BIBLIOGRAPHY
Matchen, David L., and Kammer, Thomas W., 1994, Sequence Startigraphy of the Lower Mississippian Price and Borden Formations in Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky:
Southeastern Geology, V. 34 No. 1, p. 25-41
[Document Link: http://pages.geo.wvu.edu/~kammer/reprints/Matchen&Kammer1994.pdf (
PDF, 1.28 MB)]
Keywords: sequence stratigraphy, West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippian, outcrops, gamma-ray, logs, allo-units
This sequence stratigraphic study details the progradational wedge formed by the Lower Mississippian in the Appalachian Basin. The Lower Mississippian rocks,
which can be divided into four separate units, are units of major consideration in other manuscripts detailing prospects for geological sequestration. The researchers used three
sets of outcrops and subsurface data, including 340 gamma-ray well logs, to correlate the units within the Lower Mississippian. The evidence presented in this manuscript can be
used to further evaluate porosity and permeability of each of the four allo-units, further providing more detailed insight into which of the specific allo-units could be used as
prospects for sequestration in West Virginia and Kentucky.
Martens, James H.C., 1943, Rock Salt Deposits of West Virginia: West Virginia Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 7, 67p.
[Document Information Link: http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/wvges2/publications/PubCat_Details.aspx?PubCatID=B-7 (Purchase)]
Keywords: West Virginia, Salina, Salt, cross-sections
In 1943, the West Virginia Geological Survey authored a Bulletin on the Rock Salt Deposits of West Virginia. Even at that time, the implications of these salt
deposits were being explored. This publication illustrated that through the use "deep" well cuttings, the Salina Rock Salt beds were present in West Virginia, covering almost the
entirety of the state. At the time of publication, interest in the salt was high as it represented a commercial economic resource. Today, these same salt beds present the opportunity
for geologic sequestration. The 1943 Bulletin described the stratigraphy of post-Silurian rocks above the salt and produced a detailed geologic column of the northwestern panhandle of
West Virginia from the Dunkard Group through the Silurian Albion ("Clinton" Sand) Sandstone for the Gribble well in Harrison County. Two simplified cross-sections of the salt position
were created: the first, between 4 wells spanning Washington County, Ohio and the Gribble Well in Harrison County, West Virginia; and the second, spanning 5 wells between Wayne County,
Ohio and Harrison County, West Virginia. While these cross-sections lack much detail, they show approximate stratigraphic positions and variations of thickness. Table 1 of the Bulletin
provides a handy visual showing the maximum and minimum thicknesses between the top of the Onondaga Limestone and top of the Salt, as well as the number of wells (at the time) penetrating
the formation in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. Formations associated with the Salt were correlated between West Virginia, Maryland, and western New York.
Individual condensed well records were included in the bulletin to further identify the position and thickness of the salt at specific localities.
Fergusson, William B. and Prather, Bruce A., 1968, Salt Deposits in the Salina Group in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Geological Survey Bulletin, M 58, 37p.
[Document Link: http://dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_016635.zip ]
Keywords: salt, Salina Group, basins, Silurian, reefs, Lockport Dolomite, Bloomsburg Formation, Michigan, West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania
In 1968, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Topographic and Geological Survey produced a Bulletin describing the thickness and geography of the Salina Group across Pennsylvania.
While at the time, the Group was studied for its economically viable deposits of salt, it was the drilling of oil and gas wells that provided the information about the rock layers. The division
of the salt was based on correlations developed by Michigan and Ohio in an effort to draw a regional picture of the deposit. In Pennsylvania, the Salina Group units were named Unit A through
Unit G. The manuscript details the depositional environment of Upper Silurian evaporates across Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania. An extensive description of each of
the Salina Group units is described throughout the manuscript including the thickness, pseudonyms and correlation to neighboring states, and isopach and the lithofacies maps of each.
Sminchak, Joel R. and Gupta, Dr. Neeraj, eds., 2015, Development of Subsurface Brine Disposal Framework in the Northern Appalachian Basin: Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), 411 p.
[Project Link: http://www.rpsea.org/projects/11122-73/ ]
[Document Link: http://www.rpsea.org/media/files/project/185d70b8/11122-73-FR-Development_Subsurface_Brine_Disposal_Framework_Northern_Appalachian_Basin-10-06-15_P.pdf ( PDF, 18.7 MB]
Keywords: brine, disposal, subsurface, injection, Battelle, pore
In 2015, Battelle Memorial Institute sponsored the Development of Subsurface Brine Disposal Framework in the Northern Appalachian Basin. The purpose of the 2.5 year consortium was
to develop a geologic framework for disposal of the produced fluids from onshore drilling. While the purpose of this study is different from that of the Appalachian Storage Hub project, the Brine Disposal
Study investigates many of the same formations and their characteristics of interest in great detail. 690 geophysical well logs were utilized to analyze the formations. The injection rates derived from
the study provide a clue into the porosity, permeability, and storage capacities of the formations. The most prolific formations used for brine disposal included Cambrian basal sandstone, the
Cambrian Copper Ridge Dolomite and Rose Run Sandstone, the Silurian Medina Group/'Clinton' Sandstone, the Silurian Lockport-'Newburg' dolomite, the Devonian Oriskany Sandstone, and Mississippian sandstone
units. According to historical gas production in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, it is estimated that 47 billion barrels of brine void pore space exist in the depleted reservoirs.
