The Relationship Between the Taghanic Unconformity and Marcellus Shale Production in Doddridge and Ritchie Counties, West Virginia

The Relationship Between the Taghanic Unconformity and Marcellus Shale Production in Doddridge and Ritchie Counties, West Virginia
Author: Emily Adams
Publisher:
Total Pages: 113
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:

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The Marcellus Shale, a geologic unit that extends from New York to West Virginia within the Appalachian region, is the source of trillions of cubic feet of natural gas due to organic-rich properties. The formation of the unit was coupled with a period of eustatic sea-level rise that resulted in reactivation of a peripheral bulge leading to the development of the Taghanic unconformity. Stratal variances such as thinning or removal of units within the region are predominately found within the Marcellus Shale as a result of the Taghanic unconformity. Most specifically, in West Virginia, the Taghanic unconformity dominates Marcellus Shale thickness deviations. Areas where thickness of the unit varies considerably are located within Doddridge and Ritchie counties. This project aids in understanding how stratigraphic thinning or removal of the Marcellus Shale in relation to hydrocarbon production differences between Doddridge and Ritchie counties, West Virginia may be a result of the Taghanic unconformity. Data are derived from log images obtained by the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey that are correlated to establish the stratigraphy. This study shows the Middle Devonian Marcellus Shale thins from ~55-95 feet in the northeast to ~15-60 feet in the southwest of the counties. This is the result of depositional thinning of the lower Marcellus Shale and erosional removal of part of the upper Marcellus Shale. Additionally, the erosional boundary becomes more extensive towards the southwest. The average first 12 months of gas production from the Marcellus Shale indicates a larger quantity produced within Doddridge County (656,411 MCF) in comparison to Ritchie County (94,209 MCF). Variations in production values may be attributed to erosional features and thinning trends of the Marcellus Shale related to the Taghanic unconformity as well as additional factors such as gas extraction method, and reservoir properties.

THE MARCELLUS SHALE: EROSIONAL BOUNDARY AND PRODUCTION ANALYSIS, SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, U.S.A..

THE MARCELLUS SHALE: EROSIONAL BOUNDARY AND PRODUCTION ANALYSIS, SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, U.S.A..
Author: Mallory Frank Stevenson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:

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The Middle Devonian Marcellus Shale is a natural gas producing formation that was deposited in the Appalachian foreland basin in what is now eastern North America. An unconformity truncates the Marcellus in southern West Virginia and progressively younger units onlap progressively older units. The zero isopach line that marks the edge of the Marcellus is mapped to reveal the southeastern boundary. A well production analysis is conducted to locate the region of maximum natural gas production. Four lithologic completions intervals in three different well fields are compared. This study shows that the most economically viable drilling is from the Marcellus Shale completion intervals that are less than 30 feet in Chapmanville gas field in western Logan County, West Virginia. Outside of the zero isopach are areas comprised of onlapping featheredges of younger formations that comprise a black shale unit mistakenly identified as "Marcellus Shale." These areas produce significantly less gas than the "true" Marcellus Shale.

Geology of the Devonian Marcellus Shale-Valley and Ridge Province, Virginia and West Virginia

Geology of the Devonian Marcellus Shale-Valley and Ridge Province, Virginia and West Virginia
Author: U.S. Department of the Interior
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 56
Release: 2014-03-04
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9781496071897

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Detailed and reconnaissance field mapping and the results of geochemical and mineralogical analyses of outcrop samples indicate that the Devonian shales of the Broadtop Synclinorium from central Virginia to southern Pennsylvania have an organic content sufficiently high and a thermal maturity sufficiently moderate to be considered for a shale gas play. The organically rich Middle Devonian Marcellus Shale is present throughout most of the synclinorium, being absent only where it has been eroded from the crests of anticlines. Geochemical analyses of outcrop and well samples indicate that hydrocarbons have been generated and expelled from the kerogen originally in place in the shale.

Analysis of Devonian Shale Stratigraphic, Production, and Completion Data in West Virginia

Analysis of Devonian Shale Stratigraphic, Production, and Completion Data in West Virginia
Author: Michael E. Hohn
Publisher:
Total Pages: 77
Release: 1987
Genre: Geology, Stratigraphic
ISBN:

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The Huron Shale Member is the major Devonian shale producing zone in all counties under study. To the north and east, the organic shales of the Huron are replaced by inorganic shales and siltstones; gas production in these areas probably comes from the entire shale interval. Gas-producting potential of the Rhinestreet has not been fully exploited despite its similar lithologic character to the Huron. Structure maps on the top of the Berea and vase of the Huron show two northeast-to-southwest trending synclines in Cabell and Wayne Counties, and a north-south anticline in Cabell County. Berea and Onondaga structure reveal benches at both levels in Jackson, Mason, and Putnam Countries, possibly indicating continued effects of normal faulting throughout the shale interval. The Huron and Rhinestreet Members display the largest ratio of shows to penetrations in Devonian shale wells in southwestern West Virginia, confiming the role of the Huron in total shale gas production, and emphasizing the potential of the deeper Rhinestreet Member. Smoothed maps of initial potentials are appropriate in the study of regional trends, but unreliable for precise estimation of gas volumes at individual locations. Maps of initial potentials show sets of linearities parallel and perpendicular to regional structural trends. These linearities implicate fractures as a control on gas volumes. The probability of success maps show two types of areas with production potential: sparsely-drilled areas with a high proportion of successful wells, and densely-drilled areas with intermingled successful and unsuccessful wells.

Geostatistical Analysis of Devonian Shale

Geostatistical Analysis of Devonian Shale
Author: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
Publisher:
Total Pages: 42
Release: 1984
Genre: Geology, Stratigraphic
ISBN:

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