DOCSLIB.ORG

Case Study of Colorado Oil and Gas Fields

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Case Study of Colorado Oil and Gas Fields AN ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF HYDROCARBON OR FRACTURING FLUID MIGRATION TO FRESH WATER AQUIFERS: CASE STUDY OF COLORADO OIL AND GAS FIELDS by Carver Haentjens Stone A thesis submitted to the Faculty and the Board of Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Petroleum Engineering). Golden, Colorado Date _______________________ Signed: _______________________________ Carver Haentjens Stone Signed: _______________________________ Dr. Alfred Eustes III Thesis Advisor Golden, Colorado Date _______________________ Signed: ______________________________ Dr. Erdal Ozkan Professor and Head Department of Petroleum Engineering ii ABSTRACT The United States National Science Foundation, engaging 29 researchers at nine institutions, has funded a Sustainability Research Network (SRN) focused on natural gas development. The mission is to provide a science-based framework for evaluating the environmental, economic, and social trade-offs between development of natural gas resources and protection of water and air resources. There are a series of independent events that must occur to allow hydrocarbon or fracturing fluid migration to fresh water aquifers. A statistical analysis of data from 36,682 oil and gas wells, from four main basins in Colorado, was made to demonstrate the low rate of complete wellbore failures that resulted in hydrocarbon or fracturing fluid contamination. These results will help shape the discussion of the risk of oil and gas development and will assist in identifying areas of improved well construction and hydraulic fracturing practices to minimize the risk of aquifer or surface soil contamination. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................vii LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... xv LIST OF SYMBOLS .................................................................................................... xvii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... xviii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview of Colorado Oil and Gas Basins ............................................. 2 1.2 Barrier Definition .................................................................................... 3 1.3 Failure Definition .................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 2 MIGRATION FLOW PATHS AND THE ORIGIN OF HYDROCARBON PRESENCE IN AQUIFER SYSTEMS ....................... 9 2.1 Hydrocarbon Migration Flow Paths ........................................................ 9 2.2 Thermogenic Gas and Biogenic Gas in Fresh Water Aquifers ............. 11 2.3 Fracturing Fluid Migration to Fresh Water Aquifers .............................. 11 CHAPTER 3 METHODS, DATA ASSUMPTIONS AND ERRORS ............................ 15 3.1 Methods ............................................................................................... 15 3.2 Data Assumptions ................................................................................ 16 3.3 Errors ................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 4 RISK ASSESSMENT OF OIL AND GAS WELLS IN THE WATTENBERG FIELD, DENVER-JULESBURG BASIN, COLORADO ........................................................................................ 20 4.1 Wattenberg Field Geology ................................................................... 21 4.2 Wattenberg Field Population Density ................................................... 22 4.3 Wattenberg Field Water Sourcing ........................................................ 26 4.4 Wattenberg Field Data Sourcing and Assumptions .............................. 28 4.5 Wattenberg Field Historical Wellbore Designs ..................................... 28 4.6 Wattenberg Field Wellbore Barrier Categories ..................................... 34 iv 4.7 Wattenberg Field Potential Barrier Failures ......................................... 44 4.8 Wattenberg Field Catastrophic Barrier Failure Overview ..................... 47 4.9 Wattenberg Field Catastrophic Barrier Failures ................................... 51 4.10 Wattenberg Field Existing Conditions .................................................. 55 CHAPTER 5 RISK ASSESSMENT OF OIL AND GAS WELLS IN THE PICEANCE BASIN, GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO ..................... 60 5.1 Piceance Basin Geology ...................................................................... 61 5.2 Piceance Basin Population Density ...................................................... 62 5.3 Piceance Basin Water Sourcing ........................................................... 62 5.4 Piceance Basin Data Sourcing and Assumptions ................................ 64 5.5 Piceance Basin Historical Wellbore Barrier Designs ............................ 65 5.6 Piceance Basin Wellbore Barrier Categories ....................................... 69 5.7 Piceance Basin Potential Barrier Failures ............................................ 79 5.8 Piceance Basin Catastrophic Barrier Failure Overview ........................ 83 5.9 Piceance Basin Catastrophic Barrier Failures ...................................... 84 5.10 Piceance Basin Existing Conditions ..................................................... 87 CHAPTER 6 RISK ASSESSMENT OF OIL AND GAS WELLS IN THE RATON BASIN, COLORADO .............................................................. 