Nelson, Paul E., Mathews, Noah H., Flores, Cecilia P., Patel, Pradeep K., Roth, Thomas P., Farnsworth, Lori K., Reichwein, M.C. (Tjm)., 2001, Geological Prefeasibility Study of Ethane Storage Opportunities within Salt, Hard Rock, and Oil and Gas Reservoirs in West Virginia: PBEnergy Storage Services, Inc., Topical Report PB-0326, 92 p.
[Company Link: https://www.pbenergy.com/ ]
Keywords: ethane, storage, feasibility, salt, volume, Marcellus, caverns, oil and gas, infrastructure, logistics, Greenbrier Limestone
In 2011, West Virginia explored subsurface ethane storage opportunities across the state from the logistics of moving ethane from sources to storage facilities, to the screening criteria
to be used for geologic prospects for ethane storage. The studied formations included salt caverns, mined-rock caverns, and oil and gas reservoirs. The manuscript describes, by county, which formations are
present and hold the most potential for ethane storage capacity. The prospects are ranked in order by geological characteristics, geological uncertainty, logistics, environmental impacts, parametric capital costs,
and estimated development schedules. To summarize the extensive study, a table listing each storage option and the advantages and disadvantages of each is provided at the end of the manuscript discussion.
During the study, the total required storage volume was estimated between 2 and 10 million barrels, with maximum withdrawal and injections for each facility type at 80,000 barrels per day. The study found that
salt caverns are desirable for ethane storage at depth ranges from 1,500-3,000 feet, which is generally shallower than cavern depths in West Virginia. In mined-rock, the Greenbrier Limestone, in intervals at
least 40 foot thick and at depths 1,800 feet or greater, presents the most suitable option for storage in the state due to its high strength, stability, and low porosity. The study found that due to the prolific
oil and gas production in the state, oil and gas reservoirs provide the greatest potential for ethane storage opportunities in terms of existing infrastructure. While the volume is great enough for storage,
more wells would need to be drilled to cycle viable amounts of ethane through the reservoir. Each type of storage option provides certain advantages in different situations. The desired location of a storage
facility may determine which kind of formation is best utilized for the operation.
Greb, Stephen F., and Chestnut, Donald R. Jr., 2009, Carboniferous Geology and Biostratigraphy of the Appalachian Basin, Special Publication 10: Lexington, Kentucky, Kentucky Geological Survey.
[Document Link: http://www.uky.edu/OtherOrgs/KPS/books/grebchesnut2009/grebchesnut2009.pdf ( PDF, 8.0 MB)]
Keywords: Carboniferous, biostratigraphy, Appalachian Basin, Black Warrior Basin
This work, put together by the Kentucky Geological Survey, is segregated into 12 smaller, specialized manuscripts highlighting various areas of expertise. The introduction, written by editors
Donald R. Chestnut Jr. and Stephen F. Greb, provides a brief description of the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Systems including regional correlations and general geology. Other chapters detailing specific
fossil types found in the Carboniferous provide detailed insight into the deposition and environmental conditions surrounding each formation.
Patchen, Douglas G., et al, 2006, A Geologic Playbook for Trenton-Black River Appalachian Basin Exploration: United States Department of Energy, 582 p.
[Project Link: http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/tbr/ ]
[Document Link: http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/tbr/docs/41856R06.pdf ] or
[Document Link: https://www.netl.doe.gov/research/oil-and-gas/project-summaries/completed-ep-tech/de-fc26-03nt41856- ( PDF, 113 MB)]
Keywords: Ordovician, Appalachian, gas, oil, exploration, Trenton, Black River, reserves, dolomite, hydrothermal, geothermal, porosity, pores, geochemistry, petrology
In the early 2000's after the discovery of the Range Resources Renz #1 well, interest in the oil and natural gas potential of Ordovician-age formations skyrocketed. Northwestern Ohio oil and
gas production on the edge of the Ordovician-aged margin warranted further exploration into the interbedded limestone, calcareous shale, and black shale of the Trenton-Black River sequence. Studies also
investigated the origin of a production trend in New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The manuscript is highlighted by detailed petrographic data, used to determine types and locations of seals,
extent of hydrothermal fluid influence, and pore shapes and sizes that contribute to viable reservoir space. Geochemical and fluid inclusion analyses on limestones and dolomites as well as natural gas
geochemical analyses add to the plethora of technical data used to identify key fields, estimate resources and reserves, and point to future trends in production and development.
