is easy to change correlations or to substitute new logs into the diagram. Many rough cross sections
can be constructed in this manner while the geologist begins to visualize the geology of the area.you have
decided what type of cross section you need, what is the construction procedure?

12/ Information is given below for four wells and one columnar section in northwestern Montana. use
the information to construct a stratigraphic cross section on top of the Mississippian. You will need to
know that the evaporitic Potlatch Formation is the eastern facies equivalent of the Wabamun Dolomite.
All distance measurements are given in feet. ( Figure 1)

Figure 1

DISTANCES BETWEEN DATA POINTS

9
Outcrop to Well A: 26500 ft E

Well A to Well B: 21000 ft E

Well B to Well C: 10500 ft E

Well C to Well D: 10500 ft E

Well A

ELEVATION: 4291 (DF)

TOTAL DEPTH: 6642

LOG PICKS:

Mississippian (unconformity) 4622

Sun River 4622-4780

Lodgepole/Mission Canyon 4780-5850

Devonian (unconformity) 5850

Potlatch 5850-6070

Nisku 6070-6090

Duperow 6090-

REMARKS: D&A

Well B

ELEVATION: 4347 (DF)

TOTAL DEPTH: 4692

LOG PICKS:

Mississippian (unconformity) 2872

Sun River 2872-3023

Lodgepole/Mission Canyon 3023-4050

Devonian (unconformity) 4050

Three Forks 4050-4075

Potlatch 4075-4295
10
Nisku 4295-4338

Duperow 4338-

REMARKS: D&A

Well C

ELEVATION: 3750 (DF)

TOTAL DEPTH: 3450

LOG PICKS:

Mississippian (unconformity) 1910

Sun River 1910-1980

Lodgepole/Mission Canyon 1980-3050

Devonian (unconformity) 3050

Three Forks 3050-3115

Potlatch 3115-3290

Nisku 3290-3350

Duperow 3350-

REMARKS: 200 BOPD

Well D

ELEVATION: 3714 (DF))

TOTAL DEPTH: 3590

LOG PICKS:

Mississipian (unconformity) 1950

Lodgepole/Mission Canyon 1950-3070

Devonian (unconformity) 3070

ELEVATION: 3070-3158

Potlatch 3158-3298
11
Nisku 3298-3350

Duperow 3350-

REMARKS: D&A

13/ Information is given below for four wells. Use the information to construct a structural cross section. All
distance measurements are given in feet.
DISTANCES BETWEEN WELLS

3850 ft
Unit 1A to Unit 2:
SE
2250 ft
Unit 2 to Unit 3:
SE
2400 ft
Unit 3 to Unit 4:
SE
Datum= -5000 ft.
Vertical exaggeration= 5 (500 ft. horizontal = 100 ft.
vertical)

Well-Unit 1A

ELEVATION: 234 (KB)

TOTAL DEPTH: 6154
DRILLERS PICKS:
A Sand 5634-5724
B Sand 6102-6146
REMARKS: D&A

Well-Unit 2

ELEVATION: 127 (KB)

TOTAL DEPTH: 6127
DIPMETER
LOG PICKS:
READINGS:
A Sand 5317-5399 10 SE
B Sand 5725-5770 15 SE
C Sand Absent ___
Possible fault at 6067
REMARKS:
ft
Gas @ 5317-
5725-5757 ft
5377;

Well-Unit 3

ELEVATION: 252 (KB)

12
TOTAL
6212
DEPTH:
DIPMETER
LOG PICKS:
READINGS:
A Sand 5617-5712 30 SE
B Sand Absent
C Sand 6075-6162 7 SE
REMARKS: Gas in C Sand;
G/W contact at
6102 ft

Well-Unit 4

ELEVATION: 398 (DF)

TOTAL
6400
DEPTH:
DIPMETER
LOG PICKS:
READINGS:
A Sand 5518-5598 7 SE
B Sand 5923-5961 7 SE
C Sand 6281-6370 7 SE
Slight show of Gas at
REMARKS:
5518 ft

Figure ???

14/ The Wyckoff Gas Field, located in Steuben County, N.Y., produces from Onondaga Limestone and/or
Oriskany Sandstone. ( Figure 1 ) The Onondaga forms a thick biohermal reef over part of the field.

13
 Figure 1

Only the porous core facies is productive in the reef section (see map). A deep-seated down-to-the-southwest
fault extends upward along the southwest flank of the reef. Oriskany production is from a small anticline on
the upthrown side of the fault.

Elevations and marked logs are provided for 6 wells in the Wyckoff Field ( Figure 2 ,

14
 Figure 2

Figure 3 , Figure 4

15
 Figure 4

, Figure 5

16
 Figure 5

, Figure 6

17
 Figure 6

, and Figure 7 ).

18
 Figure 3

Use this information to construct a northeast-southwest structural cross section from the Richards well to the
Dibble well, showing the interval from top of Onondaga to bottom of Oriskany.

19
 Figure 7

15/ What are the benefits of a computerized cross section, and what are its limitations?

20