SURFACE AND SHALLOW OIL-IMPREGNATED ROCKS AND SHALLOW …repository.icse.utah.edu/dspace/bitstream/... · SURFACE AND SHALLOW OIL-IMPREGNATED ROCKS AND SHALLOW OIL FIELDS IN THE UNITED

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MONOGRAPH 12

BUREAU OF MINES

SURFACE AND SHALLOW OIL-IMPREGNATED ROCKS AND SHALLOW OIL FIELDS IN THE UNITED STATES

'y?ff

COMPILED BY BALL ASSOCIATES, LTD.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF MINES

in cooperation with

INTERSTATE OIL COMPACT COMMISSION

Monograph 1Z

Bureau of Mines

S U R F A C E A N D S H A L L O W O I L - I M P R E G N A T E D R O C K S A N D S H A L L O W O I L F I E L D S

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S

C O M P I L E D B Y B A L L A S S O C I A T E S , L T D ,

PROPERTY OF UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGfCAl SURVEY

This repor t p r e s e n t s the r e s u l t s of a survey conducted in 196^5 by Ball Assoc ia te s , Ltd. , Denver , Colo. , on behalf of the Joint Commit tee on Pe t ro l eum- Impregna ted Rocks of the In t e r s t a t e Oil Compact Commiss ion and the Bureau of Mines and Geological Survey, U. S. Department of the In te r io r .

MEMB

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF MINES

Publ i shed by: INTERSTATE OIL, COMPACT COMMISSION

H e a d q u a r t e r s Office 900 Nor theas t 23rd St ree t

P. O. Box 53127 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 7310 5

L ib ra ry of Congress Catalog Card No. 65-60063 Date: 1965

i i

321

REFERENCES (Con.)

15. Phi l l ips , W. B. Coal, Lignite and Asphalt Rocks. Texas Univ. Miner . Survey Bull. 3, 1902, pp. 77-106.

16. Railroad Commiss ion of Texas . Annual Rept. of Oil and Gas Division, Austin, T e x a s , 1963.

17. Se l la rds , E. H. , and C. L. Baker . The Geology of Texas . Univ. Texas Bull . 3401, v. 2, S t ruc tura l and Economic Geology (exclusive of Pet ro leum) pt. 3, 1934, pp. 253-256.

18. Stenzel, H. B. , and o the r s . Asphalt and Related Bi tumens . Univ. Texas Pub. 4824, 1948, pp. 21-30.

19. Stratton, J. L. An Asphalt Deposit in Anderson County, Texas . Bureau of Economic Geology, Univ. Texas , Open Fi le Rept. , 1942.

20. T e r r y , W. M. The Natural Asphalts and Asphalt Rocks of Texas . M a s t e r ' s T h e s i s , Open F i l e , Univ. of Texas , Austin, Texas , 1942, 68 pp.

21. Udden, J. A. , and o the r s . Review of the Geology of Texas . Univ. Texas Bull. 44, 1916, pp. 147-156.

22. Vaughan, T. W. Asphalt Deposits of Western Texas . U. S. Geol. Survey, 18th Annual Rept. , pt. V, 1896-97, pp. 930-935.

23. . Uvalde Folio No. 66. U. S. Geol. Survey, Geological At las , 1900, p. 5.

24. Youngmayer, R. F. , and R. I. J indra . Nacogdoches Field, Texas . Univ. Texas Pub. 5116, 1951, pp. 247-249.

UTAH

SURFACE AND SHALLOW PETROLEUM-IMPREGNATED ROCKS

KEY TO FIGURE 36

Boxelder County

1. Rozel

Duchesne County

2. Tabiona

3. Lake Fork-Yel lowstone

4. Spring Branch

5. John S ta r r Flat

6. Argyle Canyon (Lake Canyon, Indian Canyon)

Uintah County

-hfl. Whiterocks

8. South Whiterocks

322

i BOX ELDER

1 -

I TOOELE

\ CACHE \R1<

s \

,/wEBER J 1 J

\ \ /SUMMIT

\ -7 >. s X-'SALT L A K E I '

W Y O M I N G

I DAGGETT

W A

' . I 1 I A R

\ UTAH

)

/ — ' J WASATCH

1. ̂

K

~ ^ - ~ ^ U INTAH DUCHESNE ! ~

2. 5* {8 '> (0>»

1 !

[14

MS

2 M I L L A R D

1 GRAND

I2^ |

15!

M _'^_1.I! ,_^M

LEGEND

32 9 PETROLEUM-IMPREQNATED ROCK

/?) GENERAL AREAS

10 20 30 40 50

FIGURE 36. - Occurrence of Petroleum-Impregnated Rocks in Utah

323

KEY TO FIGURE 36 (Con. )

9. Deep Creek Nose

Asphalt Ridge

11. Red Wash

: ~)12. Raven Ridge X O-

13. Chapita Wells

14. Myton Bench (partly in Duchesne County)

15. Dragon-Asphal t W a s h / & f^lt)

16. Seep Canyon

17. Hill Creek

Carbon County

—4s' 1 8. Sunnyside

Grand County

-,4'19. P. R- Springs (Pear Springs) (partly in Uintah County)

20. Salt Wash

21. Tenmile Wash

Emery County

22. San Rafael Swell

Wayne County \

23. Sweetwater Dome (partly in E m e r y County)

24. Capitol Reef

-•$['25. Elate r i te Basin

Garfield County

J; 26. Hatch Canyon

27. The Cove

28. Circle Cliffs

San Juan County

29. White Canyon

30. Mexican Hat

324

KEY TO FIGURE 36 (Con.)

Washington County

31. Virgin River

32. Hurr icane Fault

UTAH

Summary

Pe t ro l eum- impregna ted outcrops a re widespread throughout e a s t e r n Utah and less so in the wes and southwest. Within and around the per iphery of the Uinta Basin, in the nor theas t a r e grouped some the best known "tar sands" in the United States , including the Sunnyside, Asphalt Ridge, and Whiterock deposi t s . These and others in the Uinta Basin have been studied in substant ia l detail and have long bee; considered among the significant r e s e r v e s of pe t ro leum- impregna ted rock in the United States . Less v known, but probably of equal or g rea t e r impor tance , a re widely-dis t r ibuted deposi ts in southeas te rn Ut mainly along the flanks of b reached anticl ines such as the San Rafael Swell and the C i rc le Cliffs Uplift.