90 6.1 Raton Basin Geology ........................................................................... 91 6.2 Raton Basin Population Density ........................................................... 92 6.3 Raton Basin Water Sourcing ................................................................ 93 6.4 Raton Basin Data Sourcing and Assumptions...................................... 94 6.5 Raton Basin Historical Wellbore Designs ............................................. 95 6.6 Raton Basin Wellbore Barrier Categories .......................................... 101 6.7 Raton Basin Potential Barrier Failures ............................................... 111 6.8 Raton Basin Catastrophic Barrier Failure Overview ........................... 113 6.9 Raton Basin Catastrophic Barrier Failures ......................................... 115 6.10 Raton Basin Existing Conditions ........................................................ 118 v CHAPTER 7 RISK ASSESSMENT OF OIL AND GAS WELLS IN THE SAN JUAN BASIN, COLORADO ....................................................... 121 7.1 San Juan Basin Geology .................................................................... 122 7.2 San Juan Basin Population Density ................................................... 123 7.3 San Juan Basin Water Sourcing ........................................................ 124 7.4 San Juan Basin Data Sourcing and Assumptions .............................. 125 7.5 San Juan Basin Historical Wellbore Designs ..................................... 126 7.6 San Juan Basin Wellbore Barrier Categories ..................................... 132 7.7 San Juan Basin Potential Barrier Failures .......................................... 143 7.8 San Juan Basin Catastrophic Barrier Failure Overview ..................... 146 7.9 San Juan Basin Catastrophic Barrier Failures .................................... 148 7.10 San Juan Basin Existing Conditions ................................................... 150 CHAPTER 8 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................. 152 8.1 Further Research Recommendations ................................................ 156 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 157 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Geographic locations of oil and gas basins in the State of Colorado ................................................................................................... 2 Figure 1.2 Wellbore barrier categories that are ranked from highest risk to lowest risk ................................................................................................. 5 Figure 1.3 Example of a high risk wellbore barrier design ......................................... 6 Figure 1.4 Example of a low risk wellbore barrier design ........................................... 7 Figure 2.1 Typical composition of hydraulic fracturing fluids and their common uses in commercial products .................................................................. 13 Figure 4.1 Geographic location of the Wattenberg Field, Colorado ......................... 20 Figure 4.2 Geologic stratigraphic units of the Denver-Julesburg Basin, Wattenberg Field, Colorado .................................................................... 22 Figure 4.3 Population of Weld County, Colorado from 1970 to 2013 ....................... 23 Figure 4.4 Population of Adams County, Colorado from 1970 to 2013 .................... 24 Figure 4.5 Population of Boulder County, Colorado from 1970 to 2013 ................... 25 Figure 4.6 Population of Larimer County, Colorado from 1970 to 2013 ................... 25 Figure 4.7 Cross section of the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Structural Interpretation of the Cherokee Arch, South
    STRUCTURAL INTERPRETATION OF THE CHEROKEE ARCH, SOUTH CENTRAL WYOMING, USING 3-D SEISMIC DATA AND WELL LOGS by Joel Ysaccis B. ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to use 3-D seismic data and well logs to map the structural evolution of the Cherokee Arch, a major east-west trending basement high along the Colorado-Wyoming state line. The Cherokee Arch lies along the Cheyenne lineament, a major discontinuity or suture zone in the basement. Recurrent, oblique-slip offset is interpreted to have occurred along faults that make up the arch. Gas fields along the Cherokee Arch produce from structural and structural-stratigraphic traps, mainly in Cretaceous rocks. Some of these fields, like the South Baggs – West Side Canal fields, have gas production from multiple pays. The tectonic evolution of the Cherokee Arch has not been previously studied in detail. About 315 mi2 (815 km2) of 3-D seismic data were analyzed in this study to better understand the kinematic evolution of the area. The interpretation involved mapping the Madison, Shinarump, Above Frontier, Mancos, Almond, Lance/Fox Hills and Fort Union horizons, as well as defining fault geometries. Structure maps on these horizons show the general tendency of the structure to dip towards the west. The Cherokee Arch is an asymmetrical anticline in the hanging wall, which is mainly transected by a south-dipping series of east-west striking thrust faults. The interpreted thrust faults generally terminate within the Mancos to Above Frontier interval, and their vertical offset increases in magnitude down to the basement. Post-Mancos iii intervals are dominated by near-vertical faults with apparent normal offset.
