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Concentrated Subsurface Brines in the Moab Region Utah

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Concentrated Subsurface Brines in the Moab Region Utah CONCENTRATED SUBSURF ACE BRINES IN THE MOAB REGION, UTAH Utah Geological and lvlineralogical Survey Special Studies 13 UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL SURVEY 103 Civil Engineering Building University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL SURVEY since 1949 has been affiliated with the College of Mines and Mineral Industries at the University of Utah. It operates under a director with the advice and counsel of an Advisory Board appointed by the Board of Regents of the University of Utah from organizations and categories specified by law. The survey is enjoined to cooperate with all existing agencies to the end that the geological and mineralogical resources of the state may be most advantageously investigated and publicized for the good of the state. The Utah Code, Annotated, 1953 Replacement Volume 5, Chapter 36, 53·36-2, describes the Survey's functions. Official maps, bulletins, and circulars about Utah's resources are published. (Write to the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey for the latest list of publications available). THE LIBRARY OF SAMPLES FOR GEOLOGIC RESEAij.CH. A modern library for strati­ graphic sections, drill cores, well cuttings, and miscellaneous samples of geologic significance has been established by the Survey at the University of Utah. It was initiated by the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey in cooperation with the Departments of Geology of the universities in the state, the Utah Geological Society, and the Intermountain Association of Petroleum Geologists. This library was made possible in 1951 by a grant from the University of Utah Research Fund and by the dona­ tion of collections from various oil companies operating in Utah_ The objective is to collect, catalog, and systematically file geologically significant specimens for library reference, comparison, and research, particularly cuttings from all important wells driven in Utah, and from strategic wells in adjacent states, the formations, faunas, and structures of which have a direct bearing on the possibility of finding oil, gas, salines or other economically or geologically significant deposits in this state. For catalogs, facilities, hours, and service fees, contact the office of the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey. THE SURVEY'S BASIC PHILOSOPHY is that of the U. S. Geological Survey, i.e., our employees shall have no interest in Utah lands. For permanent employees this restriction is lifted after a 2-year absence; for consultants employed on special problems, there is a similar time period which can be modified only after publication o£ the data or after the data have been acted upon. For con­ sultants, there are no restrictions beyond the field of the problem, except where they are working on a broad area of the state and, here, as for all employees, we rely on their inherent integrity. DIRECTORS: William P. Hewitt, 1961- Arthur L. Crawford, 1949-1961 CONCENTRATED SUBSURFACE BRINES IN THE MOAB REGION, UTAH by E. Jay Mayhew Edgar B. Heylmun View east from Dead Horse Point. Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey affiliated with The College of Mines and Mineral Industries University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah SPECIAL STUDIES 13 • PRICE $1.50 • JUNE,1965 UNIVERSITY OF UTAH James C. Fletcher, Ph. D., President BOARD OF REGENTS Royden G. Derrick Chairman Carvel Mattsson Vice Chairman Reed W: Brinton Member Edward W. Clyde Member Wilford W. Clyde Member John A. Dixon, M.D. Member Richard L. Evans Member Mitchell Melich Member Mrs. Blanche T. Miner Member John L. Strike Member Briant H. Stringham Member Alan E. Brockbank Member James C. Fletcher President, Univ. of Utah, Ex-officio Member Clyde L. Miller Secretary of S ta te, Ex-officio Member Glan M. Hatch Pres. Alumni Assoc. , Ex-officio Member George S. Eccles Treasurer Rulon L. Bradley Secretary UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL SURVEY ADVISORY BOARD John M. Ehrhorn, Chairman U . S. Smelting, Refining, & Mining Co. Ballard H. Clemmons U.S. Bureau of Mines R. LaVaun Cox Utah Petroleum Council Armand J. Eardley University of Utah L.W. Folsom Mountain Fuel Supply Co. Dale A. Hauck LA.P.G., Texaco Inc. Lowell S. Hilpert United States Geological Survey Lehi F. Hintze Brigham Young University Walker Kennedy Utah-Wyo. Coal Oper. Assoc. , Liberty Fuel C Ezra C. Knowlton Utah Sand and Gravel Products Corp. E. Jay Mayhew Apex Exploration Co. Roy E. Nelson American Gilsonite Co. Dean F. Peterson Utah State University Miles P. Romney Utah Mining As sociation Clair M. Senior (decea sed) Attorney, Senior and Senior Nels W. Stalheim Federal Resources Department William L. Stokes University of Utah Richard S. Stone U.S. Steel Corporation Al vin J. Thuli A. I. M . E ., Kennecott Copper Corp. J. Stewart Williams Utah State University STAFF William P. Hewitt Director Robert E. Cohenour Research Geologist Edgar B. Heylmun Petroleum Geologist Neva E. Nielsen Secretary Kay C. Hughes Bookkeeper Merriam F. Bleyl Editorial Assistant TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION . 5 S TRATIG RAPHY . • . 5 STRUCTURE ................................................... 6 EVAPORITE MINERALS ........................................... 8 BRINE ZONES .................................................. 8 BRINE FLOWS . 9 BRINE PRODUCTION ............................................ 12 BRINE ANALYSES. .. 13 BRINE WELLS .................................................. 23 CONCLUSIONS. 25 SELECTED REFERENCES. • . • . • . .. 27 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Regional map of southeastern Utah showing approximate edge of salt deposition ..••.......•..........•......••. 4 Figure 2. Log of Southern Natural Ga s No. 1 Long Canyon .•.••. (in pocket) Figure 3. Moab Region, structure contours on top of clastic zone 31 ......................................... (in pocket) Figure 4. Detail log of clastic zone 31, Southern Natural Gas No.1LongCanyon .................................... 10 Figure 5. Total solids - Mississippian 22 Figure 6. Total solids - Pennsylvanian 24 Figure 7. Magnesium - Pennsylvanian. • . •. • . •. 26 3 rg-­ <!II~ 0:: o CASTLE DALE 'i~ SA N oS""oS "-\'''4 RAFAEL o THOMPSON C'~ CISCO 0 ". -"0. CRESCENT JeT. SWELL I I \ ~-- I CLIFFS ~ I o O( CF UPLIFT } I I L-- GARFIELD co. KANE COUNTY \ ""MONUMENT ANETH OIL 10 20 30 ______________ UTAH MILES ..... -------------------------------------ARIZONA Figure 1. Regional map of southeastern Utah showing approximate edge of salt deposition. 4 CONCENTRATED SUBSURFACE BRINES IN THE MOAB REGION, UTAH by E. Jay Mayhew 1 and Edgar B. Heylmun 2 INTRODUCTION Wells drilled for oil and gas in the Paradox Basin of Utah have encountered su­ persaturated brines in rocks of Pennsylvanian, Mississippian, and Devonian age. Analyses indicate commercial possibilities for the extraction of mag­ nesium, potassium, bromine, boron, lithium, and other minerals from the brines, particularly in the central part of the basin. Partial analyses of over 200 brine samples from various wells drilled for oil, gas, and brine in southeastern Utah were used in formulating this report. The analyses were performed by chemists of the U. S. Geological Survey and of various oil company and consulting laboratories. STRATIGRAPHY Surface rocks in the region are marine and continental deposits of Permian, Tri­ assic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous age which have been eroded into the color­ ful canyonlands characteristic of southeastern Utah. In the subsurface, Pennsylvanian rocks are thick and well developed, dominated by the great mass of cyclically deposited halite, anhydrite, and potash salts in the Paradox Formation. Because of this thick salt development, geologists refer to the region as the Paradox Basin, although there is no surface ex­ pression of such a large and prominent basin (Figure 1). Depths to the base of the Paradox Formation range from 3, 500feet to over 15, 000 feet, depend­ ing on the structural and topographic location. The Paradox Formation is restricted almost entirely to the subsurface, cropping out only in the cores of salt anticlines in the eastern part of the region and in Cataract Canyon along the Colorado River. The Paradox evaporite section in the central part of the basin ranges from less than I, 000 feet to over II, 000 feet in thick­ nes s, and contains much of the potential mineral wealth of the region. Figure 2 shows a typical gamma ray-neutron log of the Paradox salt section in the Moab region, with salt beds and clastic breaks numbered both according to Hite (1960) and to industry's usage. A few score feet below the Paradox Formation are the widespread and homogeneous Mississippian limestones and dolomites which are noted for local porosity development. The Mississippian section offers an excellent reservoir for 1. Consulting geologist, Moab, Utah. 2. Geologist, Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. 5 brine production, should such brines prove commercial. The lower part of the Paleozoic section, consisting of Devonian and Cambrian strata, has been penetrated by a number of wells. Only the McCracken Sandstone, the basal Devonian formation in the region, holds much interest for brine poten­ tial in the lower Paleozoic section. Most of the other units lack sufficient porosity and permeability to be adequate reservoirs for brine accumulation. Formation tops in the Big Flat area, 12 miles west of Moab, are as follows: Jurassic Kayenta Fm. Surface Wingate Ss. 230 feet Triassic Chinle Fm. 560 Moenkopi Fm. 895 Permian Cutler Fm. 1,410 Rico Fm. 2,175 Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Fm. } 2,700 Paradox Salt
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