Water produced from oil, gas, and geothermal reservoirs contains natural radioactivity that ranges from background levels to levels found in uranium mill tailings. Radioactivity in fluids and in the scale that forms in oil-producing and gas-processing equipment increases concerns for worker and public safety as well as costs of handling and disposing of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), which include water, sludge, scale, and affected equipment.

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.