    [Show full text]
  • GEOLOGIC MAP of the GREATER DENVER AREA, FRONT RANGE URBAN CORRIDOR, COLORADO by Donald E
    U.S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MISCELLANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS SERIES I–856–H U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Version 1.1 105°22'30" 105°15' 105°7'30" 105°0' 104°52'30" 104°45' 104°37'30" 40¡0’ 40°0' Qs Qv Ql Qes DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS Qco Qp Qlo Kp Qp Kp Kl Kl Qb TKda Ysp Qes Kf Qb Qp Qco Qv Xbc Kp Qb Qes Qp POST-PINEY CREEK AND PINEY CREEK ALLUVIUM (UPPER HOLOCENE) Kl Qes Qes Qco Qlo Qs Qlo Kp Kl Qb Qrf Qls Kf Ql Ysp TKd Qs Qco COLLUVIUM (UPPER HOLOCENE) Xbc Qp Qv Ysp Qp Qb Kl Qv Qes PPf Qp Qco Qco Qrf Kp Qs Qls Qs LANDSLIDE DEPOSITS (HOLOCENE TO MIDDLE? PLEISTOCENE) Qs Qv Kl Qb Qp JPml Kl Qrf Qco Qs Qco Qv Qp Qes WINDBLOWN SAND (LOWER HOLOCENE TO UPPER PLEISTOCENE) Qv Ql TKd Ql Qes Kd Qv Kp Kl Qes Qco River Qco Qp Kf Ql TKda YXp TKda Kl TKda TKd Qs Xbc Qrf Qv Qp Qb Qb BROADWAY ALLUVIUM (UPPER PLEISTOCENE) Qp Qco Qs Qco Qlo Qco Ql Qp Qes Kf Ql Qco Qp Qv Qs Qrf Ql LOESS (UPPER PLEISTOCENE) Qrf Qs Qlo Kf Qs Qco Qco Qp Qes Qp Qco Qp TKd Qb Qco Qlo Qes LOUVIERS ALLUVIUM (UPPER PLEISTOCENE) Xbc Kf Kp Ql Qs Qrf Marshall Qv Qb Ql Kl TKda Qes Qs Kl Lake Qv Qs SLOCUM ALLUVIUM (PLEISTOCENE) Qv Ql Qco JPml Ql Qco PPf Qv Qs Kl Qs Qco Qv Qco Kn Qv Qs Qs Kp Qrf Qb Qb Barr Lake Kcgg Qv VERDOS ALLUVIUM (PLEISTOCENE) Qs Qrf Qco Ql TKda Qlo Qp Qs TKda Qp Ql TKda Xqm Qlo Qrf Qs Qs Qs ROCKY FLATS ALLUVIUM (PLEISTOCENE) Qp Xq Kd Kf Qco Qp Qco Qb Kl Kp Qco Platte Qlo Qb Qrf Qs Qn Qls Qco NUSSBAUM ALLUVIUM (PLEISTOCENE) Kp Qco Qp Xbc TKd Qrf Qrf Qv Qco Tg Qv Qv HIGH-LEVEL GRAVEL DEPOSITS (PLIOCENE TO OLIGOCENE) Xbc Qp PPf Qb TKd Qb Qv TKda JPml Qv Ql Tcr CASTLE ROCK
    [Show full text]
  • Forgotten Crocodile from the Kirtland Formation, San Juan Basin, New
    posed that the narial cavities of Para- Wima1l- saurolophuswere vocal resonating chambers' Goniopholiskirtlandicus Apparently included with this material shippedto Wiman was a partial skull that lromthe Wiman describedas a new speciesof croc- forgottencrocodile odile, Goniopholis kirtlandicus. Wiman publisheda descriptionof G. kirtlandicusin Basin, 1932in the Bulletin of the GeologicalInstitute KirtlandFormation, San Juan of IJppsala. Notice of this specieshas not appearedin any Americanpublication. Klilin NewMexico (1955)presented a descriptionand illustration of the speciesin French, but essentially repeatedWiman (1932). byDonald L. Wolberg, Vertebrate Paleontologist, NewMexico Bureau of lVlinesand Mineral Resources, Socorro, NIM Localityinformation for Crocodilian bone, armor, and teeth are Goni o p holi s kir t landicus common in Late Cretaceous and Early Ter- The skeletalmaterial referred to Gonio- tiary deposits of the San Juan Basin and pholis kirtlandicus includesmost of the right elsewhere.In the Fruitland and Kirtland For- side of a skull, a squamosalfragment, and a mations of the San Juan Basin, Late Creta- portion of dorsal plate. The referral of the ceous crocodiles were important carnivores of dorsalplate probably represents an interpreta- the reconstructed stream and stream-bank tion of the proximity of the material when community (Wolberg, 1980). In the Kirtland found. Figs. I and 2, taken from Wiman Formation, a mesosuchian crocodile, Gonio- (1932),illustrate this material. pholis kirtlandicus, discovered by Charles H. Wiman(1932, p. 181)recorded the follow- Sternbergin the early 1920'sand not described ing locality data, provided by Sternberg: until 1932 by Carl Wiman, has been all but of Crocodile.Kirtland shalesa 100feet ignored since its description and referral. "Skull below the Ojo Alamo Sandstonein the blue Specimensreferred to other crocodilian genera cley.
    [Show full text]
  • CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY BOUNDARY Ijst the ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION1
    BULLETIN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA V o l..¿5, pp. 325-340 September 15, 1914 PROCEEDINGS OF THE PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY BOUNDARY IjST THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION1 BY P. H . KNOWLTON (Presented before the Paleontological Society December 31, 1913) CONTENTS Page Introduction........................................................................................................... 325 Stratigraphic evidence........................................................................................ 325 Paleobotanical evidence...................................................................................... 331 Diastrophic evidence........................................................................................... 334 The European time scale.................................................................................. 335 Vertebrate evidence............................................................................................ 337 Invertebrate evidence.......................................................................................... 339 Conclusions............................................................................................................ 340 I ntroduction The thesis of this paper is as follows: It is proposed to show that the dinosaur-bearing beds known as “Ceratops beds,” “Lance Creek bieds,” Lance formation, “Hell Creek beds,” “Somber beds,” “Lower Fort Union,”- Laramie of many writers, “Upper Laramie,” Arapahoe, Denver, Dawson, and their equivalents, are above a major
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Paleocene and Lower Eocene Mammal Horizons of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado
    56.9(1181:78.9). Article XXXII.- NOTES ON PALEOCENE AND LOWER EOCENE MAMMAL HORIZONS OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHERN COLORADO. BY WALTER GRANGER. PLATES XCVII AND XCVIII. The purpose of the present short paper is to indicate some of the results of the Eocene exploration conducted by the writer, with the assistance of Mr. George Olsen, in the San Juan Basin in 1916. It is hoped that the fol- lowing notes may be of some aid to future Eocene collecting in this region and possibly also to detailed geologic plotting. Three separate localities were examined, viz.: the Torrejon of Angel Peak, lying south of the San Juan River; the Torrejon of the Animas Valley, between Aztec and Cedar Hill; a set of later beds in Colorado, lying north of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway, between Los Pifios and Piedra Rivers. The American Museum expedition of 1913 visited nearly all of the Paleocene localities of the San Juan Basin from which fossils had previously been obtained, made extensive collections and summarized the strati- graphic results in a paper published the following year.1 These localities are all on the south side of the San Juan River and extend in a long line from the vicinity of Ojo Alamo eastward to the Puerco River below Cuba. Exposures lying to the north near the San Juan and in the Animas Valley were known to be Paleocene but for lack of time were not examined that year. The Angel Peak Region. The exposures at Angel Peak are in the form of a gigantic crater cut out of a fairly level grass-covered plain to a depth of several hundred feet and with a diameter of three to four miles.
