Conceptualization of Fresh to Slightly Saline Water in the Deep Glen Rose Formation, Maverick Basin, Texas
Project Summary:
The Contractor created a report summarizing existing geologic information and well data relevant to the fresh to slightly saline water produced from the deep Glen Rose Formation (>5,000 feet deep) of the Maverick Basin, Texas, as well as the uncertainties in producing this water source. The intent of this report is to serve as a foundational document for future research on this potential water source. The report includes relevant background information on the production of fresh to slightly saline water in the deep Glen Rose Formation of the Maverick Basin. The report includes the following chapters: 1) Introduction describing the involvement of public and private entities, 2) Geologic Background summarizing relevant stratigraphic and structural information from literature, 3) Relevant Data that is available for understanding this resource, and 4) Challenges and Future Work discussing the unknown factors and risks in producing water from this source. An appendix with relevent water quality data is also included. Cody Draper presented the information detailed in the report during a webinar, available below as a recording.
- TWDB Contract Manager:
- Evan Strickland, P.G., 512-463-6929
- Funding Recipient:
- INTERA inc.
- Contract Number
- 2300012710
- Project Managers:
- Cody Draper, Tim Dale
- Project Start Date:
- September 2023
- Project Completed:
- February 2025
- Total Project Cost:
- $61,981
- TWDB Share of Project Cost:
- $61,981
Project Details
Participants
Project Sponsors:
Texas Water Development Board
1700 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78711
Funding Recipient
INTERA Incorporated
9600 Great Hills Trail, Suite 300W
Austin, TX 78759
Other
The Bureau of Economic Geology provided water quality analyses performed on water samples collected by the Railroad Commission of Texas from petroleum wells in the Maverick Basin, and from surface water samples from Mexico collected by Rosario Sanchez with the Texas Water Resources Institute with the help of private citizens.
Final Report
TWDB Contracted Report 2300012710-2 - Maverick Basin aquifer
Report citation: Draper, C., Grisak, G., and Liu, C., 2025, Conceptualization of Groundwater in the Glen Rose Formation, Maverick Basin, Texas: INTERA Inc, Contract report 2300012710-2 to the Texas Water Development Board, 96 p.
Webinar
Webinar on Maverick Basin Aquifer
In this presentation, Cody Draper, P.G., summarizes known information on the abundant fresh to slightly saline water in the deep Glen Rose Formation of the Maverick Basin, as part of the TWDB contracted study with INTERA.
Highlights: Fluid production is characterized upon well completion by an initial volume of oil with a significant portion of water that -waters out- over the span of one to five years to be almost entirely fresh to slightly saline water. Currently, many of these wells flow fresh to slightly saline water to the surface without a pump. Water production is focused along a shear zone in central Maverick County where the Glen Rose has increased porosity from dolomitization, likely from interaction with hydrothermal fluids. The possible extent of the Maverick Basin aquifer includes central and southern Maverick County, western Dimmit County, and southwestern Zavala County, with recharge likely occurring from the west in the Sierra del Burro Mountains in Mexico, as evidenced by isotopic data. In addition, Cody reviews suggested methods for performing aquifer tests using existing oil wells.