Plainview Prospeci

128 870W
Jefferson County, Colorado
 Plainview Prospect

T2S R70W

Jefferson Co., Colorado

February 25, 1991

R.Randy Ray
Geologist/Geophysicist

Copy No._ 10 _

1
 Table of Contents

Page

Executive Summary. 4

Introduction . 4

Regional Structure. 5

Golden Thrust Fault . 5

Lyons Sandstone . 7

Dakota and Muddy "J" Sandstones . . . . . .. 8

Niobrara Chalk '" . . . . . .. 9

Thermal Maturity . ........." 10

Conclusions . 10

References . 11
Appendix I - Summary of P-Lyons Fields .. 15

Appendi x I I - oi 1 Seeps . 16

2
 Illustrations

List Qt Fiqures

1) Denver Basin after Tainter,1984

2) Generalized stratigraphic column after Leroy, 1955
3) Generalized tectonic map after Warner, 1980
4) Golden Fault structural Models after Domoracki, 1986
5) Geologic cross-section at soda Lakes, Berg, 1962
6) Golden Fault Seismic Line - Final Stack, Domoracki, 1986
7) Interpreted Golden Fault Seismic Line - Migrated Modified
from Domoracki, 1986, Interpreted by R.R.Ray
8) State Highway 72 - Seismic Line - Final Stack from Domoracki,
1986
9) Interpreted State Highway 72 - Seismic Line - Final stack
from Domoracki, 1986, Interpreted by R.R.Ray
10) Typical electric log Pierce Field Area and geologic cross-
section after Sonnenberg, 1984
11) "Pierce-Black Hollow" right-wrench zone after Stone, 1985
12) Seismic structure map on the Lyons Formation of the Pierce-
Black Hollow-New Windsor oil field complex, Weld Co.,
Colorado after Stone, 1985
13) East-West electic log section from Eldorado Springs outcrop
to east side of Wattenberg Field after Weimer & Sonnenberg,
1989
14) Index map of thermall y mature and oi 1 productive Ni obrara
formation after Rice, 1984
15) Geothermal gradients in the northern portion of Denver Basin
after Weimer & Sonnenberg, 1989
16) Photograph of fractured Ft. Hayes Limestone in outcrop north
of Morrison, CO.

Plates

Plate 1 - Structural Cross-section A-A'

Plate 2 - Geologic Map, 1"=2000'
Plate 3 - stratigraphic Well-log Cross-section E-E'
Plate 4 - Muddy "J" Structure Map, 1:100,000
Plate 5 - Fox Hills Structure Map, 1:100,000
Plate 6 - Prospect Leases, 1"=2000' showing pipelines and
proposed seismic program

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 Plainview Prospect
T2S R70W
Jefferson County, Colorado

~xecutive Summary

plainview Oil and Gas holds leases on a prospect 15 miles west of

the center of downtown Denver. It is a combination gas and oil
prospect located very close to market. An 8 inch intrastate
pipeline passes across the lease.

Plainview Prospect is a structural trap formed at the

intersection of regional fault trends along the Front Range. The
eastward thrusted Golden Fault is the dominant structural element
and hides the underlying basinal structure. It overlaps the
Idaho Springs-Ralston shear zone which formed the Colorado
Mineral belt and creates a regional fracture trend in the Denver
Basin. Potential primary productive zones include fractured
Niobrara chalks, Dakota Sandstones and Lyons Sandstone.
Secondary productive zones may incl ude the Terry, Hygiene and
Muddy-J Sandstones. Potential reserves of up to 10 million
barrels of oil are possible based on analog fields.

Further seismic definition of the prospect will be needed to

confirm the presence and size of a structure underneath the
northern extension of the Golden Fault. An acreage block of 3088
acres is presently held over the prospect and could be enlarged
after seismic definition.

Introduction

Plainview oil and Gas has acquired leases over an area that is
attractive for oil and gas exploration. The acreage is located
northwest of Denver, between the towns of Golden and Boulder,
along the Colorado Front Range (figs.l&3).

The acreage lies at the western margin of the Denver Basin as it

abutts the structurally uplifted Front Range. The Denver Basin
covers most of the eastern half of Colorado with the deepest part
of the basin lying next to the mountains near Denver (fig.l).
Because of its long producing history, the stratigraphy of the
basin is well known, both from subsurface and outcrop control. A
diagrammatic, generalized stratigraphic section prepared by
Leroy, 1955, is shown in figure 2. Additional information has
been added which helps clarify the following discussions.

4
Regional QiL~~lure

The Plainview acreage block is located at a unique intersection

of regional faul t and fracture trends (fig. 3) and therefore has
I
s p e cia I
pot en t i a for f0 rmi n gas I
i za b est ru c tu ra I t rap. The
north trending Golden Thrust gradually disappears in outcrop
north of Golden. The last evidence of the thrust is roughly
coincidental with the cross-cutting Idaho Springs-Ralston shear
zone. The Idaho Springs-Ralston shear zone is clearly evident as
a zone s t ri king N55 E cut t ing through Precambri an age rocks 0f
the Front Range (fig.3). It is a Precambrian age fault zone that
was reactivated during the Laramide orogeny and is attributed
with the formation of rich mineral deposits along the Colorado
Mineral Belt (Tweto and Owen,1983). However, this regional
fracture zone appears to stop in outcrops along the mountain
front (see Plate 2 - geologic map) and is expressed as a zone of
NE trending faults in Cretaceous age Fox Hills and Laramie
formations. Apparently the shearing is not visible in the wedge
of rock carried in the Golden Thrust block (hanging wall block).
Therefore, the shearing probably occurred before the formation of
the Golden Thrust and expresses fault block trends in the basin.

