WSP00051 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

28 Bureau of Reclamation/Department of Agriculture w ~ UNITS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN (see Figure 8 for location of units) CO N Meeker Dome (Reclamation). An oil exploration well known as the Meeker Well was drilled into the localized anticlinal structure known as the Meeker Dome in 1915. This well, located near the bank of the White River 3 miles east of Meeker, Colorado, tapped a supply of warm, salty water (19,000 mg/L) and increased the Colorado River salt load by about 57,000 tons per year. As a result of the well drilling, artesian pressures decreased and many natural springs in the area dried up. In 1968 the Meeker well was plugged by Reclamation, and in a few months other wells and seeps in the area began discharging saline water. During verification studies, the abandoned Scott, James, and Marland oil wells were cleaned and plugged. After plugging of the three wells, a significant reduction in ground water levels and spring and seep flows occurred, and eventually flows from the springs and seeps ceased. With the plugging of Meeker well, the total salt loading was reduced by 48,000 tons. Cost effectiveness of the reduction of salt load from the three wells is about $14 per ton. A planning report concluding the study was published in July 1985. Paradox Valley (Reclamation). Paradox Valley, a collapsed salt anticline, is a northwest-southeast trending valley 3 to 5 miles wide in southwestern Colorado. Local ground water comes into 00ntactwith the top of the salt formation where it becomes nearly saturated with sodium chloride and surfaces in the Dolores River channel in Paradox Valley. Studies conducted by Reclamation have indicated that the river picks up over 205,000 tons of salt annually from this saline ground water source as it passes through the valley. The salinity control plan involves lowering the frpshwater-brine interface below the river 0hannel by ground water pumping. The extracted brine would be injected in deep wells in Paradox Valley. About 180,000 tons of salt would be removed annually by this project. Construction of the brine collection well field began shortly after the Definite Plan Report was issued in January 1979. The well field pump tests confirm that salt pickup by the Dolores River can be significantly reduced by ground water pumping at a rate in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 cubic feet per second (cfs). The injection test well has been completed to a total depth of about 16,000 feet and fitted with a special, corrosion-resistant inj ecting tube string. Construction of the brine pipeline, surface treatment building, and the injection building were also completed. The final system shakedown and repairs are underway in 1990. The 2-year injection test is scheduled to begin in the fall of 1990.