The well-known Rozel asphal t deposits near Great Salt Lake have only a li t t le assoc ia ted impre j nated rock, incidental to the asphal t itself.

Several repor ted impregnated outcrops a r e neighter shown on figure 36 nor descr ibed la te r because too lit t le is known about their c h a r a c t e r s and locat ions. Among these a r e an asphal t ic l imestoi repor ted by Abraham (1, p. 164) and Barb and Ball (4, p. 13) as underlying a very la rge a r e a , eas t fro Thistle to Antelope Creek and from Colton to the S t rawberry River , and an asphal t ic l imestone near the town of Clear Creek (1 , p. 162). Oi l - impregnated Paleozoic formations a r e repor ted in severa l mounta ranges of wes te rn Millard and Juab Counties in western Utah, but with too l i t t le information to help loc; these possible deposits on the map.

Rese rve figures a r e published only for the Whiterocks, Asphalt Ridge, Sunnyside, and P. R. Springs deposi ts . These total 1,900 million to 4, 600 million b a r r e l s of bitumen in place. (Another, re< es t imate by Covington (12) is substantial ly lower . )

In Uintah and Duchesne Counties locations within the a r e a of the Uintah Special Base and Meridit survey a r e designated "USM" in this repor t . Locations in these and adjacent counties but not in the Uin survey a r e shown as "SLM" (Salt Lake Base and Meridian). The Salt Lake Base and Meridian covers tl r es t of the State.

ROZEL (1)

Location

On the nor theas t shore of Great Salt Lake, in T 8 N, R 7 W, Boxelder County.

Descript ion

Mounds of pe t ro l eum-sa tu ra t ed oolitic sand and clay along the lake shore . The bitumen is aspha and t a r r y oil from Quaternary (Salt Lake Group?) sediments .

The a r ea of o i l - impregnated rock is very smal l .

Development His tory

The seeps were known before 1900. Small amounts of asphal t have been mined and shipped from the a r e a , and smal l quanti t ies of oil have been produced from seve ra l of the 20 or m o r e wells in the a re

Reserve

No published information.

325

ROZEL (1) (Con. )

Additional Information

The asphalt and oil have many unusual chemical p r o p e r t i e s . Carbon 14 dating places the age of the asphalt as 4,000 y e a r s .

Classif icat ion

Occur rence , minor .

References

Boutwell (6)

Eardley and Haas (13)

Slentz and Eardley (31)

TABIONA (2)

Location

Southeast of Hanna and north of Tabiona, in the S 1/2 sec 17, T 1 S, R 7 W (USM), Duchesne County.

Descr ipt ion

Sandstone and conglomerates of the basa l Cur ran t Creek Format ion (Upper Cre taceous -Pa leocene) impregnated with asphalt along an unconformable contact with the underlying Mesaverde Format ion (Upper Cretaceous) . The a r e a l extent of the severa l deposits is smal l . The thickest observed impregnat ion is not over 25 feet.

Development History

None.

Rese rve


None.


Covington (10, p. 245)


Class i f icat ion

Reference

LAKE FORK - YELLOWSTONE (3)

Location

Between Lake Fork and Yellowstone C r e e k s , in sees 5 and 6, T I N , R 4 W (USM), Duchesne County.

326

LAKE FORK - YELLOWSTONE (3) (Con.)

Descript ion

Three or 4 b i tumen- impregnated sandstones in the Eocene Uinta River Format ion , cropping-out the divide between the 2 c r e e k s . The impregnated sandstones a r e 15 to 20 feet thick; the impregnation repor ted as poor. One porous , pe rmeab le sandstone flows bitumen from a f ractured zone.

Development History

The deposit has been cored and investigated for paving ma te r i a l by county au thor i t ies . No deve] opment is repor ted .

Reserve



Another deposit is noted by Covington in sec 33, T 2 N, R 4 W, a short dis tance nor theas t .

Classif icat ion


Reference

Covington {10_, p. 245)

SPRING BRANCH (4)

Location

Northwest of Neola, in the NW 1/4 NE 1/4 sec 24, T 2 N, R 3 W (USM), Duchesne County.

Descript ion

A "dry oil sand" exposure (Kinney, 23).

Development History

None.

Reserve



Covington repor t s he was unable to find this deposit .

Classif icat ion


References


Kinney (24, p. 150)

327

JOHN STARR FLAT (5)

Location

Northwest of Neola, in the NW 1/4 NE 1/4 sec 24, T 1 N, R 3 W (USM), Duchesne County.

Descr ip t ion

An asphal t - impregnated sandstone in the basa l Duchesne River Format ion (Oligocene) cropping out over a small a r ea . The impregnated sandstone is about 70 feet thick, and the outcrop is sharply l imited on the northwest by a small nor theas t - s t r ik ing fault. Migrat ion of oil up the fault apparent ly accounts for the deposit.

Development History

None.


Rese rve


The S ta r r Flat oilfield (1 producing well) is 3 mi l e s nor th -nor theas t . Thick asphal t - impregnated conglomerates were penetrated in the Green River Format ion from 7,000 to 11,000 feet.

Class i f ica t ion

Reference

Occurrence , minor .


ARGYLE CANYON (6) (Lake Canyon, Indian Canyon)

Location

Twenty mi les east of Soldier Summit, in Ts 6 and 7 S, R 7 W (USM), and T 11 S, R U E (SLM), Duchesne County.

Descr ip t ion

Sandstones in the basal Green River Fo rma t ion (Eocene), variably aspha l t - impregna ted over a substantial outcrop in Argyle Canyon, and in Indian and Lake Canyons to the north. Area l extent and continuity a re not known. The sandstone is r epor ted to contain 8 to 10 percent bitumen by weight.

Development History

This deposit was mined for paving m a t e r i a l in the ea r ly 1900's. The product was called "argul i te . ' No recent activity is recorded .

