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Structure-contour and isopach maps of the National Petroleum Reserve in

Alaska

Article  in  USGS professional paper · January 1989

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 16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE
NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA
INTRODUCTION
This chapter primarily comprises
a set of 20 isopach and structure-
contour maps of various stratigra-
phic intervals and horizons in the
National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska (NPRA). These maps syn-
thesize all available new informa-
tion with the old in a format that
allows easy integration with geo-
logic studies in nearby areas of the
North Slope. They also provide the
geologic framework for the evalua-
tion of organic geochemical data in
oil and gas source-rock studies (see
Magoon and Bird, chapter 17).
The area mapped is limited to the
relatively undisturbed (autochthon-
ous) rocks in the NPRA. The tec-
tonically transported (allochthon-
ous) rocks of the Brooks Range and
southern foothills provinces (see
Mayfield and others, chapter 7) are
not included because of differences
in stratigraphy, structural complex-
ity, and absence of subsurface in-
formation.
These maps differ in several im-
portant aspects from isopach and
structure maps of many of the same
intervals and horizons made by
Tetra Tech, Inc. (Bruynzeel and
others, 1982). The maps in this
chapter integrate the surface geology
more completely and are drawn at
a more generalized regional scale.
The structure contours of the Tetra
Tech maps, based on seismic data,
have been adjusted to coincide with
stratigraphic boundaries established
in wells. The isopach intervals used
Manuscript received for publication on January3, 1985.
U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1399
here have stratigraphic boundaries,
whereas the Tetra Tech maps used
boundaries based on seismic reflec-
tions (parastratigraphic units).
STRUCTURE AND
ISOPACH MAPS
The stratigraphic intervals and
horizons used for the maps in this
chapter are indicated on a general-
ized stratigraphic column in figure
16.1. To avoid clutter and to elim-
inate redundancies, only 49 of the
126 Government-drilledwells were
selected for inclusion on the maps;
the identities and locations of these
wells are shown on figure 16.2.
Each of the 7 structure-contour
maps (figs. 16.3-16.9) and 13 iso-
pach maps (figs. 16.10-16.22)is in-
tended to be self-contained and
therefore has its own stratigraphic
column, list of data sources, and ex-
planatory notes. The maps were
originally plotted at a scale of
1:1,000,000 and subsequently
reduced for publication.
All available data were included
in the construction of these maps.
Surface geologic data include
measured sections and geologic
maps, mostly from USGS publica-
tions. Stratigraphic data for the
wells are from Bird (chapter 15,
table 15.3). Seismic mapping is
from Tetra Tech reports (for exam-
ple, Harris and others, 1977;
Bruynzeel and others, 1982) and
those of other investigators.
REFERENCES CITED
Brosge, W.P., and Whittington, C.L., 1966,
Geology of the Umiat-Maybe Creek
region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey
Professional Paper 303-H, p. 501-638.
Bruynzeel, J.W., Guldenzopf, E.C., and
Pickard, J.E., 1982, Petroleum explora-
tion of NPRA, 19741981-Final Report:
Houston, Tetra Tech, Inc., report 8200,
3 vols., 5 boxes of geophysical maps.
[Available from National Geophysical
Data Center, 325 Broadway, EIGC, Dept.
CNP, Boulder, CO 803031.
Chapman, R.M., and Sable, E.G., 1960,
Geology of the Utukok-Convin region,
northwestern Alaska: U.S. Geological
Survey Professional Paper 303-C, p.
47-167.
Haga, Hideyo, and Mickey, M.B., 1983a,
South Barrow area Neocomian biostra-
tigraphy: San Diego, Calif., Biostra-
tigraphics, Inc., 2 v. [Available from
National Geophysical Data Center, 325
Broadway, EIGC, Dept. CNP, Boulder,
CO 803031.
- 1983b, Jurassic-Neocomian seismic
stratigraphy, NPRA: San Diego, Calif.,
Biostratigraphics, Inc., 2 v. [Available
from National Geophysical Data Center,
325 Broadway, EIGC, Dept. CNP,
Boulder, CO 803031.
Harris, J.R., Miller, C.C., and Pickard, J.E.,
1977, Summary geophysical report; in-
terpretation of the FY '77seismic survey
data, National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska: Houston, Tetra Tech, Inc.,
report, 18 p. [Available from National
Geophysical Data Center, 325 Broadway,
EIGC, Dept. CNP, Boulder, CO 803031.
Lathram, E.H., 1965, Preliminary geologic
map of northern Alaska: U.S. Geo-
logical Survey open-fie report, scale
1:1,000,000, 2 sheets.
Mayfield, C.F., Tailleur, I.L., Mull, C.G.,
and Sable, E.G., 1978, Bedrock geologic
map of the south half of National Petro-
leum Reserve in Alaska: U.S. Geological
Survey Open-File Report 78-70-8, scale
1:500,000, 2 sheets.
Mull, C.G., Tailleur, I.L., Mayfield, C.F.,
Ellersieck, I.F., and Curtis, S.M., 1982,
New upper Paleozoic and lower Meso-
zoic stratigraphic units, central and
western Brooks Range, Alaska: Ameri-
can Association of Petroleum Geologists
Bulletin, v. 66, no. 3, p. 348-362.
355
356 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