The continuation of the shear zone into the Denver Basin is

expressed as a higher heat flow area (Weimer and
Sonnenberg,1989,fig.15). A similar NE-SW trending right-lateral
fault system emerging out of the Front Range (fig.11) controls
large Lyons fields of Pierce, Black Hollow and New Windsor as
noted by Stone,198S.

Although there is an abundance of surface geologic information

the exact geometries in the subsurface are still unclear. Most
of the surface geology may be reflecting structure in the hanging
wall of a thrusted mountain front. (see Plate 1) The structure
underlying the thrust fault will have to be determined by seismic
and drilling. However, the same structural grain of intersectinq
NW-SE & NE-SW faults would be expected.

Q.Qld~Il Thrus t Faul t

The geologic interpretation of the Golden Fault has been studied

and debated since it was first described by Zieglar (1917).
Various interpretations have ranged from low angle thrusting
(Stewart,1953) to high angle fault / overturned fold (Berg,1962).
(see fig.4)

The geometry of outcrop patterns indicates the nature of the

fault may change along strike. In the outcrop between Morrison
and Golden the fault creates steeply east dipping to overturned
beds associated with uplift of the Front Range to th'e west. A
geologic cross-section using well control and surface geology by
Berg, 1962 (£ig.4) indicates the Golden Fault is a high angle
(350 -500) thrust fault. He attributes the formation of structure
at the Soda Lakes field to a combination of basement structure
and compression along the leading edge of the fault. The field

5
produced about 13,000 barrels of 11° ~PI. oil. from fractured .f...L,
Hayes. Limestone member of the Niobrar~ For!:!tat~--,- Note also the
z one of def orma t i on wi th overturned sect i on wedged bet ween two
primary faults that form the Golden Thrust. Displacement on the
Precambrian is about 6000 ft.

The northern extent of the Golden Fault is unclear from outcrop

information. In outcrop the Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks
continue to have steep east dip all along the mountain front.
However, at Superior the vertical to 600E dipping beds of the Fox
Hills sandstone flatten out and head off to the northeast.
The change in trend is coincident with the projection of the
Idaho Springs-Ralston shear zone as it emerges from the mountain
front.

The Superior area has several NE trending faults exposed in

outcrop. The area has been mined for coal in the Laramie and Fox
Hills zones since the late 1800's. The faulting has been
interpreted to be listric normal faults caused by sediment
loading associated with prograding Fox Hills deltas
(Weimer,1973;Davis,1974;Davis,198S). This is probably a
secondary structure created by the underlying wrenching
associated with the Idaho Springs-Ralston shear zone.

New seismic data acquired by the Colorado School of Mines

(Domoracki, 1986) helps to illustrate the geometry of the Golden
fault as a low angle (30°) thrust fault (fig.S). Displacement on
the Precambrian surface is about 10,000 ft. Using this new model
of the faulting it becomes clear that the Golden Thrust Fault is
a low angle thrust which is losing throw and dying out to the
north where it is overtaken by the wrenching associated with the
Idaho Springs-Ralston shear zone. Th~ illi~~~~QiiQll gf ih~~~
i£~.p..9.~ i~ ~ll ~cell~ll.t. ar~~ 1Q g~ll~~~i~ .e.i~l!Qll!£~l.fQl9..:!:.llgL
faultinq ~llg fracturinq.

Even though the seismic evidence of the Golden fault zone is

clear, the resolution of the footwall structure is more difficult
(fig. 6). There is a large reflection time distortion caused by
overthrusted, high velocity Precambrian rocks. This causes
velocity pull-up which makes the reflections appear to be rising
to the west. When properly corrected to depth, the basinal dips
would be flat lying to slightly eastward dipping.

With this new model in mind, the Colorado School of Mines seismic
line down Highway 72 can be interpreted. This data was shot as
12 fold vibroseis in 1977 (Davis and Young,1977), but has been
reprocessed by Domoracki,1986 (fig.7&8). When a 30° thrust fault
is placed on the section it becomes clear that reflections
underneath the fault are probably associated with fault blocks in
the basin. of particular interest is an arching reflection just
underlying the leading edge of the thrust which appears to be a
high faul t block. At this posi tion there is not much vel oci ty
pull-up created since the thrust carries Pierre shale over the
Pierre shale in the basin. Velocity pull-up will begin to

6
increase west of SP 15 where the Niobrara limestone is present In
the overthrust block (see Plate 1).

Lyons Sandstone.

The Permian Lyons Sandstone is one of the primary objectives In

the Plainview Prospect since it is an oil producing zone in
several large fields. The outcrop of Lyons Sandstone in the
Boulder to Morrison area has two major facies which interfinger
wit h e a chot her. The fir s tis the w hit e tor ed, fin e tom e d i um
grained, cross-stratified, quartzose sandstone recognized as
eolian dunes at the type section in Lyons, Colorado. The second
is a light colored, coarse grained, conglomeratic sandstone
deposited by fluvial processes (Weimer and Land,1973). In
general, the Lyons Sandstone is dominantly eolian in Tl to 2S but
becomes more fluvial dominated and therefore, more conglomeratic
sandstone in T3 to 5S (Thompson,1949; Weimer and Land,1973).

The Lyons Sandstone outcrops along the mountain front about 3

miles west of the prospect area. It is reported to be 2~2 to 250
feet thick, pale red to pink, fine to very fine grained, quartz-
rich sandstone by Wells, 1967. The sandstone grains are well-
sorted, rounded, frosted and coated with iron oxide. The rock is
firmly cemented by authigenic quartz overgrowths and can be
classified as an orthoquartzite.

