Tuesday, December 2, 2008: 3:40 p.m.
N235/237 (Las Vegas Convention Center)
The drought coupled with increasing population growth in the southwest motivates water
resources managers to find innovative solutions to meet their needs. Buying water rights
in New Mexico can be costly ($20,000 to $35,000 per acre-foot) and finding available
water rights can be a challenge. In anticipation of inevitable growth, Sandoval County
has taken the lead in exploration of a source of groundwater that is deep (>3000 feet), and
brackish (>12,000 mg/l total dissolved solids (TDS)). This groundwater resource is not
currently regulated by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer because it is >2500
feet below ground surface (bgs) and > 1000 mg/l TDS.
To date, exploration of this resource has included the installation of two deep wells
within the Rio Puerco Basin of Sandoval County. Exp-6 has a total depth of 3,850 feet
bgs and is screened between 3,598 and 3,809 feet bgs in sandstones and limestones of the
San Andres/Glorieta Formations. Exp-5 is screened in multiple zones between 3,360 and
4,820 feet bgs, also in the San Andres/Glorieta Formations as well as some deeper
sandstone units. Exp-6 is a flowing artesian well producing approximately 600 gallons
per minute (gpm). Exp-5 initially produced approximately 20 gpm at the surface and
later approximately 150 gpm after a commercial fracturing procedure.
A 13-hour, constant-flow-rate aquifer test was conducted in Exp-6. EXP-6 was allowed
to flow at over 400 gpm which resulted in 83 feet of water-level decline (measured as
change in pressure) in Exp-6 and 1.5 feet of water-level decline (measured as change in
pressure) in Exp-5, located 3,450 feet west of Exp-6. The results of this preliminary test
confirm that the wells are hydraulically connected. A 30-day production test will be
executed in summer 2008 to aid in the further evaluation of the resource potential.
resources managers to find innovative solutions to meet their needs. Buying water rights
in New Mexico can be costly ($20,000 to $35,000 per acre-foot) and finding available
water rights can be a challenge. In anticipation of inevitable growth, Sandoval County
has taken the lead in exploration of a source of groundwater that is deep (>3000 feet), and
brackish (>12,000 mg/l total dissolved solids (TDS)). This groundwater resource is not
currently regulated by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer because it is >2500
feet below ground surface (bgs) and > 1000 mg/l TDS.
To date, exploration of this resource has included the installation of two deep wells
within the Rio Puerco Basin of Sandoval County. Exp-6 has a total depth of 3,850 feet
bgs and is screened between 3,598 and 3,809 feet bgs in sandstones and limestones of the
San Andres/Glorieta Formations. Exp-5 is screened in multiple zones between 3,360 and
4,820 feet bgs, also in the San Andres/Glorieta Formations as well as some deeper
sandstone units. Exp-6 is a flowing artesian well producing approximately 600 gallons
per minute (gpm). Exp-5 initially produced approximately 20 gpm at the surface and
later approximately 150 gpm after a commercial fracturing procedure.
A 13-hour, constant-flow-rate aquifer test was conducted in Exp-6. EXP-6 was allowed
to flow at over 400 gpm which resulted in 83 feet of water-level decline (measured as
change in pressure) in Exp-6 and 1.5 feet of water-level decline (measured as change in
pressure) in Exp-5, located 3,450 feet west of Exp-6. The results of this preliminary test
confirm that the wells are hydraulically connected. A 30-day production test will be
executed in summer 2008 to aid in the further evaluation of the resource potential.
See more of: Deep Ground Water Investigations
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See more of: Topical Sessions
See more of: Educational Offerings