Payne, T.G., 1982, Use of microcomputer in
mapping depth of stratigraphic horizons
in National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska:
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File
Report 82-1054, 42 p.
Rockwell, D.W., 1981, Report on reinter-
pretation of seismic data pertaining to
Mesozoic strata in the Cape Simpson
region, National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska: Stewart Folk and Co., Inc., 28
p. [Available from National Geophysical
Data Center, 325 Broadway, EIGC, Dept.
CNP, Boulder, CO 803031.
Smiley, C.J., 1966, Cretaceous floras from
~ ;~k& earea,
r Alaska; stratigraphic and
climatic interpretations: Geological Soci-
ety of America Bulletin, v. 77, no. 1, p.
1-13.
Witmer, R.J., Haga, Hideyo, and Mickey,
M.B., 1981, Biostratigraphic report of
thirty-three wells drilled from 1975 to
1981 in National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-
File Report 81-1166, 50 p.

MAPS
(figure numbers)
AGE LITHOLOGY
STRUCTURE
South North CONTOURS ISOPACH

CRETACEOUS
rtress Mountain Formations,

MISSISSIPPIAN

Basement complex

EXPLANATION
Carbonate rocks Metasedimentary rocks

g Shale Calcareous shale htrusive rocks

FIGURE
16.1.-Generalized stratigraphic column of northern foothills and coastal plain provinces of NPRA showing age, lithology, unit names,
and mapped horizons and isopached intervals; corresponding maps are identified by figure numbers.
 16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 357

S o u t h B a r r o w wells

71" -

C a p e H a l k e t t No. 1
Atigaru Poinl No. 1

70" 0 l n i g o k No. 1 ,
0 Kaolak No. 1
1
Oumalak No. '
6 , ,'\'\
Fa51 Ournalik NoOl' --- O K o l u k t a k No. 1
I' \
\--
,------
- - - ----/
OSquare Lake
'I

,-
No, L m i a $ - ~ s G u bNiOk No.
1 a n1d NO.

0 lo@>
Ticaluk WolfOCrrek ' 'seabee N o I
I No. 1 No

0 25 5 0 KILOMETERS L, I I
L
i
-7

68"
\

FIGURE16.2.-Names and locations of the 49 Government-drilled wells in NPRA employed in the isopach and structure-contour maps.
358 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

FIGURE
16.3.-Structure-contour map for top of basement complex in NPRA.
16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 359

A
0 5 0 MILES

0 25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE
16.4.-Structure-contour map for top of Lisburne Group in NPRA.
360 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

50 MlLFS

75 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE
16.5.-Structure-contour map for top of Sadlerochit Group in NPRA.
 16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 361

Well that penetrates rock unit

* Well that does not penetrate rock

-8000-Structural elevations in feet relative

to sea level
Sources of data
Seismic-Payne. 1982:
Rockwell. 1 9 8 1 :
Harris and others, 1977:
Bruynzeel and others. 1 9 8 2
Subsurface-Bird, chapter 15:
Molenaar, chapter 2 5

0 25 50 MILES
1 I I

0 25 50 75 KILOMETERS

FIGURE16.6.-Structure-contour map for unconformity at base of pebble shale unit in NPRA. This surface is commonly referred to as the pebble
shale unconformity throughout the NPRA.
362 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

I Mapped hor~zonsubcrops beneath th~nveneer

5 0 MILES

O L
25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE
16.7.-Stmcture-contour map for top of Torok Formation in NPRA.
 16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 363

FIGURE 16.8.-Structure-contour map for top of Nanushuk Group in
NPRA. Solid contours indicate top of Nanushuk Group present;
dashed contours indicate top of Nanushuk Group missing because
of erosion, and contour values represent estimated elevation of
restored top of Nanushuk Group (restored by projecting constant
thickness above mapped intra-Nanushuk seismic horizons. Numerical
values not assigned to contours in areas subject to faulting because
of uncertainty of seismic correlations across faults. Elevation of restored
top of Nanushuk Group in southwest corner of map is greater than
2,950 ft, the greatest elevation of present-day Nanushuk outcrops.
364 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

