--> Abstract: Coal Bed Stratigraphy and Surface Mapping of the Fruitland Formation in Archuleta County, Colorado, by C. J. Carroll, G. L. Gianniny, D. Gonzales, E. Skyles, T. Stetson-Lee, S. Lindblom, and K. Houck; #90090 (2009).
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Previous HitCoalNext Hit Previous HitBedNext Hit Previous HitStratigraphyNext Hit and Surface Previous HitMappingNext Hit of the Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit Previous HitFormationNext Hit in Previous HitArchuletaNext Hit Previous HitCountyNext Hit, Colorado

Carroll, Chris J.1; Gianniny, Gary L.2; Gonzales, David 2; Skyles, Emilee 2; Stetson-Lee, Tor 2; Lindblom, Steve 3; Houck, Karen 4
1 Natural Resources, Colorado Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
2 Geology, Ft. Lewis College, Durango, CO.
3 Natural Resources, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Denver, CO.
4 Dinosaur Tracks Museum, University of Colorado, Denver, CO.

Previous HitArchuletaNext Hit Previous HitCountyNext Hit, Colorado, is a new frontier for coalbed methane exploration in the northern San Juan Basin (SJB) and detailed Previous HitcoalNext Hit Previous HitstratigraphyNext Hit is important to exploration efforts. A new geologic map compiled along 23 miles of late Campanian Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit Previous HitFormationNext Hit Previous HitcoalNext Hit Previous HitoutcropNext Hit depicts detailed clastic Previous HitbedNext Hit Previous HitstratigraphyNext Hit. The 1:16,000-scale map shows designated Previous HitformationNext Hit contacts between the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone, the Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit Previous HitFormationNext Hit, and the overlying Kirtland Shale, units that were previously combined as one unit. The map depicts correlated Previous HitcoalNext Hit beds, gas seeps, distressed vegetation, Previous HitcoalNext Hit cleat, clinker, and regional fractures.

The surface Previous HitcoalNext Hit beds were correlated using an integrated approach of Previous HitcoalNext Hit Previous HitbedNext Hit Previous HitmappingNext Hit, measured sections, aerial photography, and ERDAS GIS imagery. This information was then correlated with known subsurface correlations from coalbed methane wells. Fluvial sandstones intercalated with siltstone, shale, and Previous HitcoalNext Hit beds were correlated to determine the lateral extent of the Previous HitcoalNext Hit Previous HitbedNext Hit facies. Detailed correlations of these beds show a complex relationship between brackish-water sediments intertonguing between the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone and the basal Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit Previous HitcoalNext Hit beds. The en-echelon geometry of time-transgressive Previous HitstratigraphyNext Hit between the Pictured Cliffs and the basal Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit coals show how these two units interfinger near Cabezon and Previous HitArchuletaNext Hit Canyons. Fresh-water Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit Previous HitcoalNext Hit beds up to four feet thick in Cabezon Canyon have been observed that are stratigraphically over 50 ft below the top of the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone locally. The southwest-northwest orientation of the Previous HitoutcropNext Hit on this side of the SJB is also parallel to the Cretaceous shoreline interpretation, showing very long sheet sand beds in the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone.

New development of coalbed methane resources in this area may show productive Previous HitcoalNext Hit gas from this area. Previous HitCoalNext Hit cleat measurements along this Previous HitoutcropNext Hit are nearly parallel to the exposure indicating low permeability at the Previous HitoutcropNext Hit. Gas seeps usually develop along low topographic areas on the Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit Previous HitoutcropNext Hit and the Piedra River with nearby tributary creeks will be monitored closely. Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) recently drilled six monitoring wells at three locations down dip of the Previous HitFruitlandNext Hit Previous HitcoalNext Hit Previous HitoutcropNext Hit to monitor water levels and Previous HitformationNext Hit pressures in this part of the SJB as new coalbed methane drilling develops in Previous HitArchuletaNext Hit Previous HitCountyTop.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90090©2009 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, June 7-10, 2009