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The report, authored by C. M. Netherland, examined the hydrocarbon potential of
all formations from surface to granite basement on both geological and engineering
analyses of reservoir performance. The ultimate recoveries of hydrocarbons, both on a
regional and local scale, were included. It concluded that the ORNL Study Area and the
acreage immediately adjoining the Study Area contain no economically recoverable oil
and gas.
New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources, 1974
The New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources (1974) reported on the
stratigraphy, structure, and geological evaluation of the oil and gas potential; petroleum
exploration in the WIPP area; water injection and disposal wells; and geologic factors.
The author was R. W. Foster, Senior Petroleum Geologist.
The report stated that the shallowest possible occurrence of oil is the upper part of
the Bell Canyon Formation (permian Delaware Mountain Group) at a depth of over 4000
ft. Rocks with the highest potential for gas at WIPP are of Silurian and Silurian/Devonian
age at a depth of 13 ,000 to 16,000 ft. An exploratory test of oil and/or gas potential of
the entire sedimentary-rock section near the center of the site would have to penetrate
approximately 18,000 ft of sediments.
In order to estimate the potential for hydrocarbon production in the WIPP site
area, a statistical evaluation of existing oil and gas exploration holes was used. The
scarcity of drill holes in the immediate area of the proposed WIPP site necessitated the
examination of all holes in an area much larger (1512 mil) than the 1974 Los Medaftos
WIPP area (18,960 acres or 29.625 mil). The oil and gas potential was determined in two
ways, wildcat success ratios and productive acreage. The values determined for each
section by the two methods were 559,411 to 1,266,795 barrels (bbls) of oil, 2,250,829 to
2,967,243 thousand cubic feet (MCF) of associated gas, 169,455 to 193,568 bbls of
distillate, and 12,565,558 to 13,576,988 MCF of natural gas. Quoting this information,
later reports commonly use the higher of the figures (productive acreage) and combine
associated and natural gas to achieve in-place resource estimates for the original Los
Medaftos WIPP site of 29.6 mil. Crude oil was estimated at 37.7 million bbls, natural gas
at 490 million MCF, and distillate at 5.7 million bbls.
Sipes, WDUamsoQ, and Aycock, 1976
Sipes, Williamson, and Aycock (1976), authored by J. J. Keesey, examined the
potential for hydrocarbon reserves under the WIPP site and stressed "reasonable present
worth analysis." Several factors such as the interstate market for gas and the influence of
the potash enclave were considered.
The report states that no hydrocarbons are presently (1976) produced from the
WIPP area, but oil and gas are being produced from 60 wells in the 368-mi l area around
the site. The Delaware, Bone Springs, Wolfcamp, Strawn, Atoka, and Morrow zones
produce about 22,682 MCF of gas and 429 bbls of oil per day. The (WIPP) area is
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