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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 39 (1955)

Issue: 4. (April)

First Page: 385

Last Page: 421

Title: Wasatch Plateau Gas Fields, Utah

Author(s): Paul T. Walton (2)

Abstract:

Another geologic province in Utah, the rugged, mountainous Wasatch Plateau, has recently been proved to have gas fields of importance at Clear Creek and Flat Canyon. Important carbon dioxide gas reserves were previously discovered at Gordon Creek.

The producing areas of the plateau are located on a regional uplift, herein named the Monument Peak, which consists of two major, northeast-southeast zones of folding. These are considered marginal bands of folding to the adjacent San Rafael swell, an ancient positive element. These flexures represent the culmination of at least three periods of movement: middle Upper Cretaceous, late Upper Cretaceous, and post-middle Eocene. Extensive north-south graben faulting subsequent to the folding has cut across the flexures, thus segmenting them into many fault blocks. Although situated on the crests of two different anticlines, the Clear Creek and Flat Canyon fields are both contained in the same closed fault block which lies west of, and is closed against, the Pleasant Valley graben.

Strata ranging from middle Upper Cretaceous to middle Eocene occur on the surface. A deep well at Gordon Creek has penetrated strata as old as early Permian.

A major part of the area appears to be underlain by Jurassic salt-bearing beds, the Arapien formation, whose instability has probably contributed to the extensive faulting in the surface strata.

The Upper Cretaceous Ferron sandstone is the principal producing formation although the Dakota sandstone is also productive at Flat Canyon.

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