In the subsurface, two wells have penetrated the Lyons Sandstone

in the basin. The closest well is the Teton Energy Co. Rocky
Mountain Fuel #1 in Sec.24,TIS,R70W. It hit the Lyons at 10,010
ft.(-4451) and drilled 70 feet into the formation. No cores or
tests are reported. The second well was the S.D. Johnson #1
Farmers Highline and Canal Reservoir well in Sec7,T3S,R69W. It
also drilled 70 feet of Lyons Sandstone at a depth of 10,280
(-4707) to 10,350 ft. Seven feet of core from the Lyons is
described as gray, fine-grained dense, quartzite with black
shale partings, horizontal and vertical fracturing, fair odor and
slight Einpoint fluorescence throughout (see stratigraphic cross-
section -E-E' ,Plate 3). Figure 10 is a typical electric log
from the pierce field showing Lykins Formation limestones and
anhydrites above the blocky Lyons Sandstone (Sonnenberg,1984).

The Permian Lyons Sandstone is oil productive in a number of

basement fault controlled, anticlinal structures along the west·
flank of the Denver Basin.ThePierce field was discovered in 1955
using seismic data. The field is a gentle anticlinal closure
created by underlying basement fault blocks. There is
approximately 100 feet of closure at the Lyons level which traps
over 10 MMBO in an area of 2000 acres (fig.l0). Net pay averages
27ft. of 11.6% porosity at a depth of 9200 feet
(Sonnenberg,1984). Average well reserves for Lyons Sandstone
producers are greater than 750,000 BO per well (see Appendix I -
Lyons Fields Statistics).

The color of the Lyons ranges from red to white. The gray or
white color of the Lyons has been attributed to the presence of

7
oil which reduced the red iron oxides to form gray colored Lyons
(Levandowski and others,1973). Petroleum accumulations are found
within the reducing facies or gray colored sandstones.

S ton e has in die ate d that 1 a rgeL yon s fie 1 d s Pie r c e (l 0 .9 MM B 0) ,

Black Hollow (10.5 MMBO) and New Winsor (0.9 MMBO) are associated
with a NE-SW trending right-lateral fault system emerging out of
the Front Range (see fig.ll&12). The fault system probably has a
Precambrian ancestry similar to the parallel Colorado Mineral
Belt to the south.

As previously discussed, the seismic indicates a basement fault

block on the Plainview acreage. This basement structure could be
created by the wrench faulting of the Idaho Springs-Ralston shear
zone analogous to the pierce or Black Hollow fields. Based on
outcrop and subsurface control, the Lyons Sandstone is present
and could be trapped in a low relief anticline under the leading
edge of the Golden Fault.

Dakog p.nd Muddy ~~~ Sandstones

l)Qtent~al for an extension of the Superior Gas Field is possible

in the prospect area. Production is primarily oil and wet gas-
condensate from Dakota channel sandstones(see stratigraphic
cross-section E-E'). The Muddy "J" Sandstone is generally thin
and tight but does produce in a couple of the wells.

The Dakota interval is comprised of two to four channel

sandstones in this area. Based on correlation to outcrop three
miles to the west, the lower channel is Lytle Sandstone. It
generally is not productive, testing wet. The middle channel is
the plainview Sandstone and it appears to be the most continuous
channel across the prospect area. It is productive and reaches a
maximum of over 60 feet thick in wells closest to the plainview
Prospect area. The upper most channel is the El Dorado Springs
Sandstone and it is also productive. It appears to be pinching
out to the south across the prospect area.

Gas production from the Dakota channels is at a rate of 25D~65Q

MCFPD per well. The sandstones completions generally include
fracing and acidizing treatments. The wells closest to the
prospect are all shut in and have no completion test information.

The Muddy "J" Sandstone is productive to the north and south.

Wattenberg Field with reserves in the order of 1 TCFG from the
Muddy "J" Sandstone is about 15 miles to the northeast. To the
southeast, the Teton Energy Co. Church Estate #22-1 well tested
oil and gas from the "J" even though it is currently shut-in.
Most Muddy "J" production is classed as from stratigraphic
traps, but subtle paleo-structure and unconformities have also
controlled the petroleum accumulations (Weimer and Sonnenberg,
1989) .
A structure map on the Muddy "J" Sandstone (Plate 4) indicates a
prominent NW-SE trending nose on the south end of Superior Field.

8
The nosing may be related to a NW-SE trending fault as seen In
the Precambrian outcrop. The structural discontinui ty is shown
in the shallow Fox Hills structure map also (Plate 5). A second
NW-SE trending structural nose is also contoured by Van Horn,
1976, through the Teton Energy Church Estate #22-1 well. This
structural trend could be part of the trapping mechanism for "J"
in the well even though it is structurally much lower than wells
in the Superior Field. This structural trend may also be
indicating a basement flexural trend that would create closure
under the Golden Thrust.

Niobrara Chalk

The Cretaceous age Niobrara Chalk interval is the other prlmary

objective in the Plainview Prospect. It is an attractive oil and i
:
gas producing target when developed using horizontal drill holes
to intersect vertical fractures. The britt.le chalks in the
Niobrara have a tendency to naturally fracture due to compaction
and burial as well as local tectonics. As articulated in the
R~gj_Qnal Structure and Golden Thrust Fault sections, preceeding,
the Idaho Springs-Ralston SW-NE trending basement shear zone
intersects the north-south trending Golden Thrust Fault
underneath the Plainview Prospect acreage block. This should
enhance the fracturing at depth.

