Organic geochemistry of deep ground waters from the Palo Duro Basin, Texas: implications for radionuclide complexation, ground-water origin, and petroleum exploration
This report describes the organic geochemistry of 11 ground-water samples from the Palo Duro Basin, Texas and discusses the implications of their organic geochemical compositions in terms of radionuclide complexation, ground-water origin, and the petroleum potential of two candidate repository sites in Deaf Smith and Swisher Counties. Short-chain aliphatic acid anions are the principal organic constituents present. Stability constant data and simple chemical equilibria calculations suggest that short-chain aliphatic acids are relatively weak complexing agents. The extent of complexation of a typical actinide by selected inorganic ligands present in these brines is expected to far outweigh actinide complexation by the aliphatic acid anions. Various lines of evidence suggest that some portion of the bromide concentrations in the brines is derived from the same source as the short-chain aliphatic acid anions. When the postulated organic components are subtracted from total bromide concentrations, the origins of the Palo Duro brines, based on chloride versus bromide relationships, appear largely consistent with origins based on isotopic evidence. The short-chain aliphatic acid anion content of the Palo Duro brines is postulated to have been much greater in the geologic past. Aliphatic acid anions are but one of numerous petroleum proximity indicators, which consistently suggest a greater petroleum exploration potential for the area surrounding the Swisher County site than the region encompassing the candidate site in Deaf Smith County. Short-chain aliphatic acid anions appear to provide a useful petroleum exploration tool as long as the complex reactions that may dimish their concentrations in ground water are recognized. 71 refs., 10 figs., 10 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, OH (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10140
- OSTI ID:
- 6423994
- Report Number(s):
- BMI/ONWI-578; ON: DE86004900
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Background radiation in two locations in Deaf Smith and Swisher Counties within the Palo Duro Basin
Identification of sites within the Palo Duro Basin. Volume 1. Palo Duro Location A. [Contains glossary, Deaf Smith site]
Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
BRINES
ORIGIN
GROUND WATER
GEOCHEMISTRY
ORGANIC ACIDS
PALO DURO BASIN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
ANIONS
COMPLEXES
CORRELATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
TEXAS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DATA
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IONS
METALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMIAN BASIN
RESOURCES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
USA
WATER
580400* - Geochemistry- (-1989)
020200 - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage