New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

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Structural compartmentalization of regional aquifers across the structurally complicated transition between the Albuquerque Basin and Colorado Plateau can impact groundwater flow and evaluation of saline aquifers for potential desalination and carbon-dioxide sequestration projects. Management of deep brackish groundwater (below 2500 ft bgs) can benefit from examining aquifer storage and fluid flow across faults. Using data from 72 oil and gas wells and structure-contour maps of the top of basement, and base of the Dakota Sandstone, and Santa Fe Group, a regional structural framework was created to examine potential structural influences on regional groundwater flow patterns. Cross-fault flow was examined by projecting juxtaposition seals and conduits across three fault zones on the Laguna bench that locally define the northwestern structural margin of the Albuquerque Basin. This study focused on the San Ysidro, Navajo–Moquino–Apache, and Tenorio–Garcia–Sand Hill fault zones. Fault-juxtaposition analysis indicates that relay ramps on the Laguna structural bench may control the flow of deep saline groundwater into the Middle Rio Grande Basin through discrete, structurally controlled gaps.