Rese rve



Army Map Service , 1:250,000, P r i c e sheet (N-J 12-2) shows Argyle Creek as Argule Creek. Covington descr ibes the outcrop as bituminous l imes tone , apparent ly in e r r o r .

328

ARGYLE CREEK (6) (Con.) (Lake Canyon, Indian Canyon)

Bituminous sandstone in the Eocene Colton Format ion , intertongued with Green River Formation is repor ted in T 11 S, R 10 E, southwest of the main outcrop.

Classif icat ion

Occur rence , possibly commerc i a l .

References

Intermountain Assoc. Pe t ro l . Geologists (21, p. 220)

Barb and Ball (4, p. 13)


WHITEROCKS (7)

Location

North of Whiterocks, in sees 17, 18, and 19, T 2 N, R 1 E (USM), Uintah County.

Descr ipt ion

Extensive asphalt impregnation of the J u r a s s i c Navajo Sandstone, on the c r e s t of a broad, s t eep-plunging anticlinal nose known as Whiterocks Anticline. The Navajo and other Mesozoic Format ions dip 55 to 65 degrees southeast into the Uinta Basin. The deposit extends for about 1. 4 miles along the beds which s t r ike N 65° E. The outcrop is l imited on the west by overlapping Duchesne River Format ion (Oligocene) and is sharply cut off on the eas t by a normal fault and s imi l a r overlap of Te r t i a ry beds.

The Navajo Sandstone is 900 to 1,000 feet thick and a lmost completely sa tura ted throughout; the degree of impregnat ion var ies inversely with poros i ty . One local , thin zone, ex t remely hard and tight, is ba r r en . The sandstone averages about 10 percen t bitumen by weight and yields an oil of about 12° API gravity. Core analyses of represen ta t ive sandstone beds range from 14 to 19 percent porosi ty with permeabi l i ty of 110 to 550 mi l l ida rc ies .

Several workers have postulated var ious sources and modes of migra t ion to account for the deposit; source suggestions range from the Paleozoic Weber and P a r k City Format ions to the Eocene Green River Format ion. Complex faulting and the ex t reme steep dip of the deposit preclude any single, s imple explanation. The evidence favors a combination of sources and modes of migra t ion and emplacement .

Development History

Tunnels and shafts have been dug to explore the deposit as a source of liquid bitumen and for paving ma te r i a l . At leas t 6 wells have been dr i l led nearby to find liquid pe t ro leum. No development activity is repor ted at p resen t .

Rese rve

Severy es t imates r e s e r v e s of 9. 52 mil l ion b a r r e l s of liquid bitumen "in sight, " with possible g rea t e r yields at depth. Covington (10, p. 237), using well and surface data, e s t imates r e s e r v e s at 50 million b a r r e l s .


Covington mis loca tes the deposit in T 2 N, Rs 1 and 2 W (USM), Uintah County.

329

Reserve , known commerc ia l .

WHITEROCKS (7) (Con.)

Classif icat ion

References

Covington (10, pp. 237-239, 241-243)

Kinney (24)

Prui t t (27, p. 18)

Severy (29)

SOUTH WHITEROCKS (8)

Location

North of Whiterocks, in the SE 1/4 sec 19. T 2 N, R 1 E (USM), Uintah County.

Descr ipt ion

A smal l , isolated outcrop of "fairly dry" (Covington, 10) bituminous sandstone, 2 mi les south of the main J u r a s s i c Sandstone deposi ts . The bed's thickness is l e ss than 15 feet; the impregnation is in the basal Duchesne River Format ion (Oligocene).


Reserve


Classif icat ion

None.


None.


Reference

DEEP CREEK NOSE (9)

Location

T 2 N, Rs 1 and 2 E (USM) and the SW 1/4 T 3 S, R 19 E (SLM), Uintah County.

Descr ipt ion

Oligocene Duchesne River sandstones and conglomera tes lying unconformably on Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale and heavily impregnated with v iscous , asphal t ic oil, on the c r e s t of Deep Creek anticline. The impregnation extends intermit tent ly about 2 mi les along the outcrop. The oil source is probably the organic Green River shales and mar l s tones , downdip from the accumulat ion.


330

DEEP CREEK NOSE (9) (Con. )


None.

Reserve

No published information; the r e s e r v e is believed smal l .


The deposit appears to be a northwest extension of the Asphalt Ridge deposit .

Classif icat ion


References

Covington (10, pp. 244-245)

Kinney (24, p. 150)

ASPHALT RIDGE (10)

Location

West to southeast of Vernal , from sec 25, T 4 S, R 20 E, southeast about 15 mi les into T 6 S, R 22 E (SLM), Uintah County.

Descr ipt ion

Southwest-dipping sandstones along the north flank of the Uinta Basin, heavily impregnated with asphalt and asphalt ic oil along the outcrop. The impregnat ion is in sandstones of the Rim Rock and Asphalt Ridge Members of the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Format ion and in sandstones and conglomerates of the Oligocene Duchesne River Format ion .

More than half of the es t imated r e s e r v e is in the Rim Rock Member , somewhat l ess than half in the Duchesne River Format ion, with smal l r e s e r v e s in the Asphalt Ridge Member (Covington, 10). The impregnat ion dec reases to the southeast . The impregnated outcrop ends abruptly against a c ro s s fault on the northwest .

The Mesaverde Format ion dips southwest, 13 to 30 d e g r e e s , with dip general ly s teeper to the southeast . The unconformable Duchesne River Format ion general ly dips 4 to 10 degrees l e s s than the Mesaverde . The unconformity cuts-out severa l thousand feet of lower T e r t i a r y formations (Wasatch, Green River , and Uinta) which typically separa te the 2 fo rmat ions , he r e in contact. The angle of unconformity l essens to tha southeast , where a na r row band of Uinta Fo rma t ion sepa ra te s the Duchesne River and Mesaverde .

Covington (10, p. 237) bel ieves the asphalt originated in the bas inward , organic Green River shale and mar l s tones which grade into sandstones in a shoreward (east) d i rec t ion . With downwarp of the basin and differential uplift along the flanks, oil mig ra ted up along pe rmeab le beds and planes of unconformity, losing its m o r e volatile constituents as i t moved.


