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Fact Sheet 2013–3047

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Chemistry and Age of Groundwater in the Piceance Structural Basin, Rio Blanco County, Colorado, 2010–12

By P.B. McMahon, J.C. Thomas, and A.G. Hunt

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (4.07 MB)Abstract

Fourteen monitoring wells were sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, to better understand the chemistry and age of groundwater in the Piceance structural basin in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, and how they may relate to the development of underlying natural-gas reservoirs. Natural gas extraction in the area has been ongoing since at least the 1950s, and the area contains about 960 producing, shut-in, and abandoned natural-gas wells.

First posted September 24, 2013

For additional information contact:
Director, Colorado Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046, Mail Stop 415
Denver, CO 80225
http://co.water.usgs.gov

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Suggested citation:

McMahon, P.B., Thomas, J.C., and Hunt, A.G., 2013, Chemistry and age of groundwater in the Piceance structural basin, Rio Blanco county, Colorado, 2010–12: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2013–3047, 6 p., https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2013/3047/.


Contents

Key Findings

Key Implications

The Study Area

The Study Design

Dissolved Solids in Groundwater

Hydrocarbons in Groundwater

Hydrocarbon Migration

Groundwater Ages

Study Limitations

References Cited


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