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Open-File Report 2012–1024–E

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Geologic Framework for the National Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources—Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, and Wyoming-Idaho-Utah Thrust Belt

By Marc L. Buursink, Ernie R. Slucher, Sean T. Brennan, Colin A. Doolan, Ronald M. Drake II, Matthew D. Merrill, Peter D. Warwick, Madalyn S. Blondes, Philip A. Freeman, Steven M. Cahan, Christina A. DeVera, and Celeste D. Lohr

Chapter E of
Geologic Framework for the National Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (14.5 MB)Abstract

The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (Public Law 110–140) directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of potential geologic storage resources for carbon dioxide (CO2). The methodology used by the USGS for the national CO2 assessment follows up on previous USGS work. The methodology is non-economic and intended to be used at regional to subbasinal scales.

This report identifies and contains geologic descriptions of 14 storage assessment units (SAUs) in Ordovician to Upper Cretaceous sedimentary rocks within the Greater Green River Basin (GGRB) of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, and eight SAUs in Ordovician to Upper Cretaceous sedimentary rocks within the Wyoming-Idaho-Utah Thrust Belt (WIUTB). The GGRB and WIUTB are contiguous with nearly identical geologic units; however, the GGRB is larger in size, whereas the WIUTB is more structurally complex. This report focuses on the characteristics, specified in the methodology, that influence the potential CO2 storage resource in the SAUs. Specific descriptions of the SAU boundaries, as well as their sealing and reservoir units, are included. Properties for each SAU, such as depth to top, gross thickness, porosity, permeability, groundwater quality, and structural reservoir traps, are typically provided to illustrate geologic factors critical to the assessment. This geologic information was employed, as specified in the USGS methodology, to calculate a probabilistic distribution of potential storage resources in each SAU.

Figures in this report show SAU boundaries and cell maps of well penetrations through sealing units into the top of the storage formations. The cell maps show the number of penetrating wells within one square mile and are derived from interpretations of variably attributed well data and a digital compilation that is known not to include all drilling.

First posted February 4, 2014

For additional information contact:
USGS Energy Resources Program,
Health & Environment
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
National Center, MS 913
Reston, VA 20192
USGS ERP: Geologic CO2 Sequestration

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Suggested citation:

Buursink, M.L., Slucher, E.R., Brennan, S.T., Doolan, C.A., Drake, R.M., II, Merrill, M.D., Warwick, P.D., Blondes, M.S., Freeman, P.A., Cahan, S.M., DeVera, C.A., and Lohr, C.D., 2014, Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, and Wyoming-Idaho-Utah Thrust Belt, chap. E of Warwick, P.D., and Corum, M.D., eds., Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1024–E, 50 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20121024E.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)


Contents

Editors’ Preface

References Cited

Conversion Factors and Abbreviations

Initialisms and Abbreviations

Report Overview

Abstract

Geologic Framework for the National Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources—Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah

Introduction—Greater Green River Basin

Paleozoic Composite SAU C50370101 and Paleozoic Composite Deep SAU C50370102

Nugget Sandstone SAU C50370103 and Nugget Sandstone Deep SAU C50370104

Muddy Sandstone and Cloverly Formation SAU C50370105 and Muddy Sandstone and Cloverly Formation Deep SAU C50370106

Frontier Sandstone C50370107 and Frontier Sandstone Deep C50370108

Hilliard, Baxter, and Mancos Shales SAU C50370109, and Hilliard, Baxter, and Mancos Shales Deep SAU C50370110

Mesaverde Group SAU C50370111 and Mesaverde Group Deep SAU C50370112

Dad Member SAU C50370113 and Dad Member Deep SAU C50370114

Geologic Framework for the National Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources─Wyoming-Idaho-Utah Thrust Belt

Introduction—Wyoming-Idaho-Utah Thrust Belt

Paleozoic Composite SAU C50360101 and Paleozoic Composite Deep SAU C50360102

Nugget Sandstone SAU C50360103 and Nugget Sandstone Deep SAU C50360104

Bear River Formation SAU C50360105 and Bear River Formation Deep SAU C50360106

Frontier Sandstone SAU C50360107 and Frontier Sandstone Deep SAU C50360108

Acknowledgments

References Cited


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