The Asphalt Ridge deposits have long been the source of paving m a t e r i a l for Uintah County and pr ivate con t rac to r s ; most of it is used locally. As ear ly as 19 H wells were dr i l led for oil downdip from the r idge. About 15 such t es t s have been dr i l led without s u c c e s s .

331

ASPHALT RIDGE (10) (Con.)

Since the late 1940's extensive surface mapping, co re dr i l l ing, and other testing have been undertaken by pr iva te companies and government agencies to de te rmine the poss ib le economic value of the deposi ts . As recently as I960 Standard Oil Company of Ohio (Sohio) had extensive plans to exploit the deposi ts , but execution has been postponed.

Reserve

Spieker es t imates the amount of liquid bitumen at 1, 1 50 mil l ion b a r r e l s , conceding that the amount might be " nea r e r 2 ,000,000,000 b a r r e l s than 1,000,000,000 and may be even g rea t e r . " Covington cons i de r s the billion b a r r e l figure as excess ive . The deposit appea r s to rank close to the Sunnyside, Utah, deposits in potential r e s e r v e .


An extensive l i t e ra tu re exists relat ing to sampling, tes t ing, and p rocess ing these and s imi lar asphalt ic sandstones . The following references re la te most ly to descr ip t ive geology, r e s e r v e s , and development.

Classif icat ion

Rese rve , known commerc ia l .

References

Covington (9)

Covington (10, pp. 225-237)

Pru i t t (27_, pp. 13-17)

Shea, Higgins, Wenger, Hubbard, and Whisman (30)

Spieker (33, p. 97)

Walton (37)

RED WASH (11)

Location

Eas t of Vernal , in the SE 1/4 T 4 S, R 23 E (SLM), Uintah County.

Descr ip t ion

Seams of bituminous ma te r i a l and sca t te red outcrops of l imes tones impregnated with asphalt , in the upper P a r k City Format ion (Permian) in Red Wash Canyon, west of Split Mountain Gorge, in Dinosaur National Monument.


None.

Rese rve



None.

332

RED WASH (11) (Con.)

Classification


References

Prui t t (27, p. 19)

Untermann and Untermann (36, p. 102)

RAVEN RIDGE (12)

Location

Northwest of Rangely, Colo. , in T 6 S, Rs 24 and 25 E, and T 7 S, R 25 E (SLM), Uintah County.

Descr ipt ion

Deltaic sandstones in the lower Green River Format ion (Eocene), var iably impregnated with asphalt about 6 mi les along Raven Ridge. The bluff faces nor theast and the beds dip southwest 1 6 to 18 degrees . Much of the impregnated sand is "dry. " Six to 8 asphalt ic sandstone beds , 2 to 10 feet thick a r e repor ted .

The asphal t probably migra ted updip from the Green River Format ion organic shales and m a r l -stones which interf inger with the shorel ine deltaic sandstones exposed on Raven Ridge.

Development History

Sporadic a t tempts have been made to use the deposi ts , pr incipal ly for local paving.

Reserve



The deposit extends southeast into Colorado.

Classification


References


Pru i t t (27, p. 19)

CHAPITA WELLS (13)

Location

West of Bonanza, at the common co rne r of Ts 8 and 9 S, Rs 22 and 23 E (SLM), Uintah County.

Descript ion

Asphalt impregnat ion in fluviatile sandstones of the Uinta River Format ion (Eocene). Several beds a r e highly impregnated , mos t a r e lean and dry . The impregnat ion may resu l t from oil or other liquid hydrocarbons migra t ing upward along faults or f rac tures from the Eocene Green River Format ion .

CHAPITA WELLS (13) (Con.)

333

Development History

None.

Reserve

No published information. The r e s e r v e is believed smal l .


None.

Classification

Occur rence , inadequate information.

* Reference


MYTON BENCH (14)

Location

South of Myton, from the SE 1/4 T 4 S, R 3 W (USM), east through T 8 S, Rs 16, 17, and 18 E (SLM), to T 4 S, R 2 E, Duchesne and Uintah Counties.

Descript ion

Lenticular sandstones of the Eocene Uinta Format ion , variably impregnated , many with "d ry" t a r (Covington). The deposits a r e in the cent ra l Uinta Basin, south of and updip from the Duchesne fault zone, and close to the Par ie t te gi lsoni te-vein complex. The a r e a l extent of the impregnated sandstone is cons iderable , but the impregnat ion is repor ted to be highly var ied and light. The most concentra ted and continuous outcrops a re to the eas t , in Uintah County.

None.


None.

Development History

Reserve


Classif icat ion


References


Ball Assoc ia tes , Ltd. , open file.

334

DRAGON-ASPHALT WASH (15)

Location

Southwest and west of Dragon, in the E 1/2, T 12 S, R 24 E, and the W 1/2, T 12 S, R 25 E (SL Uintah County.

Descript ion

Porous sandstones in the Eocene Green River Format ion , var iably impregnated with asphal t and asphalt ic oil. The deposits a r e near the camp of the Black Virgin Gilsonite Mine and a r e in contact wit updip from a nor thwest- t rending gilsonite vein. The vein appears to be the source of the asphal t ic mat< ial. One heavi ly- impregnated sandstone, about 25 feet thick, is repor ted . The r e s t a r e l ess impregna

None.


None.

Development History

Reserve


Classification



Reference

SEEP CANYON (16)

Location

East of Main Canyon, in sees 12 and 13, T 14 S, R 22 E (SLM), Uintah County.

Descript ion

Sandstones in the lower unit of the Parachute Creek Member of the Eocene Green River Format ] heavily impregnated with asphalt in a canyon t r ibu tary to the main Seep Canyon. The sandstones a r e below the main oil shale body in the Green River Format ion .

None.


Development History

Reserve


The occur rence is s imi la r to the P. R. Springs and Hill Creek depos i t s .

335

SEEP CANYON (16) (Con.;

Classif icat ion


Reference


HILL CREEK (17)

Location

On Hill Creek , in sec 19, T 14 S, R 20 E (SLM), Uintah County. ^^ ^c^fl'&^S JW, 2# $ 3cJ\

Descr ipt ion

Asphalt impregnat ion in sandstones of the lower unit of the Parachute Creek Member of the Eocene Green River Format ion , a few feet to a hundred feet below the middle Parachute Creek Member , the principal oil shale unit of the Green River Format ion .

