--> Recent Salt Related Uplift and Subsidence at Sour Lake Salt Dome, Hardin County, Texas, by K. M. Looff; #90901 (2001)
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Recent Previous HitSaltNext Hit Related Uplift and Subsidence at Sour Lake Previous HitSaltNext Hit Previous HitDomeNext Hit, Hardin County, Texas

K. M. Looff
Geologic Consultant, Lovelady, Texas

Sour Lake is a large piercement Previous HitsaltNext Hit Previous HitdomeNext Hit located in southern Hardin County, Texas. Recent deformation of the cellar and wellhead of one of the Previous HitsaltNext Hit cavern storage wells initiated a geologic investigation into the cause of the deformation and its future impact. Unlike many of the other Gulf Coast Previous HitsaltNext Hit diapers that have a flat or inclined upper Previous HitsaltNext Hit surface, the upper surface of the Previous HitsaltNext Hit at Sour Lake is strongly domed with over 1000 feet of relief. The geologic investigation showed that the diapir has maintained a near-surface position since at least Yegua time and appears to be characterized by a passive or “down building” state of growth. However, the central area of the diapir has been an area of active uplift since late Frio time resulting in a complex graben system forming over the central area of the Previous HitdomeNext Hit. The cause of a 1929 sinkhole occurrence at Sour Lake was reevaluated and provided the basis for mapping the changes in ground level between 1923 and 1965. These changes in elevation show areas of uplift and subsidence that correspond to the underlying graben system. In addition to being located in the area of active uplift, the storage well experiencing the deformation is also located on a smaller and more active area of Previous HitsaltNext Hit uplift or a Previous HitsaltNext Hit spine. Since the late 1960’s, this spine has begun moving and has resulted in the overpressuring of the caprock and adjacent sands. Active Previous HitsaltTop movement at Sour Lake has also resulted in uplift and extension of the overlying strata and produced surface subsidence.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90901©2001 GCAGS, Annual Meeting, Shreveport, Louisiana