capitan reef, a brackish water resource denise wann july 22, 2003

Capitan Reef, A Capitan Reef, A Brackish Water Brackish Water

ResourceResource

Denise WannDenise Wann

July 22, 2003July 22, 2003

The Rhyme of the Ancient The Rhyme of the Ancient MarinerMariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridgeby Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Water, water, everywhere, Water, water, everywhere,

Nor any drop to drink.Nor any drop to drink.

Fresh Water Facts Fresh Water Facts

• By volume, only 3% of all water on Earth is By volume, only 3% of all water on Earth is freshwater and most is unavailable, locked up in freshwater and most is unavailable, locked up in the form of ice caps and glaciers far from the form of ice caps and glaciers far from humans. (Iyioke, 10/1998)humans. (Iyioke, 10/1998)

• Only 1% is easily accessible surface freshwater. Only 1% is easily accessible surface freshwater. (Iyioke, 10/1998)(Iyioke, 10/1998)

• ““Fresh water supplies are shrinking so fast that as Fresh water supplies are shrinking so fast that as many as 7 billion people in 60 countries could many as 7 billion people in 60 countries could face water scarcity by 2050.” (The Washington face water scarcity by 2050.” (The Washington Post, March 2003)Post, March 2003)

Fresh Water FactsFresh Water Facts

• ““Water promises to be to the 21Water promises to be to the 21stst century century what oil was to the 20what oil was to the 20thth century: the century: the precious commodity that determines the precious commodity that determines the wealth of nations.” (Fortune Magazine, wealth of nations.” (Fortune Magazine, 5/2000)5/2000)

• ““Most North Americans think water Most North Americans think water shortages are just a third world problem. “ shortages are just a third world problem. “ (Barlow & Clarke, 2002) (Barlow & Clarke, 2002)

Brackish Water FactsBrackish Water Facts

• Saline and Brackish waters account for Saline and Brackish waters account for about 97% of the waters in the world.about 97% of the waters in the world.

• Brackish water is defined as salinity from Brackish water is defined as salinity from 3,000 – 10,000 mg/L TDS (Total Dissolved 3,000 – 10,000 mg/L TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)Solids)– Humans prefer to drink <500 mg/L TDS.Humans prefer to drink <500 mg/L TDS.– Livestock and Crop Irrigation 3,000 mg/L TDS.Livestock and Crop Irrigation 3,000 mg/L TDS.– Brine water (Salt/Saline Water) >10,000 mg/L Brine water (Salt/Saline Water) >10,000 mg/L

TDS.TDS.

An Ocean of WaterAn Ocean of Water

• ~12 million BWPD is produced and ~12 million BWPD is produced and reinjected in the Permian Basin. (Morales & reinjected in the Permian Basin. (Morales & Barrufet)Barrufet)

• If the brackish water produced in Lea County If the brackish water produced in Lea County per year could be purified, it could sustain a per year could be purified, it could sustain a city of 300,000. (July 2003)city of 300,000. (July 2003)

• Consider the possibilities!Consider the possibilities!

Capitan Reef FormationCapitan Reef Formation (A Reef in the Desert –(Pima 2003)(A Reef in the Desert –(Pima 2003)

• The reef began to form along the The reef began to form along the borders of the Delaware Sea ~250 borders of the Delaware Sea ~250 million years ago.million years ago.

Capitan Reef FormationCapitan Reef Formation (A Reef in the Desert –(Pima 2003)(A Reef in the Desert –(Pima 2003)

• The reef thrived for millions of years. Growth The reef thrived for millions of years. Growth ended near the end of the Permian period.ended near the end of the Permian period.

• At the end of the Permian Period, animals At the end of the Permian Period, animals and plants began to die. (the great extinction and plants began to die. (the great extinction time) time)

• The Delaware Sea’s link to the ocean closed The Delaware Sea’s link to the ocean closed off, most likely due to either dropping sea off, most likely due to either dropping sea level or a rising continent.level or a rising continent.

Capitan Reef Formation Capitan Reef Formation conti.conti. (A Reef in the Desert –(Pima 2003)(A Reef in the Desert –(Pima 2003)

• As this happened, minerals started As this happened, minerals started precipitating out of the water, falling to the precipitating out of the water, falling to the seafloor. Thin layers of sediments filled seafloor. Thin layers of sediments filled the basin and covered the reef layer by the basin and covered the reef layer by layer.layer.


• The Capitan Reef remained buried until The Capitan Reef remained buried until major faulting began ~26 million years major faulting began ~26 million years ago. Faulting lifted the present day ago. Faulting lifted the present day Guadalupe Mountains up, nearly two miles.Guadalupe Mountains up, nearly two miles.

• After the reef was uplifted by the faults, After the reef was uplifted by the faults, the wind and rain wore away the the wind and rain wore away the sediments on the exposed reef leaving the sediments on the exposed reef leaving the more resistant rocks. more resistant rocks.


• During the time of tectonic activity, there During the time of tectonic activity, there was widespread fresh water influx through was widespread fresh water influx through the Permian sediments, in particular the the Permian sediments, in particular the Capitan Reef. Capitan Reef.

• The closer to the mountain ranges, the The closer to the mountain ranges, the

fresher the water.fresher the water.

Capitan Reef TodayCapitan Reef Today

• Parallels the western and eastern edges of Parallels the western and eastern edges of the Delaware Basin in two strips 5-14 the Delaware Basin in two strips 5-14 miles wide.miles wide.


• Depths range from shallow to ~ 4000’Depths range from shallow to ~ 4000’

• Reef is exposed at the surface in the Reef is exposed at the surface in the Guadalupe, Apache and Glass Mountains Guadalupe, Apache and Glass Mountains (shown in red)(shown in red)


• TDS averages from ~1000 – 3000 mg/L, TDS averages from ~1000 – 3000 mg/L, considered slightly to moderately saline. considered slightly to moderately saline. (LBG-Guyton Associates)(LBG-Guyton Associates)– Used as fresh water resource for CarlsbadUsed as fresh water resource for Carlsbad– Used for irrigation in Guadalupe MountainsUsed for irrigation in Guadalupe Mountains– Used for livestock in Apache and Glass Used for livestock in Apache and Glass

MountainsMountains– Used for Waterflood Operations in New Mexico Used for Waterflood Operations in New Mexico

and Texasand Texas


• Has the potential to produce large Has the potential to produce large quantities of groundwater and should be quantities of groundwater and should be considered a good potential brackish considered a good potential brackish groundwater resource (LBG-Guyton groundwater resource (LBG-Guyton Associates, 2003)Associates, 2003)

Where Do We Go From Where Do We Go From Here?Here?

• Desalination pilot test in the Capitan ReefDesalination pilot test in the Capitan Reef– Would yield the most cost effective and Would yield the most cost effective and

technologically feasible purification technologically feasible purification processprocess

For such a time as thisFor such a time as thisan ancient Sea was laidan ancient Sea was laidBuried but not forgottenBuried but not forgottento come alive somedayto come alive someday

In our weakness, is our strengthIn our weakness, is our strengthfor bound together we must befor bound together we must be

A daunting task ahead of usA daunting task ahead of usto awaken this mystical Seato awaken this mystical Sea

The challenge is great, the task immenseThe challenge is great, the task immensethe winner not yet knownthe winner not yet known

Will fear strike us before we start Will fear strike us before we start or will a victory be sown or will a victory be sown

Nothing ventured, nothing gainedNothing ventured, nothing gaineda famous saying we all knowa famous saying we all knowBelieve and live it everydayBelieve and live it everydayand greatness will be shownand greatness will be shown

Denise Wann Denise Wann 20032003

capitan reef, a brackish water resource denise wann july 22, 2003

Documents

reef layer

exposed reef

capitan reef todayparallels

capitan reef formation

ocean of water

capitan reef todaydepths

water shortages

water scarcity