More than 20,000 playa basins have formed on the Southern High Plains of Texas and New Mexico. These small, internally drained, roughly circular to oval depressions are economically important because they collect runoff and focus recharge to the Ogallala aquifer, which is the primary domestic and agricultural source of water on the Southern High Plains.Across the High Plains, playa basins vary greatly in size and depth, both of which, we found, are largely controlled by the texture of the sediments that host playa basins.

Potential for commercial hydrocarbon accumulations in Eocene and older strata of the Duval County Ranch in South Texas was assessed using seismic data. Three seismic facies are recognized and tied to well control. Seismic facies 1 has low- amplitude, continuous seismic reflections; seismic facies 2 has short, discontinuous, high-amplitude reflections; and seismic facies 3 has long, continuous, intermediate to high-amplitude reflections.