5 0 MILES

- 0 25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE16.9.-Structure-contour map for top of informally designated shale of Colville Group unit in NPRA.
 ' ~ J u!
N (ue!uea~l(suua~
pue u~!dd!ss!ss!~)d n o ~ f )~ ~ o g p uloj
z ~dew y~edos1-.01.91 m 3 1 6
oZ5 L oP9 L "99L 089L 0091 oZ9 L
s9‘2 VXSVlV NI 3AX3SBlI NlBlOlILBJ IVNOILVN BHL 6 0 SJVM H3VJOSI a N V UnOLN03-3XflUfllILS '91
366 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

A
0
25 50
50 MILES
75 KILOMETERS

FIGURE
16.11.-Isopach map for Lisburne Group (Mississippian to Permian) in NPRA.
16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 367

0
, 25
25

50
5 0 MILES

75 KILOMETERS

FIGURE16.12.-Isopach map for Sadlerochit Group (Permian and Triassic) in NPRA.

368 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

0A
50 MILES

25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE16.13.-Isopach map for Shubli Formation (Triassic) in NPRA.

16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 369

FIGURE
-
0

0 25
25

50
50 MILES

7 5 KILOMETERS

16.14.-Isopach map for Sag River Sandstone (Triassic) in NPRA.

370 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

162" 160" 158" 156O 154" 152'

I I I I I
I I

5 0 MILES

O A
25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

16.15.-Isopach map for Kingak Shale (Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous) in NPRA.
FIGURE
 .
16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 371

0 25 50 MILES

0 25 50 75 KILOMETERS

FIGURE16.16.-Isopach map for informally designated pebble shale unit (Lower Cretaceous) in NPRA.
372 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

-
0

0 25
25

50
50 MILES

7 5 KILOMETERS

16.17.-Isopach map for Torok Formation (Lower Cretaceous) in NPRA.

FIGURE
 16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 373
162' 160' 158' 156" 154" 152'
I
1 I Area where Nanushuk Group anh upper part 1 I
of Torok Formation were eroded from the
crest of the Barrow arch during uplift In
Late Cretaceous (?) and Tertiary time
Asubmarine canyon cut into the Nanushuk Group
and Torok Formallon in Cenomanian (7) tlme
and filled with marine shale in Turonian time
stimated truncation zone
of Nanushuk G r o u p

70°

89"

EXPLANATION S o u r c e s of d a t a
Well t h a t penetrates rock unit Seismic-Rockwell. 1981:
0 Well t h a t d o e s not penetrate rock unit Harris a n d others. 1977;
Bruynzeel a n d others, 1 9 8 2
x Measured outcrop section Subsurface-Bird. c h a p t e r 1 5 ;

-
-8000-Thickness of unit in feet -Solid contours indicate Molenaar, c h a p t e r 25
Surface-Brosg6 a n d Whittington, 1 9 6 6 :
N a n u s h u k G r o u p c o m p l e t e l y preserved: d a s h e d
contours indicate upper p a r t of Nanushuk Group Chapman and Sable. 1960:
Lathram. 1 9 6 5 :
68O
Molenaar, c h a p t e r 2 5

0 25 50 MILES

0 25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE16.18.-Isopach map for Nanushuk Group (Lower and Upper Cretaceous) in NPRA.
374 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

162" 160" 158' 156" 154" 152"

0 25 50 MILES

0 25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE16.19.-Isopach map for informally designated shale of Colville Group unit (Upper Cretaceous) in NPRA.
 16. STRUCTURE-CONTOUR AND ISOPACH MAPS OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA 375

I I
0 25 50 7 5 KILOMETERS

FIGURE
16.20.-Isopach map for informally designated sandstone of Colville Group and Sagavanirktok Formation, undivided, unit (Upper Cretaceous
and Tertiary) in NPRA.
376 GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA, 1974-82

A
0 5 0 MILES

25 50 75 KILOMETERS

FIGURE
16.21.-Isopach map for Ellesmerian sequence (Mississippian to Cretaceous) in NPRA.
 0 5 0 MILES
A
0 25 50 75 KILOMETERS

FIGURE 16.22.-Isopach map for Brookian sequence (Cretaceous and Tertiary) in NPRA.
 Geology and Exploration of
the National Petroleum
Reserve in Alaska,

GEORGE GRYC, Editor

U.S. G E O L O G I C A L SURVEY P R O F E S S I O N A L PAPER 1399

Studies of the stratigraphy, petrology, structure,

geochemistry, and hydrocarbon resources contribute to
a portrait of the geology and petroleum potential of
the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska

U N I T E D S T A T E S G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F I C E , W A S H I N G T O N : 1988

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