None.

Development History

Reserve



The deposit is s imi l a r to the P. R. Springs and Seep Canyon occu r r ences .

Classif icat ion


Reference


SUNNYSIDE (18)

Location

North to eas t of Drager ton , in T 12 S, R 12 E, for 20 mi les into T 15 S, R 14 E (SLM), Carbon County.

Descr ip t ion

Sandstones in the upper thi rd of the Wasatch Format ion and in the lower Green River Format ion (both Eocene) heavily aspha l t - impregna ted for m o r e than 9 mi les along the southwest-facing Book Cliffs, in the southwest Uinta Basin. They a r e 9,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level .

Asphalt impregna tes sandstones 10 to 350 feet thick, in the upper 1,000 feet of the Wasatch and lower 400 feet of the Green River . The formation boundary is t rans i t iona l through severa l hundred feet, the interval of t rans i t ion from dominantly-f luviat i le sediments in the Wasatch to dominant ly- lacus t r ine sediments in the Green River .

336

SUNNYSIDE (18) (Con.)

The asphalt ic beds a re mostly sandstones but a few l imestones and sandy l imes tones a r e also sa turated. Close to 95 percent of the calculated and es t imated r e s e r v e s of the Sunnyside deposits a r e in the Wasatch Format ion, a lmost all in sands tones .

The s t ruc tu re is essent ia l ly a homocline; the beds dip 3 to 10 degrees nor theas t into the Uinta Basin, uncomplicated by faulting or dip r e v e r s a l s .

Development History

The deposits were mined from 1892 to about 1894, from 1902 to 1903, and from 1915 to about 191 Between 1927 and 1948 operat ions were m o r e or l e s s continuous, and mining has been intermit tent since then. An es t imated 750,000 tons of asphal t ic sandstone, averaging about 10 percent bitumen by weight, has been mined and shipped as paving m a t e r i a l . The ma te r i a l is c rushed and used for surfacing without further t r ea tmen t .

Except for exper imental work and pilot tes t ing, no sys temat ic at tempt to ex t rac t the bitumen fron the sandstone has been made . Exper iments and proposa ls have included various types of mining and pro cessing and in-s i tu recovery methods .

Rese rve

Holmes and Page es t imate 728 mil l ion b a r r e l s of bitumen a r e p resen t , excluding beds l ess than 10 feet thick, and rock assumed to contain l e s s than 9 percent bitumen. Thei r es t imate a lso a rb i t r a r i l y l imited the r e s e r v e downdip from the outcrops in the cliffs.

The asphal t - impregnated beds a r e known to p e r s i s t for some distance downdip, beyond the a rb i t r ; boundary assumed by Holmes and Page . Separa te but re la ted deposits a r e also known northwest and sout east along the Book Cliffs. If these uncalculated r e s e r v e s a r e added to the below-grade r e s e r v e s , not included by Holmes and Page , the total r e s e r v e is possibly 2. 5 to 3 billion b a r r e l s .


No concer ted effort has been made to dr i l l for oil downdip. Only 1 shallow well is on record; it did not penet ra te the upper Wasatch section.

Classif icat ion

Rese rve , known commerc i a l .

References

Barb and Ball (4)

Clark (8)

Holmes and others (19)

Holmes and Page (20)

Shea, Higgins, Wenger, Hubbard, and Whisman (30)

P. R. SPRINGS (19) (Pea r Springs)

Location

Twenty mi les northwest of Harley Dome, in Ts 15 and 16 S, Rs 23 and 24 E (SLM), Grand and Uintah Counties.

337

P. R. SPRINGS (19) (Con.) (Pear Springs)

Descr ip t ion

Asphal t - impregnated sandstones of the upper Eocene Wasatch Format ion , in the southeast Uinta Basin. The grea tes t impregnation is on the c r e s t s of gentle , northwest-plunging anticl ines in beds with high poros i t ies and permeabi l i t i e s . Saturated beds m o r e than 250 feet thick a re known. Two pr incipal beds, 30 to 85 feet thick, have been mapped in detai l . The impregnat ion dec rea se s to the west. The main deposit covers 1,730 a c r e s .

None.


Rese rve

The deposit is es t imated to contain 87 mil l ion b a r r e l s of bi tumen.


None.

Classif icat ion

References

Occurrence , possibly commerc ia l .

Ball (1, pp. 15-18)


SALT WASH (20)

Location

Southeast of Green River , in the NW 1/4 sec 35, T 22 S, R 17 E, Grand County.

Descr ip t ion

A sandstone in the Salt Wash Member of the J u r a s s i c M o r r i s o n Format ion , o i l - impregnated in a cliff face.


None.


Rese rve


Nearby drilling about 1912 encountered no o i l - impregna ted sand at depth.

Class i f ica t ion

Occurrence , minor .

338

SALT WASH (20) (Con. )

Reference

McKnight (25, p. 132)

TENMILE WASH (21)

Location

South of Crescen t Junction, in and near the NE 1/4 sec 35, T 23 S, R 18 E, Grand County.

Descr ipt ion

Sandstone in the Moab Tongue and upper Ent rada Sandstone (Jurass ic ) variably impregnated with oil. The oi l - impregnated rock is in l e n s e s , 5 to 10 feet thick and a few hundred feet long.

None.


None.


Reserve



McKnight (25, p. 135)

Class i f icat ion

Reference

SAN RAFAEL SWELL (22)

Location

Throughout much of southern Emery County.

Descr ipt ion

Many oi l - impregnated outcrops . The San Rafael Swell is a broad, ovate uplift 70 mi les long, from northeast to southwest, and 30 mi les wide at i ts widest . The Coconino Sandstone (Permo-Pennsylvanian) is exposed in the core of the s t ruc tu re and a magnif icent ly-displayed section of younger rocks crops out around the flanks. The Swell contains numerous o i l - impregna ted outcrops , none descr ibed adequately as to location or cha rac t e r . Many of these a r e r epor ted to be l a rge and thick.

