Petroleum Potential of the Palo Duro Basin, Texas Panhandle

Deep Borehole Disposal Research: Geological Data Evaluation Alternative Waste Forms and Borehole Seals

“…Note that the Pantex Plant site lies within a northwest-southeast trending zone of lower magnetic strength. This is consistent with structural interpretation of drilling data by Dutton et al (1982) that a downdropped, fault bounded block of the Precambrian basement adjacent to the Amarillo Uplift exists in the subsurface in this area (see Figure 2 -16). No clear correspondence exists between the aeromagnetic map and the lithologic interpretation of the crystalline basement shown in Figure 2-13.…”

“…Although the Amarillo Uplift extends farther to the west in northern Carson County, the gravity anomaly associated with the basement rocks becomes more muted because of greater depths and structural complexity. The generally lower isostatic residual gravity values correspond to the Anadarko, Palo Duro, and Dalhart Basins containing significant thicknesses of Dutton et al (1982) of a structural low in the Precambrian unconformity in this area. Figure 2-16 shows the structural contour map on the top of the crystalline basement in a portion of the Texas Panhandle from Dutton et al (1982).…”

“…The generally lower isostatic residual gravity values correspond to the Anadarko, Palo Duro, and Dalhart Basins containing significant thicknesses of Dutton et al (1982) of a structural low in the Precambrian unconformity in this area. Figure 2-16 shows the structural contour map on the top of the crystalline basement in a portion of the Texas Panhandle from Dutton et al (1982). The central axis of the Amarillo Uplift is well delineated by the borehole data in southern Wheeler, central and southern Gray, and northern Carson Counties, which indicate a fairly regular basement surface along the core of the Uplift.…”

“…The Pantex Plant site is located in this more structurally complex region on the southern margin of the Amarillo Uplift. The structural interpretation of Dutton et al (1982) indicates that most of the Pantex site is located within a northwest trending downdropped block, although no data are shown on the site and nearby borehole data are sparse. However, using the map shown in Figure 2-16 the estimated depth to crystalline basement varies from about 6,400 ft (1,960 m) in the southwest corner of the site to about 8,700 ft (2,650 m) in the northwest corner.…”

“…Lithologic terrane map of the crystalline basement, Texas Panhandle. The Pantex Plant boundary is shown with the solid red line in western Carson County (Dutton et al 1982) ..........................................................................................…”