Structural Geometry and Evolution of Thrust Faulting in the Frontal Ouachitas-Arkoma Basin Transition Zone, SE Oklahoma
By
Ibrahim Cemen, Justin Evans, Jeff Ronck, Ata Sagnak, Kris McPhail and Syed Mehdi; School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078
We have constructed about 20 balanced structural cross-sections along the Frontal Ouachitas-Arkoma Basin transition zone between the Wilburton gas field and Wister lake, based on the wire line logs of 100's of wells, available seismic profiles, and surface geologic maps.
A well-developed triangle zone is present in the transition
zone. It is flanked by the Choctaw fault
to the south and the Carbon
fault
to
the north. The footwall of the Choctaw
fault
contains a well-developed duplex
structure. The Springer Detachment is the floor thrust and the Lower Atokan
Detachment is roof thrust of the duplex structure. The roof thrust continues
northward and displaces the Red Oak sandstone before reaching a shallower depth
and forming the Carbon
fault
as a north dipping backthrust below the San Bois
syncline. Northeast of the Wilburton field, the Carbon
fault
makes a lateral
ramp to the east and becomes a blind backthrust. The triangle zone and the
duplex structure are present throughout the transition zone from the Wilburton
gas field to the Wister Lake area.
Southwest of Wilburton, the Main Choctaw fault
forms a splay
which is named here as the Northern Choctaw
fault
. The Lower Atokan Spiro
sandstone is exposed on the hanging wall of the Main Choctaw. The
fault
wedge
between the two faults contains no Spiro, suggesting that the Northern Choctaw
is younger than the Main Choctaw. This indicates a break-forward thrusting
between the two faults and implies that the imbricate thrusts on the hanging
wall of the Main Choctaw were also developed by the same mechanism.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90010©2003 AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, Fort Worth, Texas, March 1-4, 2003