Roen, John B. and Walker, Brian J., eds., 1996, The Atlas of Major Appalachian Gas Plays: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, V. 25, 201 p.
[Document Information Link: http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/wvges2/publications/PubCat_Details.aspx?PubCatID=V-25 (Purchase)]
Keywords: gas, shale, Appalachian, structure, stratigraphy, trends, wells, key fields, cross-sections, decline curve, production maps, depositional model
This major volume provides a detailed overview of Appalachian Basin structure, stratigraphy, and background of major oil and gas development in the region. Each of the 30
sections of the Atlas details individual natural gas plays from the Middle Pennsylvanian to Cambrian Pre-Knox Group. Within each section of the playbook can be found detailed structural and
stratigraphic descriptions as well as cross-sections, reservoir characteristics, type logs, future trends in oil and gas development, decline curves, and a map of production wells in the play.
The Atlas acts as a compact, yet detailed and informative "one-stop-shop" for any and all information related to oil and gas development in the Appalachian basin through the late 1990's.
Seni, S.J., Mullican, W.F. III, and Hamlin, H.S., 1984, Texas Salt Domes – Aspects Affecting Disposal of Toxic-Chemical Waste in Solution-Mined Caverns: Austin, Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology, the University of Texas at Austin, 34 p.
[Document: Out-of-Print, Limited availability]
Keywords: salt, disposal, waste, caverns, Texas, salt domes, salt caverns
The study investigates the mechanical properties of salt caverns used in the disposal of chemical waste. Heavily focused on creep behavior and deformation mechanics of salts, the study reveals how site-specific the behavior of salt can be.
Even when using empirical models, there is no consensus on how various factors can affect salt creep. The study stresses the need to further refine salt models and identify factors affecting
injection into salt storage prospects.
Wickstrom, Lawrence H. et al, 2005, Characterization of Geologic Sequestration Opportunities in the MRCSP Region: Columbus, Ohio, Battelle Memorial Institute, 152 p.
[Document Link: https://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/OpenFileReports/OFR_2005-1.pdf ( PDF, 21.96MB)]
Keywords:
The Phase I report of the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) outlines a preliminary assessment of carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration opportunities across New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, West Virginia, and Kentucky in both the Appalachian and Michigan Basins. The study identifies 9 potential reservoirs and 5 caprocks within the Middle Devonian-Middle
Silurian (MDMS) interval using geological and logistical characteristics. The study identified numerous formation types as potential reservoirs and seals, all with varying characteristics and storage capabilities.
The study includes detailed descriptions and evaluations of the Onondaga Limestone-Needmore Shale interval, the Oriskany Sandstone, the Bass Islands Dolomite, the Lockport Dolomite-Keefer Sandstone,
the Dundee and Rogers City Formations, the Detroit River Group-Bois Blanc Formation interval, the Bass Islands Dolomite, and the Niagara Group. In the Appalachian Basin, it was concluded that the Oriskany
Sandstone presents the most promising target for sequestration, while in the Michigan Basin, the Bass Islands Dolomite and the Dundee Formation present the most promising targets. The study utilized a vast
amount of geological information including oil and gas production, drilling records, geophysical logs, laboratory-derived evaluations of core, rock cuttings, and outcrop samples. A smaller part of the larger
MRCSP report, the phase one evaluation, includes some of the most detailed research on individual sequestration prospects.
Patchen, D.G. and Carter, K.M., eds., 2015, A geologic play book for Utica Shale Appalachian basin exploration, Final report of the Utica Shale Appalachian basin exploration consortium, 187 p.
[Project Link: http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/utica]
Keywords: Utica, shale, Ordovician, natural gas, porosity, permeability, stratigraphy, reservoir data, Appalachian Basin
The Study represents the efforts of five different sates and fifteen oil and gas industry partners to research all aspects of the Utica Shale Play in the Appalachian Basin,
from basin-scale stratigraphy to nano-porosity textures. The study assessed the lithology, geochemistry, stratigraphy, and depositional environment of the reservoir as well as defining the oil and
gas fairways and production capabilities in production-based and volumetric resource assessments. The combination of various data-types, analyses, and detailed research including core studies,
tracking drilling activities, mineralogy and carbonate analyses, TOC data, thermal maturity evaluations, stratigraphic correlations, SEM analyses, and resource assessment have provided an
extremely detailed account of the Utica Shale Play across the Appalachian Basin.