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USGS to Drill Two Test Holes near Del Rio, Texas

September 3, 2014

Beginning this week, the U.S. Geological Survey will be drilling two test boreholes near Del Rio, Texas, to collect core samples and geophysical information important to better understand the physical properties of the subsurface.

Beginning this week, the U.S. Geological Survey will be drilling two test boreholes near Del Rio, Texas, to collect core samples and geophysical information important to better understand the physical properties of the subsurface.

The USGS will collect rock core samples and geophysical logs to characterize the properties of the rocks such as rock type, fracture patterns, porosity, permeability, and crystalline structure.   

"Each test hole will be used to collect data through the entire rock units to be studied and compared to locally-exposed rock outcrops, and will include the Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford Shale, Boquillas Formation, Buda Formation, and Del Rio Clay," said USGS Texas Water Science Center Deputy Director Greg Stanton.

The test holes will be returned to original conditions when the data collection is completed. USGS data will be made available to the public at a later date after review and quality assurance has been completed. 

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