Utilizing Subsurface Geology and Aeromagnetics in Finding Shallow Cherokee Age Reservoirs along the Bourbon Arch, Kansas

Steve Tedesco, Greg Bratton, and Chad Counts

The poorly defined area known as the Bourbon Arch that forms the boundary between the Forest City and Cherokee basins has been moderately explored for shallow productive Pennsylvanian sandstones using predominantly "trendology". These sandstones are generally found from 150 to 1,000 feet, are 5 to 100 feet thick and oil gravity from 18o to 32o API gravity. The reservoirs are productive both sands drapped across structural highs but also in regionally stratigraphic lows. Data quality is also an issue because of the "poor boy" nature of the operators in the area. Also seismic is not cost effective due to the shallow depth, low drilling costs, and a total completion less than $50,000 a well. As an alternative detail aeromagnetic surveys were flow in select areas and integrated with subsurface geology indicating a relative close association between areas that are productive. By defining the basement faults as defined by aeromagnetics allows a more focused exploration on areas not explored and has resulted in a number of discoveries and reduced costs. Several examples will be presented. 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90176©AAPG Mid-Continent Meeting, Wichita, Kansas, October 12-15, 2013