Figure 16 illustrates the intersecting vertical fracture pattern

of the Fort Hayes Limestone member of the Niobrara as exposed in
outcrop north of Morrison (Sec.26,T4S,R70W). The outcrop dips
about 45° east and shows prominent north trending fractures
spaced on average about one foot apart. These are intersected by
cross fractures trending NW-SE spaced every 2-6 feet apart.

Oil produced from the Niobrara chalks is sourced from the

surrounding organically-rich shales. The shales like the chalks
were deposited in shallow to deep marine environments. When
thermally mature the Niobrara shales generate hydrocarbons that
migrate into the fractured chalks. The plainview prospect is in
the thermally mature, oil generating part of the Denver Basin
(Tainter,1982) and is in the area where wells produce oil and wet
gas condensate from the Niobrara (Rice,1985). (see fig.14)
Weimer and Sonnenberg, 1989, have noted higher geothermal
gradients associated with an extension of the Colorado Mineral
Belt trend (fig.15). The deep burial depths and higher heat flow
associated with the Idaho Springs-Ralston shear zone create
thermally mature rocks in the Niobrara.

The Sod a L a k e s 0 i 1 fie 1 d pro d u ce d 1 3 I 0 0 0 BOa n d f l~_red un t old

quantities of associated gas after its discovery in 19~5. It was
trapped in a structure along the Golden Thrust similar to the
P Ia in vie w Pro s p ect. The S. D . Johns on # 1 L i 11 i e P a I 1 a 0 r0 we 1 I
(see Plate 3) indicates the Q£oduction was from the f..9n Hqy'~_e.
Lif!l.estoneinterval .in ihe basal Niobrara chalk formatiof).-'.

Imm ed iate 1 y ad j ace n ttot he PIa in vie w Pro sp e c t I the vertically

out three
drilled Martin Exploration. Carrucci #1-33 well blew

9
times; twice while drilling the top 120 feet interval in the
Niobrara and once while drilling the basal Fort Hayes member. In
addition, several wells (Sec.13&25) in the Superior Field produce
from the Codell interval immediately underlying the Ft. Hayes
Limestone. Electic logs run on wells in the vicinity show high
electrical resistivities through a large part of the Niobrara
formation. High resistivity readings like these correspond to--\
producing areas in the Austin Chalk trend of south-central Texas
(Hinds&Berg,1990) and in the QilQ_ Fiel--9,of §'.Quthe~st RLQ.ming..,

!herm~ Maturity

The Plainview Prospect is located in a part of the Denver Basin

which has oil and gas generating source rocks present (fig.14).
The mountain front between Boulder, Golden and Morrison lies
juxtaposed to the deepest part of the Denver Basin (Tainter,
1982,fig.1). Marine shales of the Benton, Niobrara and Pierre
formations are thermally mature and source hydrocarbons for oil
production in the Denver Basin. Numerous oi I seeps and shows
have been reported (Stewart, 1955, see Appendix II) along the
Front Range. These are undoubtedly sourced from the shales
underlying the Golden fault.

The geothermal gradients mapped by Weimer and Sonnenberg, 1989

(fig.lS), indicate an extension of the Colorado Mineral Belt
(Idaho Springs-Ralston Creek) trend into the basin across the
Plainview Prospect. This should enhance oil generation and
fracturing over the prospect.

~onclusions

The Plainview Prospect is a potential structural and

stratigraphic trap in the deep portion of the Denver Basin. A
review of available surface geology, well control, seismic and
published articles shows it has potential for trapping petroleum
in multiple reservoirs. It will require further seismic definition_
using modern highfold Vibroseis data. A program of about 13
miles should be acquired to detail the structural strike and dip
orientations (see Plate 6). The lines should be designed to
accomodate the expected structural complexity and still be able
to get good data.

R. Randy Ray
Geologist/Geophysicist

10
 Geologic Maps

LeRoy, L.W., 1955, Summary of Surface Stratigraphy; in Field

Conference on Geology of Front Range Foothills West of
Denver: Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p.15-24.

Scott, G.R. and Cobban, W.A., 1965, Geologic and

Biostratigraphic Map of the pierre Shale Between Jarre
Creek and Loveland, Colorado: U.S. Geol. Survey Map 1-439.

Scott, G.R., 1972, Geologic Map of the Morrison Quadrangle,

Jefferson County, Colorado: united States Geological
Survey Map 1-790A, Scale 1:24,000.

Sheridan, D.M., Maxwell, C.H. and Albee, A.L., 1967, Geology

and Uranium Deposits of the Ralston Buttes District
Jefferson County, Colorado: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper
520, 121 p.

Stewart, W.A., 1953, Structure and oil possibilities of the

west flank of the Denver Basin north-central, Colorado:
PhD thesis, Colorado School of Mines, T-777, 121p.

Stewart, W.A., 1955, Structure of the Foothills Area West of

Denver, Colorado; in Field Conference Guidebook: Rocky
Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 25-30.

Van Horn, R., 1957, Bedrock Geology of the Golden Quadrangle,

Colorado: U.S. Geol. Survey Map GQ 103.

Van Horn, R., 1972, Surficial and Bedrock Geologic Map of the
Golden Quadrangle, Jefferson County, Colorado: U.S. Geol.
Survey Map 1-761-A.

Structure

Berg, R.R., 1962a, Subsurface Interpretation of the Golden

Fault at Soda Lakes, Jefferson County, Colorado: Am.
Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 46, p. 704-707.

Berg, R.R., 1962b, Mountain Flank Thrusting in Rocky Mountain

Foreland, Wyoming and Colorado: Am. Assoc. Petroleum
Geologists Bull., v. 46, n. 11, p. 2019-2032.

11
Davis, T.L., and Young, T.K., 1977, Seismic Investigation of
the Colorado Front Range Zone of Flank Deformation
Immediately North of Golden, Colorado; in Veal, H.K., ed.,
Exploration Frontiers in the Central and Southern Rockies:
Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 77-88.

Davis, T.L., 1985, Seismic Evidence of Tectonic Influence on

Development of Cretaceous Listric Normal Faults, Boulder-
Wattenberg-Greeley Area, Denver Basin, Colorado: The
Mountain Geologist, v. 22, n. 2, p. 47-53.

Gries, R., 1983, Oi 1 and Gas Prospecting Beneath Precambrian

Foreland Thrust Plates in Rocky Mountains: 1I.m. Assoc.
Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 67, n. I, p. 1-28.

Stone, D.S., 1969, Wrench Faulting and Rocky Mountain

Tectonics: The Mountain Geologist, v. 6, n. 2, p. 67-79.

Stone, D.S., 1985, Seismic profiles ln the area of the Pierce

and Black Hollow fields, Weld Co., Colorado: Seismic
Exploration of the Rocky Mtn. Region, RMAG & DGS 1985
Atlas, p. 79-87.

Warner, L.A., 1980, The Colorado Lineament; in Kent, H.C. and

Porter, K.W. eds., Colorado Geology: Rocky Mountain
Association of Geologists, p. 11-21.

Weimer, R.J., and Davis, T.L., 1977, Stratigraphic and Seismic

Evidence for Late Cretaceous Growth Faul ting, Denver
Basin, Colorado; in Payton, C.E. ed., Seismic
Stratigraphy - Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration:
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 26,
p. 277-300.

Lyons Sandstone

Blood, W.A., 1970, Upper Portion of the Fountain Formation and

the Lyons Formation at Morrison, Colorado: Mtn. Geol., v.
7, no. 1, p. 33-48.

Dimelow, T.E., 1972, Stratigraphy and petrology, Lyons

Sandstone, northeastern Colorado: Colo. Sch. of Mines,
unpub. M.S. thesis #1158.

Levandowski,D.W., Kaley,M.E., Silverman,S.R., and Smalley,R.G.,

1973, Cementation in Lyons Sandstone and its role in oil
accumulation, Denver basin, Colorado: Am. Assoc. Petroleum
Geologists Bull., V.57, p.2217-2244.

12
Momper, J.A., 1963, Nomenclature, Lithofacies and Genesis of
Permo-Pennsylvanian Rocks, Northern Denver Basin: Rocky
Mtn. Assoc. Geol. Guidebook, 14th Ann. Field Conf., p. 41-
67 .

Sonnenberg, S.A., 1984, The Pierce Field Structure: The

Mtn. Geologist, v.21, nO'.l, Jan.1984, p.l-·4.

Thompson, W.O., 1949, Lyons Sandstone of Colorado Front Range:

Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 33, p. 52-72.

Weimer, R.J., and Land, C.B., 1973, Lyons Formation (Permian),

Jefferson County, Colorado: A Fluvial deposit: The
Mountain Geologist, v. 9, nos. 2-3, p. 289-297.

Muddy J Sandstone and Dakota Sandstone

Weimer, R.J. and Sonnenberg, S.A., 1989, Sequence Stratigraphic

Analysis of Muddy (J) Sandstone Reservoir, Wattenberg
Field, Denver Basin, Colorado: Rocky Mountain Association
of Geologists, 1989 Guidebook, p. 197-220.

Niobrara Formation

Smagala, T.M., Brown, C.A. and Nydegger, G.L., 1984, Log-

derived indicator of thermal maturity, Niobrara Formation,
Denver Basin, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming: Hydrocarbon
Source Rocks of the Greater Rocky Mtn. Regi on, RMAG 1984
Guidebook, p. 355-363.

Upper Cretaceous

Weimer, R.J., 1973, Guide to Uppermost Cretaceous Stratigraphy,

Central Front Range, Colorado: Deltaic Sedimentation,
Growth Faul ting and Earl y Laramide Crustal Movement: The
Mountain Geologist, v. 10, no. 3, p. 53-97.

Thermal Maturation

Hinds, G.S. and Berg, R.R., 1990, Estimating organic maturity

from well logs, upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk, Texas Gul f
Coast: Gulf Coast Assoc. Geol. Soc. Trans. - 40th Annual
Mtg., p. 295-300.

13
Rice, D.D., 1989, Relation of hydrocarbon occurrence to thermal
maturity of organic matter in the Upper Cretaceous
Niobrara Formation, eastern Denver Basin: Evidence of
biogenic versus thermogenic origin of hydrocarbons; in J.
Woodward, F.F. Meissner and J.L. Clayton, eds.,
Hydrocarbon Source Rocks of the Greater Rocky Mountain
Region, RMAG 1984 Guidebook, p. 365-368.

Tainter, P.A., 1984, Stratigraphic and Paleostructural Controls

on Hydrocarbon Migration in Cretaceous D and J Sandstones
of the Denver Basin; in J. Woodward, F.F. Meissner and
J. L. Cl ayton, eds., Hydrocarbon Source Rocks of the
Greater Rocky Mountain Region, RMAG: p. 330-354.

Seismic Data

Davis, T.L., 1974, Seismic Investigation of Late Cretaceous

Faulting Along the East Flank of the Central Front Range,
Colorado: Ph. D. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, T-1681,
65 p.

Money, N.R., 1977, A Seismic Investigation of the North Golden

Area, Jefferson County, Colorado: M.S. thesis, Colorado
School of Mines, T-1849, 56 p.

