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Title: Extent of water-rock interactions in Lower Permian Wolfcamp carbonates, Palo Duro Basin, Texas

Abstract

A laterally-extensive permeable zone in upper Wolfcampian carbonate strata constitutes the first important transmissive unit below a thick evaporite sequence that is being considered for nuclear waste isolation. The extent of water-rock interaction was evaluated by comparing the chemical and isotopic composition of formation water and core collected at four DOE test wells. Wolfcamp mineralogy is dominantly calcite and dolomite with minor anhydrite at each of the four sites despite minor variations in depositional environment, diagenetic alteration, and abundance of clastic material. Isotopic compositions of calcite and dolomite and of anhydrite are within the ranges expected for Permian marine sediments altered by early diagenesis. Wolfcamp formation water compositions are more variable than host rock compositions, and are not completely controlled by local water-rock equilibria. Wolfcamp brines from two wells in the western part of the basin have depleted isotopic compositions relative to the two eastern wells and have not equilibrated with Wolfcamp carbonates, whereas the eastern fluids have. Strontium in the western samples is more radiogenic than that of the eastern samples, indicating a greater influence of clays or feldspars on the western fluids. Comparison of water and rock compositions suggests: (1) the western brines have interacted less with themore » carbonate host than the eastern brines due to shorter residence times or greater water: rock ratios, and (2) the minerals encountered along flow paths prior to entering the Wolfcamp are different for the western and eastern Wolfcamp brines.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Texas, Austin (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6611314
Report Number(s):
CONF-8510489-
Journal ID: CODEN: GAAPB
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; CARBONATE ROCKS; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; DIAGENESIS; ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS; PALO DURO BASIN; RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES; SITE CHARACTERIZATION; BRINES; CALCITE; DOLOMITE; GEOCHEMISTRY; GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS; ISOTOPE RATIO; MINERALOGY; OXYGEN ISOTOPES; PERMIAN PERIOD; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; STRONTIUM ISOTOPES; SULFUR ISOTOPES; TEXAS; ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES; ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS; CALCIUM CARBONATES; CALCIUM COMPOUNDS; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBONATE MINERALS; CARBONATES; CHEMISTRY; FEDERAL REGION VI; GEOLOGIC AGES; ISOTOPES; MAGNESIUM CARBONATES; MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS; MANAGEMENT; MINERALS; NORTH AMERICA; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PALEOZOIC ERA; PERMIAN BASIN; ROCKS; SEDIMENTARY ROCKS; USA; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; 580300* - Mineralogy, Petrology, & Rock Mechanics- (-1989); 580400 - Geochemistry- (-1989); 052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage

Citation Formats

Fisher, R S, and Posey, H H. Extent of water-rock interactions in Lower Permian Wolfcamp carbonates, Palo Duro Basin, Texas. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Fisher, R S, & Posey, H H. Extent of water-rock interactions in Lower Permian Wolfcamp carbonates, Palo Duro Basin, Texas. United States.
Fisher, R S, and Posey, H H. 1985. "Extent of water-rock interactions in Lower Permian Wolfcamp carbonates, Palo Duro Basin, Texas". United States.
@article{osti_6611314,
title = {Extent of water-rock interactions in Lower Permian Wolfcamp carbonates, Palo Duro Basin, Texas},
author = {Fisher, R S and Posey, H H},
abstractNote = {A laterally-extensive permeable zone in upper Wolfcampian carbonate strata constitutes the first important transmissive unit below a thick evaporite sequence that is being considered for nuclear waste isolation. The extent of water-rock interaction was evaluated by comparing the chemical and isotopic composition of formation water and core collected at four DOE test wells. Wolfcamp mineralogy is dominantly calcite and dolomite with minor anhydrite at each of the four sites despite minor variations in depositional environment, diagenetic alteration, and abundance of clastic material. Isotopic compositions of calcite and dolomite and of anhydrite are within the ranges expected for Permian marine sediments altered by early diagenesis. Wolfcamp formation water compositions are more variable than host rock compositions, and are not completely controlled by local water-rock equilibria. Wolfcamp brines from two wells in the western part of the basin have depleted isotopic compositions relative to the two eastern wells and have not equilibrated with Wolfcamp carbonates, whereas the eastern fluids have. Strontium in the western samples is more radiogenic than that of the eastern samples, indicating a greater influence of clays or feldspars on the western fluids. Comparison of water and rock compositions suggests: (1) the western brines have interacted less with the carbonate host than the eastern brines due to shorter residence times or greater water: rock ratios, and (2) the minerals encountered along flow paths prior to entering the Wolfcamp are different for the western and eastern Wolfcamp brines.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6611314}, journal = {Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 17,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}

Conference:
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