    [Show full text]
  • The Geology of New Mexico As Understood in 1912: an Essay for the Centennial of New Mexico Statehood Part 2 Barry S
    Celebrating New Mexico's Centennial The geology of New Mexico as understood in 1912: an essay for the centennial of New Mexico statehood Part 2 Barry S. Kues, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, bkues@unm.edu Introduction he first part of this contribution, presented in the February Here I first discuss contemporary ideas on two fundamental areas 2012 issue of New Mexico Geology, laid the groundwork for an of geologic thought—the accurate dating of rocks and the move- exploration of what geologists knew or surmised about the ment of continents through time—that were at the beginning of Tgeology of New Mexico as the territory transitioned into statehood paradigm shifts around 1912. Then I explore research trends and in 1912. Part 1 included an overview of the demographic, economic, the developing state of knowledge in stratigraphy and paleontol- social, cultural, and technological attributes of New Mexico and its ogy, two disciplines of geology that were essential in understand- people a century ago, and a discussion of important individuals, ing New Mexico’s rock record (some 84% of New Mexico’s surface institutions, and areas and methods of research—the geologic envi- area is covered by sediments or sedimentary rocks) and which were ronment, so to speak—that existed in the new state at that time. advancing rapidly through the first decade of the 20th century. The geologic time scale and age of rocks The geologic time scale familiar to geologists working in New The USGS did not adopt the Paleocene as the earliest epoch of the Mexico in 1912 was not greatly different from that used by modern Cenozoic until 1939.
    [Show full text]
  • VOLCANIC INFLUENCE OVER FLUVIAL SEDIMENTATION in the CRETACEOUS Mcdermott MEMBER, ANIMAS FORMATION, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO
    VOLCANIC INFLUENCE OVER FLUVIAL SEDIMENTATION IN THE CRETACEOUS McDERMOTT MEMBER, ANIMAS FORMATION, SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO Colleen O’Shea A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August: 2009 Committee: James Evans, advisor Kurt Panter, co-advisor John Farver ii Abstract James Evans, advisor Volcanic processes during and after an eruption can impact adjacent fluvial systems by high influx rates of volcaniclastic sediment, drainage disruption, formation and failure of natural dams, changes in channel geometry and changes in channel pattern. Depending on the magnitude and frequency of disruptive events, the fluvial system might “recover” over a period of years or might change to some other morphology. The goal of this study is to evaluate the preservation potential of volcanic features in the fluvial environment and assess fluvial system recovery in a probable ancient analog of a fluvial-volcanic system. The McDermott Member is the lower member of the Late Cretaceous - Tertiary Animas Formation in SW Colorado. Field studies were based on a southwest-northeast transect of six measured sections near Durango, Colorado. In the field, 13 lithofacies have been identified including various types of sandstones, conglomerates, and mudrocks interbedded with lahars, mildly reworked tuff, and primary pyroclastic units. Subsequent microfacies analysis suggests the lahar lithofacies can be subdivided into three types based on clast composition and matrix color, this might indicate different volcanic sources or sequential changes in the volcanic center. In addition, microfacies analysis of the primary pyroclastic units suggests both surge and block-and-ash types are present.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis and Correlation of Growth
