Tectonics, sedimentation, and petroleum potential, northern Denver Basin, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska

Abstract

This paper presents a stratigraphic analysis of Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata in the northern Denver basin. The analysis shows that recurrent movement on basement faults influenced sedimentation, especially during major sea level changes. The research integrates surface and subsurface data for an area of approximately 30,000 square miles. Twenty stratigraphic intervals in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic were identified from well data. Based on the results obtained a tectonics and sedimentation model of recurrent fault block movement was derived. This model will aid in the exploration for hydrocarbons in the Denver basin by predicting the distribution of both source and reservoir rocks and by identifying early traps associated with paleostructures. Refs.