Concealed evaporite basin drilled in Arizona

Journal Article · Mon Oct 21 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Oil and Gas Journal

OSTI ID:382945

Rauzi, S L ^[1]

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1. Arizona Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ (United States)

The White Mountains of Arizona are a high forested plateau underlain by volcanic rocks of Late Pliocene and Quaternary age on the south margin of the Colorado plateau province. Elevations range from 6,000--11,590 ft, with winter snow and summer rain but ideal conditions for much of the year. There was no evidence of a Permian evaporite basin concealed beneath the White Mountain volcanic field until 1993, when the Tonto 1 Alpine-Federal, a geothermal test well, was drilled. This test did not encounter thermal waters, but it did encounter a surprisingly thick and unexpected sequence of anhydrite, dolomite, and petroliferous limestone assigned to the Supai (Yeso) formation of Permian age. The Tonto test was continuously cored through the Permian section, providing invaluable information that is now stored at the Arizona Geological Survey in Tucson. The paper describes the area geology and the concealed basin.

• OSTI ID: 382945
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 43 Vol. 94; ISSN 0030-1388; ISSN OIGJAV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
ARIZONA
DIKES
DRILL CORES
EVAPORITES
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATORY WELLS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
STRATIGRAPHY
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WELL DRILLING