Geology and Frasch-mining Operations of the Culberson Sulfur Mine, Culberson County, West Texas

Abstract

Abstract The Pennzoil Sulphur Company's Culberson mine near Orla, Texas, remains the free world's largest producer of native sulfur by the Frasch method. Mining operations commenced on September 30, 1969, under the Duval Corporation, Pennzoil's mining subsidiary at that time. Total production from the Culberson mine is 37.7 million long tons (LT) through October 1, 1990. Production continues at a rate of about 1.9 million LT per year except for the past two years when production was reduced due to sof T market conditions. On June 9, 1985, a production record was set when 8,552 LT of molten sulfur were tallied for that day. Throughout most of 1985 the mine ran at the full operating capacity of 2.5 million LT per year. Geologic reserves were originally estimated to be about 81.5 million LT, with subsequent drilling data supporting this estimate. The mine site is spread over an area of 1,773 acres; the stratiform mineralized zone lies at a depth of 350ft to 600ft. Culberson's remaining reserves will allow it to produce into the 21st century. Pennzoil Sulphur was the first company to operate a Frasch-process sulfur mine in west Texas at its Fort Stockton property in Pecos County. The stratiform, evaporite-hosted sulfur deposits of this region are notorious among industry geologists and engineers for production problems related to highly fractured overburden and complex orebody geometries. Experience in mining these deposits has allowed Pennzoil to take advantage in careful mine planning and advanced production techniques to insure a level of efficiency required