Deposits a re repor ted in the -

Coconino Sandstone (Permo-Pennsy lvan ian) Kaibab Limestone (Permian) Sinbad Limestone Member of the T r i a s s i c Moenkopi Format ion Shinarump Conglomerate (Tr iass ic ) Moss Back Sandstone (Tr iass ic ) Chinle Format ion (Tr iass ic ) Wingate Sandstone (Tr i a s s i c ) .

339

SAN RAFAEL SWELL (22) (Con.)

Baker desc r ibes an occur rence in the lower Moenkopi, in Black Dragon Canyon, on the east flank.

Reserve



Intimate associat ion between oil impregnat ion and u ran ium minera l i za t ion occurs in the Temple Mountain mining dis t r ic t on the east flank of the Swell; u ran ium minera l iza t ion occur red f i rs t , followed by pet ro leum impregnation at a la ter date.

Classif icat ion

Occur rence , possibly commerc ia l .

References

Baker (2, p. I l l )

Er ickson, Meyers , and Horr (14)

Gilluly (_1_5, p. 128)

Hess (18)

Kelley and Ker r (23)

Robeck (28)

Stokes and Cohenour (35, pp. 23, 50, and 51)

SWEETWATER DOME (23)

Location

Fifteen miles northeast of Hanksvil le, in Ts 26 and 27 S, Rs 13 and 14 E (approximately), Emery and Wayne Counties.

Descr ipt ion

Pet rol i ferous accumulations at the base of the Cur t i s Fo rma t ion and the top of the Entrada Sandstone ( Jurass ic ) , at severa l places in the vicinity of Sweetwater Dome, a broad anticl ine.



Rese rve



None.

340

SWEETWATER DOME (23) (Con.)

Classif icat ion


Reference

Baker (2, p. 112)

CAPITOL REEF (24)

Location

West and south of Frui ta , in Ts 29 and 30 S, Rs 5 and 6 E, Wayne County.

Descript ion

Asphal t - impregnated sandstone and l imes tone , asphalt in blebs , coat ings, and veins, and pe t ro l i ferous sandstone, in -

Sandy l imestone and sandstones in the Kaibab Format ion (Permian) Limestone in the Sinbad Member of the Moenkopi Format ion (Tr iass ic ) Sandstone in the lower par t of the upper unit of the Moenkopi.

Most of the occurrences a re concentrated on the c r e s t and the north flank of Teasdale Anticline. Miner ' s Mountain is the topographic express ion of this b reached s t r u c t u r e . The most extensive pe t ro l i ferous deposits a re in the sandstones cf the Kaibab and upper unit of the Moenkopi.

None.

NG i .ubl i ;

None.


Reserve


Classif icat ion


References

Er ickson, Meyers and Horr (14, p. 2207)

Smith, Huff, Hinr ichs , and Luedke (32, pp. 9, 12)

ELATERITE 3ASIN (25)

Location

West of Ela ter i te Butte, in T 30 S, R 17 E (approximately) , Wayne County.

341

ELATERITE BASIN (25) (Con. )

Descr ip t ion

Oil seeps and sa tura ted outcrops of the Cedar Mountain Sandstone Member and the White Rim Sandstone Member of the P e r m i a n Cutler Format ion . A black, asphal t ic substance seeps from the White Rim Member in the basin west of Ela te r i te Butte, between Horse and Big Water Canyons.



Rese rve



None.

Classif icat ion


Reference

Baker (2, p. 107, 111)

HATCH CANYON (26)

Location

At the main fork of Hatch Canyon, in T 31 S, R 14 E, Garfield County.

Descr ipt ion

Pe t ro l eum-sa tu r a t ed lower T r i a s s i c Moenkopi Format ion .



Rese rve



None.

Classif icat ion


Reference

Baker (2, p. H I )

342

basin.

THE COVE (27)

Location

In "The Cove, " in T 32 S, R 15 E, Garfield County.

Descript ion

Lower par t of the Moenkopi Format ion (Tr i a s s i c ) , sa tura ted with pe t ro leum in this topographic

Development History



None.

Reserve


Classif icat ion


Reference

Baker (2, p. I l l )

Cent ra l Garfield County.

CIRCLE CLIFFS (28)

Location

Descr ipt ion

Oi l - impregnated rocks on Circ le Cliffs Anticline.

Ci rc le Cliffs Anticline is a conspicuously-exposed s t ruc tu re about 60 mi l e s long, from north to south, and 8 to 30 mi les wide. The eas t e rn flank coincides with the Waterpocket Fold.

Oil impregna tes the outcrops of -

Shinarump Conglomerate (Tr iass i c )

Shinarump sandstones a r e locally impregnated throughout the s t r u c t u r e . The impregnat ion is conspicuous in a sandstone lens where Muley Twist Canyon en te r s the Waterpocket Fold. Another noted impregnat ion is at a seep nor theas t of "The Peaks . "

Moenkopi Format ion (Tr iass ic )

Middle sandstone member displays oil impregnat ion over mos t of the southern par t of the s t ruc tu re .

Kaibab Format ion (Permian)

Black hydrocarbon fills vugs and pore spaces in the upper l imes tone member northwest of "The Peaks . "

343

CIRCLE CLIFFS (28) (Con.)

Development History

No published information. Many of the deposits have been studied coincident with uranium exploration.

Rese rve



None.

Classif icat ion


References

Gregory and Moore (17, plate 31)

Steed (34, p. 100)

WHITE CANYON (29)

Location

East of Hite, in Ts 34 and 35 S, Rs 14 and 15 E and nearby, in San Juan County.

Descr ipt ion

Pet ro l i fe rous sandstone in the Organ Rock Tongue of the P e r m i a n Cut ler Format ion and in the basal conglomerate of the T r i a s s i c Moenkopi Format ion .

Development History


Rese rve



This is the White Canyon uranium mining d i s t r i c t .

Classif icat ion


Reference

Er ickson, Meyer s , and Horr (14, p. 2207)

344

MEXICAN HAT AREA (30)

Location

At and near Mexican Hat, in Ts 40, 41 , and 42 S, Rs 17, 18, and 19 E, San Juan County.