Nelson, K. J., 1977, A Reflection Seismic Investigation of the

Golden Quadrangle Area, Jefferson County, Colorado: M.S.
thesis, Colorado School of Mines, T-1990, 55 p.

Ray, R.R., Gries, R., and Babcock, J.W., 1983, Acoustic

Velocities, Synthetic Seismograms, and Lithologies of
Thrusted Precambrian Rocks, Rocky Mountain Foreland; in
Lowell, J. D., ed., Conference on Rocky Mountain Forel and
Basins and Uplifts: Rocky Mountain Association of
Geologists, p. 125-135.

Shuck, E.L., 1976, A Seismic Survey of the Ralston Area,

Jefferson County, Colorado: M.S. thesis, Colorado School
of Mines, T-1835, 45 p.

Young, T.K., 1977, A Seismic Investigation of Nor'th and South

Table Mount.ains near Golden, Jefferson County, Colorado:
M.S. thesis, Colorado School of Mines, T-1947, 54 p.

14
 ,';
~. :. 'f't .
-
.' .

field l'!ame No-,-Wells Cum " Prod.!... .Q1-EJ us 21 N~ 11 s

I:. r -, ~ 84-C:
Black Hollow 11 f f ?: Zj-
11 PR - 7-/\/- ( ~ w: !.'! /,/ ~. .' ,:...~/~'..
New Windsor 3 l'{}-~~H
I ;..:; ..
I" ';~4
~).I"'O
1 PR -~ f ;1./ .- /•..•... u
.; .•.•

Pierce 15 10, 93-Y ,'4456 14 PR _ f!,'.~:- t.( ..II. ~ I.

Fort Collins 6 327,321 1 PR, 1 S. I.

Lake Canal 1 2,717 o PR
Loveland 1 5,939 o PR
Keota 1 12,816 o PR
LaPorte 1 141 o PR
Berthoud 3 306,820 3 PR
Douglas Lake .1 ,J1 J-21.? o PI\L

TOTALS 43 23,008,975 30 PR, 2 S.!., 11 P&A

All Wells Avg. 535,092 BO/WELL

f i~LQ Name ~um~ frod '-

Pierce 14 10,933,952
Black Hollow 11 10,515,313 j." , ~~ . i i ~~
Berthoud 3 306,820
New Windsor 1 825,522
Ft. Collins 1 Q,L 718

TOTALS 30 22,588,325 , , ., ~ f; .I
~! {:

Producing Wells Avg. 752,944 BO/WELL

The two largest fields only

Black Hollow
& pierce 25 21,449,265 -

Best Wells Avg. 857,971 BO/WELL

15
Appendi~ li
NOTE: This is a 11st of the 011 seeps campi 1 ed by W. Alan
stewart, 1953, structure and Oil Possibilities of the West
Flank of the Denver Basin North-Central , Colorado: Colo.
Sch. Mines PhD Thesis #777, 121p. My comments are added
in brackets [*]. oil seeps are plotted on Plate 5.

Direct Indications 9f Natural Hydrocarbons

There are at least nine known occurrences of bituminous material

in the foothills belt between the Ralston Reservoir and Dutch
Creek. They consist of live oil seeps, dead oil residues,
asp h a It i c san d s ton e s, sol id , b r i t tl e bit um ens and s how sin 0i1
and water wells. An index map recording these localities is
shown in Figure 19. The nature of the individual occurrences is
discussed by index number below:

Local i ty

1)
This locality is a live oil seep occurring in a gulch emtying
into Golden Gate Canyon about 1 1/2 miles northwest of Golden.
The seep occurs in metamorphic rocks and is located one-half mile
west of the crystalline-sedimentary contact. The stream gravels
in the bottom of the gulch are locally cemented by asphaltic
residue. In summer when the stream has nearly dried up, pockets
of live, green, high gravity oil accumulate in the gravels. It
is believed that this oil rises through fractures in the
crystallines from sedimentary rocks underthrust below them in the
footwall of the Golden Fault. [* Probably sourced from
Cretaceous age rocks. Cretaceous oil is generally green, 44-480
API gravity, paraffinic, 40°F pour point. ]

2 )
About 1 1/4 miles northeast of the first locality, a live green
oil seep was encountered when the Denver Fire Clay Company drove
an adit into the Dakota sandstones to open up a fire clay seam
(Van Tuyl, p.744, 1932).

3)
Van Tuyl (oral communication) reports an occurrence of high
gravity petroleum in a water well drilled near the Fountain-
Basement contact, west of Morrison and south of Red Rocks Park.

4)
An oil show in the Dakota sandstone is recorded in the driller's
log of the Midas Oil and Gas Company, No.2 well, near Morrison in
T5S, R69W (Barb, p.134, 1946).

16
5)
Van Tuyl (oral communication) states that a construction crew
driving the pilot tunnel for the first tunnel on U.S. Highway 40
in Clear Creek Canyon, encountered a pocket of heavy, black, dead
oil in th joints of the metamorphic rocks. This locality is
about three-fourths of a mile west of the Fountain-Basement
contact. [*probably sourced by Paleozoic rocks. Paleozoic oil
is generally black, 36-41° API gravity, paraffinic, OOF pour
point. ]

6)
LeRoy (p.31, 1946) describes occurrences of a black brittle,
bituminous substance in the shales and limestones of the basal
Lykins formation in Glennon Canyon south of Morrison.

7 )
LeRoy (p.31, 1946) reports a similar occurrence in a limestone,
15 feet above the Lyons-Lykins contact on Ralston Creek.

8)
Heavy, black, brittle bituminous material was observed by Van
Tuyl (personal communication) in a road cut near the parking lot
behind the amphi theater at Red Rocks Park. This material was
found in the four to five feet of the basal Fountain and in
joints of the underlying crystal lines.

9)
South of the Turkey Creek water gap in the Dakota hogback, there
is an old quarry developed in an occurrence of bituminous
sandstone at the top of the Dakota formation. An attempt was
made once to extract the bitumen by a hot water or steam process.

All of the foregoing occurrences are located in the hanging wall

of the Golden Fault. The source of many of these hydrocarbons
could be the 9,000 foot section of marine limestones and shales
of the Benton, Niobrara and Pierre formations in the footwall of
the fault. Trap possibilities are almost negligible in the
upthrown block and commercial accumulations, if present, are
expected on the downthrown side of the fault.

17
 (2) Area Of Mature Source Rocks
C.1. = 500'

Figure 14. Structure on J Sandstone at present, datum Is sea level.

after Tainter, 1984

POG fig. 1
 0 '., ..- O"-:::-~-=:'-
.-Ea>c: z FOX
;::--TERTI FJ
AGE ERALARAMIE
uDEN 0 V;•......
'
HILLS
U) 6.~ ..... Kfh
'
E R - /J., RAP
. ...... A ~
A FORMATION
HOEMOUNT A!N
w ~ ARY
o~kda 1:1.1 GREEN
••

6 (; ~"~~':::":'::""
..'"',:''" ";) KL O~

o ~ ___

if)
:J
o PIERRE
W
U
-<
u I-
uJ
o
N
c::
U
o
if)
w

NIOBRA~',.6..

Kb BENTON

,...=--=-'" J o
;;
C\J
--
_-=__
k·.. '~p
CREEK
DAKOTA
LYON PL
L YKI1SNPL
mS
Kd R,ALSTON
MORRISON
b 5 '_~'::-"" Jrc
120 I:kx~~q JU;:(ASSIC

~- TRIASSIC

PERMIAN

u z
o <
N
o Z
u1 <
>
...J
>-
if)
FOUNT AI N

PRESAMSRIAN p€ PRE C A :\"1 8 R I A I~

POG fig. 2
 THE COLORADO LINEAMENT

EXPLANATION

'.
"
'SASE OF'CENOZOIC \

I ".-;-;':: -: \
,SASE OF FOX HILLS
\1
r=:::::;

-''L-1 If

PRE-UPPER CRETACEOUS

PRECAMBRIAN

AlP
OIL FIELD

~
PRODUCTIVE MINE

HIGH
TH R UST
(TEETH

."..."""
ON UP

ANGLE
...- -
FAULT
SIDE)

FAULT
"
DIKE
CD DIABASE

® SKIN GULCH SHEAR ZONE

(1) MOOSE MT. SHEAR ZONE

o IDAHO
RALSTON
SPRINGS-
SHEAR ZONE

• I II20
•/ 3L0~ E•100
.,&
10 //•;::
:: II
~ EDIiit:EI:
"- .;.. " I, A
S C r'
/ f
/J
II •
J1I.

t
10 0
cae1 "

20
I 30 M I
40 ~o
! ;;1 KM

Figure 4. Generalized tectonic map of northeast Front Range foothills and adjacent Denver basin, Colorado. Compiled from various
sources, including Burbank and others (1935)" Fisher (1946), Lovering and Goddard (1950), Hunter (1955), Parker (1961),
Spencer (1961), Abbott (1970), Punongbayan (1972), Nesse (1977). a ft er W arner, 1980
paG fig. 3
 pz Mz

c.
pz

6000
EAST

APPROXIMATE
+ SCALE
l' :0< 10,000'
Sea Level

E.I~~~~~~~_-_6_0_00_
Figure 5. Golden fault structural models: A-Ziegler
(1917, Fig. 6), through Golden; B-Stewart (1953, Plate
10), near Golden Gate Canyon, SP indicates shotpoint; C-
Birdsall (1956, Fig. 19), along Golden Gate Canyon; D-
Bieber (1983, Fig. 5), near Ralston Creek; E-Money
(1977, Fig. 14C), one mile north of Golden Gate Canyon.
Ty=Tertiary; Mz=Mesozoici Pz=Paleozoic; pC=Precambrian.
after Domoracki, 1986

POG fig. 4
 sw JOHNSON
TO 9655'
*
I
-?-
GREAT BASINS NE
TO 9587'
","!...

f£'~~:fi~""
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I
SEA LEVEL

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-''-',-.-,J ---~. ,--'11'" I--'~ .-- .,,- ~ """;;".,,,,'7, I -)"~ _-w- _

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..-.$OD'~- 'lA~E'S'-' '~'-'.,,-',.;,-,,-.'.,-
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£?~}[~{~%\~\{r~::i:~~~~~·?Zi:K~~~J}f.:;~;:t{'/iHi~;~t~~E~}g~f?~~;~:~:~?:1.3:.~~;·~;'!
k~f·?:~t:i;:i::Z};t.:~::~x.~-;:~~
~/'::
c' ,.,.;, •• ~,.,

r
" . ",""'"

G>

(Q rigure 6. Geologic cross-section at Soda Lakes (from

01 Berg, 1962a, rig. 4).
 ';';",
,:.'
o

,,

, I

"[
C
N ~
2 0 /-"
0SE,
N S
1

~ ~
Figure ~7. Final stack Golden Gate Canyon. Horizontal
scale is compressed 2:1. MF-mountain front; Gr-surface trace
or Golden fault; LB-line bend. after Domoracki, 1986

POG fig. 6
 - t

t'

'K pierre

1 0

, ,

T
J

I~ttjakota
J

N
2 0
S
1\ E
c
~P€
" o
s
I'

,,
"

Figure 18. Migrated stack Golden Gate Canyon. Migration

with 80 ~ of stacking velocities. after Domoracki, 1986
Interpretation by R.R.Ray

POG fig. 7
 ,~
.,.
1.1
-v.
.rto
1.'
~ IT
I,~~~
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i
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37
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"'U
o Figure 21. Final stacks - state Highway 72. Display scale
-
(j)

co
is' near 1: 1. after Domoracki, 1986

(XI
 76° E dip Fox Hills ~
[liST _ outcrop
FAULT
JOI
31'11

CIP
G.

I.'
1.1

I.]

K nio"" K pierre
K dak:::
P Iyons-.f-;

T
] I.
H
E

]
N Kpt
1.5
,':P"

K niobrara
.0
K dakota
Z.Z P lyons
K..{
Z.I
LJ.7
I.]
J,I
Z.•
Z.,
Z,'

Figure 21. Final stacks - state Highway 72. Display scale

-u is near 1: 1. after Domoracki, 1986. Interpretation by R.R.Ray. See also Plate 4.
o
G>
-.
Ie
co
 A
8 to 1
A'
SP NW VERTICAL EXAGGERATION SE
-11+ I- __ --par
~ K GreeK L5 Member --, ,
10 mv
-4000 ft
LYK\NS FM
z
« ::.:.LYONS·SS:":-:':···:'-·
Park Crk Mbr
~ SATANKA FM
~ w
'~E>~ Poudre Mbr u. Q..

\NGLES\OE FM

=:-g-I=~
o-l ~__ Forelle Mbr
-
CJ)
Z
~

-.-.> ~FaICOn Mbr

>-
-I -5000 ft

~r~ ::- ": =: BLAINE ANH.

c::.

~L? c: LYONS 55
g,> ,I "I.
/

~ PENH
TRUE SCALE
TR
LYONS SS f I- '" ...'\ -'"'\
~PERJ,\
/, PC BASEMENT" \. .•• '\ ,. , ... " /" , /,'/ , ", ,.I'\ ~" -"'000 f(
Pf 9201-9210, Pumped 317 BOPD
-SOOO It

-u Figure 2. oI : 1.41
Typical electric log Pierce field area showing Lykins
o
G) and Lyons Formations (California Co. # 1 Priddy, NW SW
Sec. 23, T8N, R66W). Figure 5. Structural cross section through Pierce structure. Note
to how sublle the structure is on true scale cross section.

--"
after Sonnenberg, 1984
o
 :••
••

., WY.i +
.......... 4'-
c o.
ARE A of
~
F IG.\2

tD

-
U)

9 DENVE R
t
N
I

o 10 20 30 40 50 o 10 20 30
I I I I I I l ! I 1

km m

Figure 1: Index map showing area of Figure 2 from Stone, 1969, Pi. I, with New Windsor anticlinal
axis added. R-I2 is the "Pierce-Black Hollow" right-wrench zone, here called the Windsor Fault. R-IIls
the "Colorado Mineral Belt." after Stone, 1985

POG fig. 11
Figure 2: Seismic structure map on the Lyons Formaticn of the Pierce-Black Hollow-New Windsor oil
field complex, Weld County, Colorado. after Stone, 1985

POG fig.12
 Weimer and Sonnenberg

TETON ENERGY CONTINENT Al MARTIN BRYAN

Sequences Formations Members HE SE 13; is - lOW SE HE SW 5: 1S - 69W SEHE2; 1S-69W HE HW 13: is - 68W

<:l - .>
'"
> ----- > ~
=<
0 ~
-~ PIERRE
------ Smoky
~ ~ ~ J
--;
0
.~ 4

-- Ft. Hay"
4 ~ CARLILE
Z
a: Bridge Creek Ls.
o
J: Hartland Sh.
Z
UJ
UJ

3 "a: x -
Lincoln Ls.

BENTONITE

GRANEROS

LYTLE
TS ••:::::::MOWRY
SKULL
PLAINVIE\I
MORRISON Tn
1
2
~~ LS!!:
T'I:[~ LSI!: CREEK
MUDDY (J) WATTEN
Ln

Tn
La ••

\J
o
G)

(Q
....•
c.u Figure 15. East-west electric-log section from Eldorado Springs outcrop (modified from MacKenzie,
1971) to east side of Watten berg Field (see Figu re 3 for section location). Lithologic symbols for surface
section are shown on Figure 7. after Weimer and Sonnenberg, 1989
 DUDLEY D. RICE

o 50 kilometers
l J
r 1
o 30 miles

FIgurE! 1. Index map of Denver basin showing present-day depth of burlal to top of Niobrara Fom1atlon (modified from Shurr, 1980~ Contour
values are In meters. Location of wells from which gas samples were analyzed are labeled by numbers and from core samples
were analyzed are label&d by letters.
after Rice, 1984

POG fig. 14
 ')."

;;
@.L_
"tJ'"? I KANS

~"O
t.;.o
i~~
I

!C/~'--,0::
I /
' 2.5

Gradients F/100 ft

Plainview Prospect
AREA OF MATURE
SOURCE ROCKS (TAINTER. 1984)

REFLECTANCE VALUES GREATER

~ ~~~ _." AREA

THAN OF
0.75 VITRINITE
(HIGLEY 01 01 •• 1985)

. Figure 24. Geothermal gradients in n-orthern

portion of Denver Basin, in FO per 100 ft.
C.M.B. is Colorado Mineral Belt, a Precambrian
structural trend with a zone of Tertiary intru-
sions, exposed in the Front Range Uplift.
after Weimer & Sonnenberg, 1989.

POG fig. 15