Hydrogeologic Information on the Glorieta Sandstone and the Ogallala Formation in the Oklahoma Panhandle and Adioining Areas As Related to Underground Waste Disposal
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Hydrogeologic Information on the Glorieta Sandstone and the Ogallala Formation in the Oklahoma Panhandle and Adioining Areas as Related to Underground Waste Disposal GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 630 Hydrogeologic Information on the Glorieta Sandstone and the Ogallala Formation in the Oklahoma Panhandle and Adioining Areas as Related to Underground Waste Disposal By James H. Irwin and Robert B. Morton GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 630 Washington 1969 United States Department of the Interior CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary Geological Survey H. William Menard, Director First printing 1969 Second printing 1978 Free on application to Branch ol Distribution, U.S. Geological Survey 1200 South Eads Street, Arlington, Va. 22202 CONTENTS Page Page J\bstract -------------------------------------- 1 Character of the strata between the Glorieta Introduction ____________ ---------------------- 1 Sandstone and the Ogallala Formation ----- 9 Regional geologic setting ----------------------- 3 Hydrology ------------------------------------ 9 Structure -------------------------------- 3 Ogallala Formation and younger rocks _______ 9 Subsurface rocks ------------------------- 3 . Other aquifers ---------------------------- 10 Rocks of Permian age ----------------- 6 Quality of water------------------------------- 11 Rocks of Triassic age ----------------- 6 Ogallala Formation ------------------------ 11 Rocks of Jurassic age ----------------- 7 Other aquifers ---------------------------- 11 Rocks of Cretaceous age --------------- 7 Rocks of Permian age ------.---------------- 11 Surface rocks ---------------------------- 7 Resource development -------------------------- 12 Relation of the Glorieta Sandstone to the Ogallala VVater resources --------------------------- 12 Formation ----------------------------- 8 Oil and gas resources -------------------·--- 12 Glorieta Sandstone ----------------.,.------- 8 Disposal wells --------------------------------- 12 Ogallala Formation and younger sedimentary Summary and conclusions ---------------------- 15 rocks ----------------------------------- 8 Selected references ---------------------------- 16 ILLUSTRATIONS [Plates are in pocket} PLATE 1. Map showing extent of Ogallala Formation and Glorieta Sandstone and equivalents in the Oklahoma Panhandle and adjoining areas. 2. Geologic sections A-A' and B-B' of the Oklahoma Panhandle and adjoining areas. 3. Geologic section C-C' of the Oklahoma Panhandle. 4. Hydrologic map of the Oklahoma Panhandle and adjoining areas. Page FIGURE 1. Index map showing location of report area and relative positions of some of the principal tectonic features ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 2. Representative electric logs of wells showing- geologic correlations in the Oklahoma Panhandle ___ 4 3. Correlation chart showing geologic nomenclature ------------------------------------------- 5 4. Schematic diagram showing how waste water might enter a fresh-water aquifer through ab1.n- doned wells ------------------------------------------------------------------------·--- 14 TABLES Page TABLE 1. Chemical analyses of ground water---------------------------------------------------------- 18 2. Information on wells or well sites where permits have been granted for injection into He Glorieta Sandstone -------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 III Hydrogeologic Information on the Glorieta Sandstone and the Ogollalr Formation in the Oklahoma Panhandle and adioining areas os relate~ to underground waste disposal By James H. Irwin and Robert B. Morton Abstract surface of water in the Glorieta-needs to be collected The Oklahoma Panhandle and adjacent areas in and analyzed before conclusions can be drawn regard Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico have ing the possibility of vertical movement of oil-field prospered because of the development of supplies of brines from the Glorieta to fresh-water aquifers above. fresh water and of oil and gas. The Ogallala and, in INTRODUCTION places, Cretaceous rocks produce fresh water for irri gation, public supply, and domestic and stock use The development of the natural resources of through approximately 9,000 irrigation and public southwestern Kansas, the Oklahoma and Texas supply wells and a large but undetermined number of Panhandles, and the adjacent areas of Color:ado other wells. Disposal of oil-field brine and other wastes and New Mexico during the past few decades into the Glorieta Sandstone is of concern to many local residents because of the possibility of pollution of the has brought a rich and thriving economy to the