___________________________________________________________________________
The University of Texas
Of the
Permian Basin
Center for Energy & Economic Diversification
February 26, 2008
We are pleased to announce that the Study of the Wink Sinks has begun. Through the support of industry, The Bureau of
Economic Geology (BEG) and University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) have received funds that are sufficient to
begin Phase One of the study which includes:
 A better understanding of the extent and rates of ground subsidence and identify arGeology of Big bend National
Park.pdfeas of potential risk to public safety and infrastructure in Winkler County.
 Build data bases for the Wink to Kermit area to serve as a spatial framework for all the study results. These will
include topography, transportation and public service infrastructure, aerial photographs and oil and gas wells and
petroleum infrastructure.
 Complete an Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) analysis at the Center for Space Research at UT
Austin. Satellite data is being acquired to identify priority areas showing anomalous rates of recent vertical
movement of the ground surface that can be indicators of potential sinkhole development.
 Digital Photogrammetry of older sets of aerial photos that can be used to determine high-resolution topographic
changes that preceded the development of Wink Sinks 1 & 2 and the associated Sags. This is necessary to
determine if subsidence preceded Sink Hole development.
 Collection of oil and gas well data to determine if changes in the status of well bores and near well bore changes
during the past 80 years can be identified and related to the development of the sinks and sags. We will be asking
operators to provide data for this portion of the study.
 Maintaining contact with the local stakeholders and partners is critical and we hope that a frequent exchange of
pertinent information can speed and sharpen the focus of the project. To this end, a monthly newsletter will be
sent to Sponsors and Stakeholders and informational meetings will be held.
This represents the First of Three Phases of the program. In the future, when funding becomes available, the US
Geological Survey will investigate the potential effect of the Sinks, and their root causes, on the potable ground water in
the Wink-Kermit area. UTPB will investigate the circulation of deep, saline ground waters, interpret the shallow structure in
available 3D seismic surveys and expand the study of the well bore and near well bore intervals on trend to the north and
south. The BEG will generate high quality Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) which is a remote sensing system used to
collect topographic data, and conduct surface mapping of the sink areas.
Among the Sponsors are Chevron and Apache Corporation. Devon has made a $50,000 gift to the University of Texas,
Jackson School of Geosciences earmarked for the Wink Sink Project. Other oil companies have also made donations.
Questions or comments regarding the Wink Sink studies can be directed to:
Dr. Jeffrey G. Paine, Principal Investigator
Bureau of Economic Geology
The University of Texas at Austin
University Station, Box X
Austin, Texas 78713
(512) 471-1260
jeff.paine@beg.utexas.edu
The principal contact at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is:
Dr. Robert C. Trentham
Director, Center for Energy & Economic Diversification
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
4901 E. University Dr.
Odessa, TX 79762-0001
(432) 552-2432
trentham_r@utpb.edu
For additional information go to: www.utpb.edu/CEED/ (presently under construction)
4901 E. University
Odessa
Texas 79762-0001
432.552.2430
Fax 432.552.2433
Location: 1400 North FM 1788
Midland
Texas 79707