Descript ion

Conspicuous oil impregnat ion and oil seeps in sandstones , sandy l imes tones , and porous and f rac tured l imes tones of the Rico Format ion (Permo-Pennsylvanian) and He rmosa Format ion (Pennsyl-vanian) in the San Juan River canyon, in and around the Mexican Hat oilfield and downst ream to the west. Many of the o i l - impregnated rocks a r e b iohermal ree fs . The surface evidences of oil led to the discover of the Mexican Hat oilfield in 1908. The b ioherm impregnat ions have been studied extensively in oil exploration, beginning in the late 1940's.

Development History

Reserve


Classif icat ion

References

No development of record .


None.

Occu r r ence , minor .

Gregory (1 6)

Mise r (26)

Wengerd (38)

VIRGIN RIVER (31)

Location

At Virgin, in sees 28 and 29, T 41 S, R 12 W, Washington County.

Descript ion

Light asphal t impregnation in sandy and porous beds of the Timpoweap Limestone Member of the T r i a s s i c Moenkopi Format ion .

Development History

None.

Reserve


345

VIRGIN RIVER (31) (Con.)


Scat tered asphalt impregnat ion is a lso repor ted in the Moenkopi and Shinarump Format ions (Tr iass ic) he r e . Local i t ies a r e not specified.

Classif icat ion


References

B a s s l e r and Reeside (J>, p. 95)

Bruhn, E l i a s , and Van de Graaf (7, p. 209)

HURRICANE FAULT (32)

Location

East of St. George , in Ts 42 and 43 S, R 13 W, Washington County.

Descript ion

Oi l - impregnated beds along the Hurr icane Fault . Five to 7 mi les south of H u r r i c a n e , the top of the T r i a s s i c Moenkopi Format ion is stained with oil. At 6 mi les south, the impregnat ion includes the upper 20 feet of the sandstone. This bed is approximately the zone producing r e s e r v o i r in the Virgin oi l field, 10 mi les nor thwest .

None.


None.


Reserve


Classif icat ion


Reference

Bas s l e r and Reeside (5, pp. 104-105)

BOX ELDER \

Proc

^CACHE

\ /

\ J /wEBER ) )

/' —^^"/" V ^ - - " O A V I S ^ M O R ( S A ~ - r

- " \ \ /"SUMMIT

\

WYOMING I DAGGETT

X/5ALT LAKE C"• UINTAH /"

\UTAH

/ " ' J WASATCH

'.JIJAR

) 'A { K

DUCHESNE "U

c-< | MILLARD

< >| Ul| Z l

..J

fSANPETE ] \

\'\ I J L_

EMERY

' Dr^

r* ••SEVIER

— -p r i 4 sGRAND

i

<

k PIUTE

\ / WAYNE

IROf JSARFII

J SAN JUAN

\

1

/ J

F ~vr'

y WASHINGTON ]_

~~L. . i 1 KANE

_S .J*. N. MEX.

LEGEND

2 # SHALLOW OILFIELD 10 0 10 20 30 40 50

FIGURE 37. - Occu r r ence of Shallow Oilfields in Utah

347

TABLE 15. - Utah oilfields shallower than 500 feet

Map Code

County:Field Format ion Age

Washington

Virgin

San Juan

Moenkopi

2 Mexican Hat (San Juan) Rico

References

T r i a s s i c

Pennsylvanian

Depth, feet

447

Format ion Oil Discovery th ickness , gravi ty, date feet

200

A P I

31

39

1907

1908

International Oil Scouts Associat ion (21)

Miser (26, p. 142)

\y

3.

. 4 .

6.

8.

9.

10.

1 1 .

> *

REFERENCES

Abraham, Herbe r t . Asphalts and Allied Substances . V. 1. D. Van Nostrand Co. , New York, 6th ed. , I960, 370 pp.

Baker , A. A. Geology of the Green River D e s e r t - C a t a r a c t Canyon Region, E m e r y , Wayne, and Garfield Count ies , Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull . 951 , 1946, 122 pp.

Ball , Max W. Oi l - Impregnated Strippable Deposits in Utah, May 22, 19 50, in The Synthetic Liquid Fuel Potent ia l of Utah. Ford , Bacon & Davis, Inc. , rept . for BuMines, app. D, 1951, pp. 1-18 with 7 exhibi ts .

Barb , C. F. , and J. O. Ball . Hydrocarbons of the Uinta Basin of Utah and Colorado; Review of Geology and Field Work by C. F. Barb ; Survey of Bitumen Analyses and E x t r a c tion Methods by J. O. Bal l . Colorado Sch. Mines Quar t . , v. 39, No. 1, 1944, 115 pp.

B a s s l e r , H. , and J. B. Reeside . Oil P rospec t s in Washington County, Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 726, 1921.

Boutwell, J. M. Oil and Asphalt P r o s p e c t s in Salt Lake Basin, Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 260, 1904, pp. 470-473.

Bruhn, A. F. , D. W. E l i a s , and F. Van de Graaf. Road Log No. 2, in Guidebook to the Geology of Southwestern Utah. In te rmt . Assoc . P e t r o l . Geol. , 1963, p. 209.

Clark , F. R. Economic Geology of the Cas t lega te , Wellington and Sunnyside Quadrangles , Carbon County, Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 793, 1928, pp. 1-26.

Covington, R. E. The Bituminous Sandstones of the Asphalt Ridge Area , Nor theas te rn Utah, in Guidebook to the Geology of the Uinta Bas in . In te rmt . Assoc . Pe t ro l . Geol. , 1957, pp. 172-175.

Bituminous Sandstone and Limestone Deposits of Utah, in Oil and Gas P o s s i b i l -i t ies of Utah, Re-evaluated . Utah Geol. and Miner . Survey Bull. 54, 1963, pp. 225-247.

Bituminous Sandstones in the Uinta Basin, in Guidebook to the Geology and Mineral Resources of the Uinta Basin, In te rmt . Assoc . Pe t ro l . Geol. , 1964, pp. 227-242.

Covington, R. E. T h e r m a l Recovery May Bring Indus t ry ' s "Quiet Revolution. " Oil and Gas J. , v. 62, No. 47, pp. 112-118.

