A recent item (OGJ, Oct. 30, 2000, p. 35) states that the Potato Hills structure of Latimer and Pushmataha counties, Okla., may be a model for structural and depositional environments of proposed astrobleme features in the Gulf of Mexico. Richard Donofrio of the University of Oklahoma Exploration & Development Geoscience Institute is given as the information source.
Having worked on the development of the Potato Hills field for GHK Corp. these past 4 years, I can state positively that we have found no indications of meteor impact. Neither structural enhancement nor the reservoir stratigraphy can be attributed to impact. The Potato Hills were correctly described in 1929 by H. D. Miser as a fenster exposed by erosion of a folded thrust. The "fault" referred to in the OGJ item is a second, deeper folded fault that can be mapped with newly available well and seismic control, and it ties to the Windingstair (surface) thrust fault.
The extensive fracturing found in the Potato Hills Jackfork (Ratcliff sand) reservoir is closely related to structural position on a major anticlinal fold underlying the Windingstair thrust fault. Finally, the depositional environment of the "Ratcliff sand" (GHK nomenclature) was likely not as a turbidite but probably shallow water.
Unfortunately, GHK's closely held Potato Hills secret has resulted in too much speculative geology. Not all geologic mystery can be attributed to meteoric impact.
Paul Denney
Geological Geophysical Consultant
Delta, Colo.
