Regional sand distribution of the Frio Formation is determined; depositional environments are identified; and the geopressured zone and its relationship to sand/shale distribution, growth faults, and fluid temperatures in the Middle Texas Gulf Coast are delineated. (MHR)
Three forms of potential geothermal energy may exist in the State of Texas: hot rocks in the Trans Pecos region, convection type geothermal water in the Rio Grande Rift basin, and geopressured geothermal water along the Gulf Coast. Of these, only the geopressured waters have been verified. Exploration wells for oil and gas have established the presence of deep hot water deposits along the coastal area, offshore and inland for 75 miles. These exist in thick shale and sand beds in the geopressured zone. The most favorable area appears to be at depths of 12,000 to 15,000 feet where the temperatures range from 300 to 400/sup 0/F. Indications are that a series of relatively small, 10 to 50 megawatt, power plants could be located along the coastal plain of Texas. These plants could produce at least 20,000 megawatts and possibly as much as 100,000 megawatts under the most favorable conditions. Cost of the power appears to be in the range of 25 to 35 mills per kilowatt hour in 1980 providing the water is saturated with natural gas which could be sold to offset some of the cost. If the gas is present, at least 6 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas would be produced. Unit capital investment for such plants would exceed projected costs for nuclear or fossil fueled power plants. Successful development of a demonstration plant with public funds could establish the viability of geopressured waters as a source of power and natural gas and encourage private investment to exploit this energy source, should it prove competitive with other sources of electric power generation.
The development of field analytical and sampling equipment and techniques for the location of anomalies in surface water, stream sediments, and ground water which may indicate uranium deposits of commercial interest are summarized. Orientation studies are designed to identify the most effect hydrogeochemical, computational, and analytical techniques for reconnaissance survey. Nine orientation studies are in progress in Georgia, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas and the results obtained to date are reported. The equipment for neutron activation analysis of samples is complete and other analytical methods are being evaluated. Data management, analysis, and interpretation techniques are under development. (JSR)
Various geologic and hydrologic parameters are evaluated in relation to assessing the potential for repository storage of high-level radioactive wastes within several stratigraphic sequences dominated by chalks and chalky limestones. The former lithology is defined as a carbonate rock consisting mainly of very fine-grained particles of micritic calcite. Although chalks also contain coarser-grained particles such as shells of fossil foraminifera and non-calcitic minerals like quartz, most contain more than 90 percent micritic material. The latter represents broken fossil coccolith plates. The chalk-dominated formations discussed are exposed and underlie two different physiographic provinces which nevertheless display a general similarity in both being regions of extensive plains. The Niobrara Formation occurs mainly within the Great Plains province, while the Austin Chalk of Texas and the Selma Group of Alabama and Mississippi are located in the western and eastern Gulf Coastal Plain, respectively. The preliminary assessment is that chalk-bearing sequences show some promise and are deserving of added consideration and evaluation. Containment for hundreds of thousands of years would seem possible given certain assumptions. The most promising units from the three studied are the Niobrara Formation and Selma Group. Regional and local conditions make the Austin more suspect.
A proposed two-well stimulation test to be carried out in Sutton County, Texas is described. Work will be performed in the lenticular tight sand formation of the Val Verde-Kerr Basin to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of chemical explosive fracturing as a method of increasing gas deliverability in that formation. The purpose of the project's experimental design, which calls for the testing of two separate wells using different techniques, would be to obtain the maximum amount of information relating to the most effective method of stimulating this particular reservoir. Results will permit the direct comparison of the different completion techniques. Also the testing of more than one well in a given area will allow for the collection of complementary data with regards to the characteristics of the reservoir and the experimental results from the explosive stimulation. The environmental effects of the project are assessed. (JRD)
A preliminary study of the Frio sand distribution and formation temperatures and pressures was undertaken in order to define prospective areas in which a more detailed reservoir analysis is necessary prior to the selection of a site for a geothermal well. As a result two potential geothermal fairways were identified--one in the south part of the area in Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron Counties, and the other in the north part in north-central Nueces County.
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