321,000 Fischer assay analyses from the U.S. Geological Survey database were used to study the spatial and stratigraphic distribution of water in the Eocene Green River Formation oil shale in the Piceance Basin, Colorado. The study subdivided the oil-shale section into 17 time-stratigraphic intervals to assess water sources, including clay minerals, hydrated minerals like nahcolite, and organic matter. This research was conducted to evaluate whether water produced during retorting could supply a significant portion of the water needed for an oil-shale industry.
Use Cases
- Model water yield from oil shale retorting based on stratigraphic intervals
- Map spatial variability of water sources (clay, nahcolite, dawsonite) within the basin
- Calculate water-to-oil ratios for different retort processes
- Assess basin-margin versus depocenter water availability from mineral hydration
Strengths
- Analysis based on approximately 321,000 Fischer assay data points
- Stratigraphic subdivision into 17 intervals for detailed assessment
- Identifies and quantifies multiple water sources (clay, hydrated minerals, organic matter)
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
- Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified
Provenance
- Source
- U.S. Geological Survey oil-shale database
- Collection Method
- Fischer assay analyses
- Geography
- Piceance Basin, northwestern Colorado, Green River Formation