Depth-porosity relationships and virgin specific storage estimates for the upper Santa Fe Group aquifer system, central Albuquerque Basin, New Mexico

Model depth-porosity curves fitted to geophysical log porosity data for five water wells in the Albuquerque area show that depth-porosity relationships in upper Santa Fe Group sediments follow trends similar to those in other basins. Goodness-of-fit values suggest that compaction may account for 10% to 50% of the observed porosity variability. The remainder is attributed to stratigraphic variability. Depth-averaged virgin specific storage values range from approximately 2 × 10^-4 to 5 × 10^-4 m^-1. Specific compaction estimates ranged from 0.02 to 0.10 m/m. The absence of widespread subsidence in the basin suggests that Santa Fe Group sediments in the Albuquerque Basin are overconsolidated; thus, land subsidence caused by the dewatering of upper Santa Fe Group aquifers should not become a significant problem until the preconsolidation stress is exceeded. -from Author