    ANALYSIS AND CORRELATION OF GROWTH STRATA OF THE CRETACEOUS TO PALEOCENE LOWER DAWSON FORMATION: INSIGHT INTO THE TECTONO-STRATIGRAPHIC EVOLUTION OF THE COLORADO FRONT RANGE by Korey Tae Harvey A thesis submitted to the Faculty and Board of Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Geology). Golden, Colorado Date __________________________ Signed: ________________________ Korey Harvey Signed: ________________________ Dr. Jennifer Aschoff Thesis Advisor Golden, Colorado Date ___________________________ Signed: _________________________ Dr. Paul Santi Professor and Head Department of Geology and Geological Engineering ii ABSTRACT Despite numerous studies of Laramide-style (i.e., basement-cored) structures, their 4-dimensional structural evolution and relationship to adjacent sedimentary basins are not well understood. Analysis and correlation of growth strata along the eastern Colorado Front Range (CFR) help decipher the along-strike linkage of thrust structures and their affect on sediment dispersal. Growth strata, and the syntectonic unconformities within them, record the relative roles of uplift and deposition through time; when mapped along-strike, they provide insight into the location and geometry of structures through time. This paper presents an integrated structural- stratigraphic analysis and correlation of three growth-strata assemblages within the fluvial and fluvial megafan deposits of the lowermost Cretaceous to Paleocene Dawson Formation on the eastern CFR between Colorado Springs, CO and Sedalia, CO. Structural attitudes from 12 stratigraphic profiles at the three locales record dip discordances that highlight syntectonic unconformities within the growth strata packages. Eight traditional-type syntectonic unconformities were correlated along-strike of the eastern CFR distinguish six phases of uplift in the central portion of the CFR.
    [Show full text]
  • Schmitz, M. D. 2000. Appendix 2: Radioisotopic Ages Used In
    Appendix 2 Radioisotopic ages used in GTS2020 M.D. SCHMITZ 1285 1286 Appendix 2 GTS GTS Sample Locality Lat-Long Lithostratigraphy Age 6 2s 6 2s Age Type 2020 2012 (Ma) analytical total ID ID Period Epoch Age Quaternary À not compiled Neogene À not compiled Pliocene Miocene Paleogene Oligocene Chattian Pg36 biotite-rich layer; PAC- Pieve d’Accinelli section, 43 35040.41vN, Scaglia Cinerea Fm, 42.3 m above base of 26.57 0.02 0.04 206Pb/238U B2 northeastern Apennines, Italy 12 29034.16vE section Rupelian Pg35 Pg20 biotite-rich layer; MCA- Monte Cagnero section (Chattian 43 38047.81vN, Scaglia Cinerea Fm, 145.8 m above base 31.41 0.03 0.04 206Pb/238U 145.8, equivalent to GSSP), northeastern Apennines, Italy 12 28003.83vE of section MCA/84-3 Pg34 biotite-rich layer; MCA- Monte Cagnero section (Chattian 43 38047.81vN, Scaglia Cinerea Fm, 142.8 m above base 31.72 0.02 0.04 206Pb/238U 142.8 GSSP), northeastern Apennines, Italy 12 28003.83vE of section Eocene Priabonian Pg33 Pg19 biotite-rich layer; MASS- Massignano (Oligocene GSSP), near 43.5328 N, Scaglia Cinerea Fm, 14.7 m above base of 34.50 0.04 0.05 206Pb/238U 14.7, equivalent to Ancona, northeastern Apennines, 13.6011 E section MAS/86-14.7 Italy Pg32 biotite-rich layer; MASS- Massignano (Oligocene GSSP), near 43.5328 N, Scaglia Cinerea Fm, 12.9 m above base of 34.68 0.04 0.06 206Pb/238U 12.9 Ancona, northeastern Apennines, 13.6011 E section Italy Pg31 Pg18 biotite-rich layer; MASS- Massignano (Oligocene GSSP), near 43.5328 N, Scaglia Cinerea Fm, 12.7 m above base of 34.72 0.02 0.04 206Pb/238U
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic History of the San Juan Basin Area, New Mexico and Colorado Edward C
    New Mexico Geological Society Downloaded from: http://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/1 Geologic history of the San Juan Basin area, New Mexico and Colorado Edward C. Beaumont and Charles B. Read, 1950, pp. 49-54 in: San Juan Basin (New Mexico and Colorado), Kelley, V. C.; Beaumont, E. C.; Silver, C.; [eds.], New Mexico Geological Society 1st Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook, 152 p. This is one of many related papers that were included in the 1950 NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebook. Annual NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebooks Since 1950, the New Mexico Geological Society has held an annual Fall Field Conference that visits some region of New Mexico (or surrounding states). Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. Besides detailed road logs, the guidebooks contain many well written, edited, and peer-reviewed papers. These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an important reference for anyone working in or around New Mexico. Free Downloads The New Mexico Geological Society has decided to make our peer-reviewed Fall Field Conference guidebook papers available for free download. Non-members will have access to guidebook papers, but not from the last two years. Members will have access to all papers. This is in keeping with our mission of promoting interest, research, and cooperation regarding geology in New Mexico. However, guidebook sales represent a significant proportion of the societies' operating budget. Therefore, only research papers will be made available for download. Road logs, mini-papers, maps, stratigraphic charts, and other selected content will remain available only in the printed guidebooks.
    [Show full text]
  • Central San Juan Basin
    Acta - ---- - - ---Palaeontologic- -- ---' ~ Polonica Vol. 28, No. 1-2 pp. 195-204 Warszawa, 1983 Second Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestiol. Ecosystems, Jadwisin 1981 SPENCER G. LUCAS and NIALL J. MATEER VERTEBRATE PALEOECOLOGY OF THE LATE CAMPANIAN (CRETACEOUS):FRUITLAND FORMATION, SAN JUAN BASIN, ~EW MEXICO (USA) LUCAS, s. G. and MATEER, N. J .: Vertebrate paleoecology of the late Campanian (Cretaceous) Fruitland Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico (USA). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 28, 1-2, 195-204, 1983. Sediments of the Fruitland Formation in northwestern New Mexico represent a delta plain that prograded northeastward over the retrating strandline of the. North American epeiric seaway during the late Campanian. Fruitland fossil · vertebrates are fishes, amphibians, lizards, a snake, turtles, crocodilians, dinosaurs (mostly h adrosaurs and ceratopsians) and mammals. Autochthonous fossils in the Fruitland ' Form ation represent organisms of the trophically-complex Para­ saurolophus community. Differences in diversity, physical stress and life-history strategies within the ParasaurolopllUS community . fit well the stablllty-time hypothesis. Thus, dinosaurs experienced relatively low physical stress whereas fishes, amphibians, small reptiles and mammals experienced greater physical stress. Because of this, dinosaurs were less likely to recover from an environment­ al catastrophe than were smaller contemporaneous vertebrates. The terminal Cretaceous extinctions selectively eliminated animals that lived in less physlcally­ -stressed situations, indicating that the extinctions resulted from an environmental catastrophe. Key w 0 r d s: Fruitland Formation, New Mexico, delta plain, stablllty-time hypothesis, Cretaceous extinctions. Spencer G. Lucas, Department ot Geology and Geophysics and Peabody Museum ot Natural History, Yale University, P.O. Box 6666, New Haven, Connecticut 06511 USA ; NlaU J .
    [Show full text]
  • Geology and Coal Resources of the Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico and Colorado
    Chapter Q National Coal Resource Geology and Coal Resources of the Assessment Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico and Colorado Click here to return to Disc 1 By James E. Fassett1 Volume Table of Contents Chapter Q of Geologic Assessment of Coal in the Colorado Plateau: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah Edited by M.A. Kirschbaum, L.N.R. Roberts, and L.R.H. Biewick U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1625–B* 1 U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 * This report, although in the USGS Professional Paper series, is available only on CD-ROM and is not available separately U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Contents Abstract........................................................................................................................................................Q1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................. 2 Location and Extent of Area............................................................................................................... 2 Earlier Investigations .......................................................................................................................... 2 Geography............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]