Origin, distribution, and movement of brine in the Permian Basin (U.S.A.): A model for displacement of connate brine

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 1993 Origin, distribution, and movement of brine in the Permian Basin (U.S.A.): A model for displacement of connate brine AMOS BEIN; AMOS BEIN 1Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ALAN R. DUTTON ALAN R. DUTTON 1Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1993) 105 (6): 695–707. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1993)105<0695:ODAMOB>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation AMOS BEIN, ALAN R. DUTTON; Origin, distribution, and movement of brine in the Permian Basin (U.S.A.): A model for displacement of connate brine. GSA Bulletin 1993;; 105 (6): 695–707. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1993)105<0695:ODAMOB>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Na-CI, halite Ca-CI, and gypsum Ca-Cl brines with salinities from 45 to >300 g/L are identified and mapped in four hydrostratigraphic units in the Permian Basin area beneath western Texas and Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico, providing spatial and lithologic constraints on the interpretation of the origin and movement of brine. Na-Cl brine is derived from meteoric water as young as 5-10 Ma that dissolved anhydrite and halite, whereas Ca-CI brine is interpreted to be ancient, modified-connate Permian brine that now is mixing with, and being displaced by, the Na-Cl brine. Displacement fronts appear as broad mixing zones with no significant salinity gradients.Evolution of Ca-CI brine composition from ideal evaporated sea water is attributed to dolomitization and syndepositional recycling of halite and bittern salts by intermittent influx of fresh water and sea water. Halite Ca-Cl brine in the evaporite section in the northern part of the basin differs from gypsum Ca-Cl brine in the south-central part in salinity and Na/Cl ratio and reflects segregation between halite- and gypsum-precipitating lagoons during the Permian. Ca-Cl brine moved downward through the evaporite section into the underlying Lower Permian and Pennsylvanian marine section that is now the deep-basin brine aquifer, mixing there with pre-existing sea water. Buoyancy-driven convection of brine dominated local flow for most of basin history, with regional advection governed by topographically related forces dominant only for the cast 5 to 10 Ma. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.