Projected increases in U. S. energy requirements in the future have caused many oil companies to explore for uranium in addition to their exploration programs for hydrocarbons. Uranium requirements in the U. S. will be governed primarily by the role of uranium in the generation of electric power. Nuclear plants are expected to generate between 35 and 45% of the nation's electric power by the year 1985.

Exploration for uranium in South Texas started in 1954 and has undergone several stages of activity since that time. All production in the South Texas area is from Tertiary sandstone units representing marginal marine to continental depositional environments. These uranium accumulations are dominantly "roll-front" type deposits which owe their existence to the geochemistry and stratigraphy of the sediments. Exploration techniques utilized in locating these deposits are similar to hydrocarbon techniques because of similarities in the mode of migration of uranium-bearing solutions and hydrocarbons. Stratigraphic and structural controls of hydrocarbon and uranium accumulations have many common characteristics although trapping mechanisms are physical for hydrocarbon and chemical in the c se of uranium.

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