Gas in Delaware and Val Verde basins, West Texas and southeastern New Mexico

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1968 · Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5750050

Hills, J M

The Delaware and Val Verde basins are in the SE. part of the Permian basin of W. Texas and SE. New Mexico. They have a combined surface area of about 21,000 sq miles and contain about 54,000 cu miles of possibly gas-bearing sedimentary rocks. Exploration for oil in this area began in the early part of the century, but only in the last 10 yr have market conditions justified the search for gas alone. In much of the basin area, Ellenburger dolomite of Early Ordovician and Cambrian age rests on the Precambrian basement, although on the southeast, clastic beds of Cambrian age intervene. The Ellenburger rocks contain some of the largest gas reserves in the region. Middle and Upper Ordovician strata are present in most of the basin area. Devonian and Silurian and carbonate rocks are important gas-yielding reservoirs. Above the Woodford shale, which lies on the Devonian carbonate beds, are the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian systems. All series of the Pennsylvanian produce gas somewhere in the basins; the Morrow, Canyon, and Cisco are the most important. (39 refs.)

• Research Organization: Texas Univ, El Paso
• OSTI ID: 5750050
• Journal Information: Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 2:9; ISSN MAPGA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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