overlying fresh-water aquifers, particularly the Ogal area. Oil and gas development brought vitality lala Formation. Permits for 147 disposal wells into and wealth. The development of large quantities the Glorieta have been issued in this area. of water suitable to irrigate the semiarid land This report summarizes the data on geology, hydro and to serve its population has led to a booming logy, and water development currently available to the U.S. Geological Survey. Geologic information indicates agricultural and cattle-ranch economy. that, in the report area, the Glorieta Sandstone lies But, as so often is the case, progress through at depths ranging from about 500 to 1,600 feet below this development and beneficial use of natural the base of the Ogallala Formation. The rocks between resources has generated problems-pri11 c-ipally, those two formations are of relatively impermeable potential depletion of the resources and possible types, but solution and removal of salt has resulted in collapse of the rocks in some places. Collapse and adverse effects of wastes. Thus, among all who fracturing of the rocks could result in increased verti develop the land and its resources the"·e is a cal permeability. This might result in movement of common concern to protect, where necessary, brine under hydrostatic head from the Glorieta Sand as well as to develop. In the area of .thir report stone into overlying fresh-water aquifers, in places the practice of disposal of certain wastes by where an upward hydraulic gradient exists or is created by an increase in pressure within the Glorieta. injection into the earth has been citE'd as a Abandoned or inadequately sealed boreholes also are possible threat to overlying fresh groun~-water possible conduits for such fluids. supply. The anxiety of those who der~nd on The mixing of water in the fresh-water aquifers this water has demonstrated the need for more with brines injected into the Glorieta is not known to geologic and hydrologic data pertinent to the have occurred anywhere in the report area, but the problem. information available is not adequate to show posi tively whether or not this may have occurred locally. Of immediate concern to many is the ouestion Much additional information on the stratigraphy and of whether or not injection of oil-field brines hydrology-particularly, data on the potentiometric into the Glorieta Sandstone will poll·1te the 1 fresh water of the Ogallala Formation and Mexico, has conducted studies of the fresh other fresh-water aquifers that lie several hun water aquifers, principally the Ogallala For dred feet above the Glorieta Sandstone. The mation, in most of the report area. Most of purpose of this report is to summarize the these studies have been published and are listed geologic and hydrologic data concerning the in the selected references. relation of the Glorieta Sandstone to the Ogal This report, therefore, is based on data from lala Formation that are currently available to published reports of the U.S. Geological Survey the U.S. Geological Survey. and State agencies; data from tl'~ files of the The scope of the report is limited because no district offices of the Water Resources Division detailed study of the geology and hydrology of of the U.S. Geological Survey in the five States; the Glorieta Sandstone (or its equivalent strata and information obtained from records of the known by other names) in the report area Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the Okla has been made. The U.S. Geological Survey, in homa Geological Survey, the OkJahoma Water cooperation with various State agencies in Resources Board, the Texas Railroad Commis Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New sion, the Kansas State Board of Health, and 102° 100° 98° 40° -------- KANSAS 38° 0 36° OKLAHOMA TEXAS 34° 200 MILES FIGURE !.-Location of report area (shaded) and relative positions of some of the principal te~~tonic features. 2 numerous oil companies that operate in the south-central Oklahoma. Over most of the re area. Acknowledgment is due these State port area, the rocks described occur at rela agencies and oil companies, the Texas County tively shallow depths and are relatively undis Irrigation Association, the North Plains Irriga turbed; consequently, the prevailing dip at tion District, Dumas, Tex., and many others shallow depth is to the southeast at an average for their help in compiling these data. Special rate of 1° or less. recognition is due Peter R. Stevens, Austin, Tex., and Roy H. Bingham, Donald L. Hart, Jr., SUBSURFACE ROCKS and Richard P. Orth, Oklahoma City, Okla., for During studies being conducted by the U.S. their invaluable assistance in compiling data Geological Survey in cooperation with the Ok and preparing this report. lahoma Water Resources Board in the Okla The report limits were selected to include the homa Panhandle, a series of geologic sections area where