REFERENCES (Con. )

Eardley , A. J. , and M. Haas . Oil and Gas Poss ib i l i t ies in The Grea t Salt Lake Basin . Utah. Acad. Sci. P r o c . , v. 13, 1963, pp. 61-80.

Er ickson , R. L. , A. T. Myers , and C. A. Horr . Associat ion of Uranium and Other Metals With Crude Oil, Asphalt , and Pet rol i ferous Rocks. Am. Assoc . Pe t ro l . Geol. Bul l . , v. 38, 1954, pp. 2200-2218.

Gilluly, J. Geology and Oil and Gas Prospec t s of P a r t of the San Rafael Swell, Utah, U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 806, 1929, pp. 66-130.

Gregory , H. E. The San Juan Oil Field, San Juan County, Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull 431, 1909, pp. 11-25.

Gregory, H. E. , and R. E. Moore. The Kaiparowitz Region. U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 164, 1931, 161 pp.

Hess , F. L. Uran ium-Bear ing Asphalti te Sediments of Utah. Eng. and Min. J. , v. 114, No. 7, 1922, pp. 272-276.

Holmes , C. N. , B. M. Page , and P. Averi t t . Geology of the Bituminous Sandstone Deposits near Sunnyside, Carbon County, Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Oil and Gas Invest. Map 86, 1948.

Holmes, C. N. , and B. M. Page . Geology of the Bituminous Sandstone Deposits near Sunnyside, Carbon County, Utah, in Geology and Economic Deposits of Eas t Cent ra l Utah, In termt . Assoc . Pe t ro l . Geol. 1956, pp. 171-177.

Intermountain Associat ion of Pe t ro leum Geologists . Road Log in Guidebook to the Geolog' of the Uinta Basin. 1957, p. 220 (mile 79. 4).

International Oil Scouts Associat ion. International Oil and Gas Development, v. 33, pt. 2 Ybk. (Review of 1962) 1963, pp. 69-76.

Kelley, D. R. , and P. F. K e r r . Urano-organic Ore at Temple Mountain, Utah. Geol. S Am. Bul l . , v. 69, 1958, pp. 701-755.

Kinney, D. M. Geology of the Uinta R ive r -Brush Creek Area , Duchesne and Uintah Counties, Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1007, 1955, 185 pp.

McNight, E. T. Geology of an Area Between Green and Colorado R ive r s , Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 908, 1940(1941), 147 pp.

Mise r , H. D. Geologic St ruc ture of the San Juan Canyon and Adjacent Country. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 751-D, 1924, pp. 115-155.

P ru i t t , R. G. , J r . The Mineral Resources of Uintah County. Utah Geol. and Miner . Survey Bull. 71 , 1961, 101pp .

Robeck, R. C. Uranium Deposits of Temple Mountain, in Geology of Por t ions of the Higl P la teaus and Adjacent Canyon Lands, Centra l and South-Central Utah. In te rmt . Assoc . Pe t ro l . Geol. Guidebook, 1954, pp. 110-111.

Severy, C. L. White rocks River Bituminous Sandstone Deposit. BuMines unpublished rept . , December 1943.

Shea, G. B. , R. V. Higgins, W. J. Wenger, R. L. Hubbard, and M. L. Whisman. Separat ion and Utilization Studies of Bitumens from Bituminous Sandstones of the Vernal and Sunnyside, Utah, Deposi ts . BuMines Rept. of Inv. 4871, 1952, 28 pp.

349

REFERENCES (Con. )

Slentz, L. W. , and A. J. Eard ley . Geology of Rozel Hil ls , in Geology of P a r t s of Nor thwestern Utah, Guidebook to the Geology of Utah No. 11, Utah Geol. Soc. , 1956, pp. 32-40.

Smith, J. F. , J r . , L. C. Huff, E. N. Hinr ichs , and R. G. Luedke. Geology of the Capitol Reef Area , Wayne and Garfield Count ies , Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 363, 1963, 102 pp.

Spieker, E. M. Bituminous Sandstone near Vernal , Utah. U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 822-c , 1930, pp. 77-100.

Steed, Robert H. Geology of Ci rc le Cliffs Anticline, in Geology of Por t ions of the High Pla teaus and Adjacent Canyon Lands, Centra l and South-Central Utah. In termt . Assoc . Pe t ro l . Geol. Guidebook, 1954, pp. 110-111.

Stokes, W. L. , and R. E. Cohenour. Geologic Atlas of Utah, Emery County. Utah Geol. and Miner. Survey Bull. 52, 1956, 92 pp.

Untermann, G. E. , and B. R. Untermann. Geology of Dinosaur National Monument and Vicinity, Utah and Colorado. Utah Geol. and Miner. Survey Bull. 42, 1954, 228 pp.

Walton, P. T. Geology of the Cre taceous of the Uinta Basin. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. , v. 55, 1944, pp. 91-130.

Wengerd, S. A. Geology of the Mexican Hat Oil Fie ld , San Juan County, Utah, in Geology of P a r t s of Paradox , Black Mesa and San Juan Bas ins . Four C o r n e r s Geol. Soc. Guidebook, 1955, pp. 150-163.

WEST VIRGINIA

OILFIELDS SHALLOWER THAN 500 FEET

Summary

There a r e no confirmed, surface o i l - impregnated rocks in West Virginia.

Shallow oilfields, producing from l e s s than 500 feet, a r e confined to the west, in P l e a s a n t s , Wood, Ritchie, Wirt, and Cabell Counties . F igure 38 shows the 5 known.

TABLE 16. - West Virginia oilfields shal lower than 500 feet

Map County:Field Fo rma t ion Age Depth, Format ion Oil Discovery Code feet th ickness , gravi ty, date

feet ° API

P leasan t s

1 St. Marys Horseneck Pennsylvanian 400 16-22 41-43 1868

2 Horseneck Horseneck Pennsylvanian 185-330 41.8 1868

Wood-Ritchie

3 V o l c a n o Sa l t S a n d P e n n s y l v a n i a n 3 60 10-50 5 0 - 4 2 1860

J

/

3X"

38.

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