Waiting on a mule deer crossing…
The San Juan sag, a foreland basin along the Uncompahgre-Brazos uplift, contains Mesozoic sediments overlain by up to 10,000 ft of Tertiary volcanics. Petroleum exploration beneath thick volcanic cover requires successful acquisition of seismic data; however, experience elsewhere has generally produced only marginal results. Commencing in 1983, Meridian Oil recorded 18 seismic lines comprising 260 mi of conventional and portable data. Noise test were performed at two sites to evaluate seismic response and to determine source and receiver parameters. Vibroseis, shothole, and surface dynamite were examined as sources and gave comparable results. Coherent noise trains with velocities from 4,000 to 8,000 ft/sec and dominant frequencies of 10 to 15 Hz were generated in the Tertiary section. The predominant factor affecting data quality was outcrop lithology. Data recorded over alluvial and other Quaternary deposits tended to be good to fair. Data quality over Tertiary volcanics was variable and highly unit dependent, ranging from fair over andesites and volcaniclastics, poor over ash-flow tuffs, and uniformly very poor over basalts. Seismic source appeared to have only a minor effect on quality. Data processing involved no unusual operations. Velocity filtering was used to suppress near-surface generated coherent noise, Refraction statics were applied to linesmore » with significant elevation or lithologic variations. A successful acquisition program helped to establish the presence of a Mesozoic sedimentary section beneath the volcanics. these data revealed large structural features within the sedimentary section as well as a dramatic angular unconformity at the top of the Cretaceous section.« less
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