A gusher can mean big profits, while a dry hole is money down the drain. Yet, driven by the need to replace depleted reserves and the desire to expand production, companies search constantly for new fields. The Foothills Research Project will benefit companies prospecting in the Rocky Mountain foothills by providing a clearer and more accurate picture of the rocks below the surface than has been available until now.
Mountain ranges have extremely complex geologic structures, with many faults and folds.
These folds distort seismic images, presenting problems for geophysicists. The researchers working on this project are studying the rocks of the foothills, trying to figure out how to remove this distortion. They've been missing their target. Now they can drill on target. It shows the geometry in the right place.