News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, July 2, 1996
A major new book published by the Kansas Geological Survey, based at the University of Kansas, and the Kansas Geological Society describes 28 case studies where geophysical methods were used to study the geology of Kansas. The book focuses primarily on the application of geophysics to oil and gas exploration.
Geophysical Atlas of Selected Oil and Gas Fields in Kansas was edited by Neil Anderson, formerly from the Survey and now at the University of Missouri-Rolla, and Dennis Hedke, a geological and geophysical consultant from Wichita who is also a member of the Society.
The book's articles describe the use of seismic reflection, downhole logging, and aeromagentic and gravity data. Many of the papers reproduce the actual data--seismic lines, logs, maps potential fields data--that were used in exploration for and development of an oil field, allowing users to see those records and analyze how they were used.
"This book is designed to increase understanding and utility of geophysical data in the Kansas oil industry," said Hedke. "These papers illustrate the state of the geophysical art in the early 1990s, in terms of both resolution and limitations."
Several of the papers describe the application of geophysical techniques to understanding of the Kansas basement, or Precambrian rocks. Others discuss the use of seismic reflection on well-known geologic features such as Cheyenne Bottoms, the Hutchinson Salt bed, or a sinkhole in Stafford County.
Most of the papers, however, center on oil and gas fields. For example, a paper on the Stockholm oil field on the Colorado/Kansas border in Wallace County includes aeromagnetic data, geophysical logs, and a structural map of the producing horizon. Several sets of seismic data that include the producing horizon are reproduced in color.
"The primary purpose of the volume is to expose readers to a variety of geophysical techniques, and the Stockholm field is a good example of that," said Hedke. "Several papers include data that was previously confidential, but released by companies for use in this book. As a result, this book communicates real-life examples of the ways data are used. As the exploration industry moves to the application of three-dimensional seismic technology, many of these papers illustrate the subsurface features that are mappable via two-dimensional imaging."
To allow reproduction of data, the book was published as an oversize volume that measures 18 inches by 13 inches. Copies of the book are available from the Survey, West Campus, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047. The cost is $80, plus $7 for shipping and handling. Kansas residents should add 6.9% sales tax. Copies are also available from the Kansas Geological Society, 212 North Market, Wichita.