January Luncheon - Dale Bird, Bird Geophysical

Abstract:

Our study makes use of magnetic anomalies produced between the top of crystalline basement and Curie

point isotherm depths, which we call The Magnetic Layer (TML). We study the Permian Basin, which formed

in a foreland setting as the Early Paleozoic Tobosa Basin but was split in two via Pennsylvanian convergent

forces and structural inversion of the Central Basin Platform. We demonstrate that magnetic data analyses,

combined with station data (heat flow, thermal conductivity, heat production), support thermal property

calculations in the sedimentary basin layer as well as TML. We further demonstrate that these results are

improved by Supervised Learning analyses.

Our method integrates thermal properties with basement terranes interpreted, in part, from magnetic

susceptibilities derived from 3D modeling, to generate thermal models for Delaware and Midland Basins as

well as the Central Basin Platform. These models are refined, employing a suite of Python-based Supervised

Learning algorithms, to compare heat flow prediction from thermal properties in the sedimentary basin

layer with those in the sedimentary basin layer + The Magnetic Layer. We conclude with examples that

connect derived thermal properties with geological elements in the study area.

Bio:

Dale Bird, Bird Geophysical

Dale Bird is a consultant specializing in tectonophysics and interpretation of potential

fields. He has 30+ years of world-wide experience. Dale earned B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.

degrees from the University of Houston, where he is a Research Associate Professor. He

has been an active member of several professional organizations including: AAPG, AGU,

EAGE, HGS, GSA, GSH and SEG.