Water resources and potential hydrologic effects of oil-shale development in the southeastern Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6410104

Lindskov, K L; Kimball, B A

Proposed oil-shale mining in northeastern Utah is expected to impact the water resources of a 3000-square-mile area. This report summarizes a comprehensive hydrologic investigation of the area. Hydrologic information obtained during 1974 to 1980 was used to evaluate the availability of water and to evaluate the potential impacts of an oil-shale industry on the water resources. The study area is the southeastern part of the Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado, where the hydrology is extremely variable. The normal annual precipitation averages 11 inches and varies with altitude. An oil-shale industry in the southeastern Uinta Basin with a peak production of 400,000 barrels of oil per day would require a water suppy of about 70,000 acre-feet per year. Sources of water supply considered for such an industry were: diversion from the natural flow of the White River, a proposed reservoir on the White River, diversion from the White River combined with proposed off-stream storage in Hells Hole Canyon, diversion from the Green River, and conjunctive use of ground and surface water. 55 refs., 20 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Reston, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6410104
• Report Number(s): USGS-PP-1307; ON: TI86900263
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
041000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
COLORADO
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SHALE INDUSTRY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
UTAH
WATER
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESOURCES