STATE OF INDIANA Matthew E. Welsh, Governor

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Donald E. Foltz, Director

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY John B. Patton, State Geologist Bloomington

Special Report No. 1

UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

by

T. A. Dawson and G. L. Carpenter

Printed by authority of the State of Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

November 1963

For sale by Geological Survey, Indiana Department of Conservation, Bloomington, Ind. Price 50 cents -

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

JOHN B. PATTON, State Geologist MAURICE E. BIGGS. Assistant State Geologist MARY BETH FOX, Mineral Statistician

COAL SECTION GEOPHYSICS SECTION

CHARLES E. W1ER, Geologist and Head MAURICE E. BIGGS, Geophysicist and Head S. A. FRIEDMAN, Geologist ROBERT F. BLAKELY, Geophysicist HAROLD C. HUTCHISON, Geologist CHARLES S, MILLER, Instrument Maker HOWARD W. LEE, Paleobotanist ALBERT J. RUDMAN, Geophysicist RICHARD L. POWELL, Geologist JOSEPH F. WHALEY, Geophysicist WILLIAM C. RICHARDSON, Geological Assistant CLARENCE HASKINS, Driller WAYNE COX, Assistant Driller ARTHUR WA YNE AYNES, Geophysical Assistant DRAFTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION

WILLIAM H. MOHAN, Chief Draftsman INDUSTRIAL MINEHALS SECTION ROBERT E. JUDAH, Geological Artist-Draftsman BETTY MARZAN, Geological Draftsman LAWRENCE F. ROONEY, Geologist and Head JOHN E. PEACE, Senior Geological Draftsman DONALD D. CARR, Geologist GEORGE R. RINGER, Photogl'spher ROBERT R. FRENCH, Geologist JACK A. SUNDERMAN, Geologist

EDUCATIONAL SERVlCES PETROLEUM SECTION R. DEE RARICK, Geologist and Head T. A. DAWSON, Geologist and Head LEROY E. BECKER, Geologist GEOCHEMISTRY SECTION G. L. CARPENTER, Geologist ANDREW J. HREHA, Geologist R. K. LEININGER, Geochemist and Head STANLEY KELLER, Geologist MAYNARD E. COLLER, Chemist HOWARD SMITH, Geologist JACK L. HARRISON, X-ray Mineralogist DAN M. SULLIVAN,Geologist MA MA LAY SEIN. Spectrographer G. A. ABBOTT, Geological Assistant LOUIS V. MILLER, Coal Chemist JAMES T. CAZEE, Geological Assistant E. M. CRAIG. Geochemical Assistant PHILLIP W. CAZEE, Geological Assistant JOHN R. HELMS, Geological Assistant

GEOLOGY SECTION

ROBERT H. SHAVER, PaleontolOgist and Head HENRY H. GRAY, Head Stratlgrapher PUBLICATIONS SECTION WILLIAM J. WAYNE, Head Glacial Geologist ALLAN F. SCHNEIDER, Glacial Geologist GERALD S. WOODARD, Editor and Head CARL B. REXROAD. Paleontologist LEW1S W. NELLINGER, Sales and Record Clel'k CONTENTS 3

Page Page

Abstract ------5 Laconia project -- 16 Introduction ------5 Lawrenceburg project ------17 Reason for underground gas Leesville project ------17 storage ------5 Linkville project ------17 Who stores gas ------5 Linton project ------17 Status of gas storage development Lonetree project ------18 in Indiana ------6 Loogootee project ------18 Acknowledgments ------8 Oaktown project ------18 Factors influencing the location of gas Oliver project ------18 storage development in Indiana ------8 Royal Center project ------18 Regional geology ------8 Unionport project ------19 Entrapments ------10 Unionville project ------19 Porous strata ------12 Westpoint project ------19 Availability of subsurface Wilfred project ------20 information ------13 Worthington project ------20 Gas storage projects in Indiana ------14 Gas storage possibilities in Indiana ---- 20 Alford project ----- 14 Pennsylvanian and MisSissippian Giro East project ------14 Systems ------20 Glendale North project ------14 Devonian and Silurian Systems ----- 23 Green Hill project ------14 Ordovician and Cambrian Systems -- 27 Greensburg project ------16 Conclusions ------28 Howesville project ------16 Selected bibliography ------28

ILLUSTRATIONS

Plate 1. Maps of gas storage projects in Indiana ------In pocket

Page

Figure 1. Map of Indiana showing counties ------6

2. Map of Indiana showing gas pipelines, storage projects, and consuming centers ------7

3. Graph showing total gas storage projects in Indiana by years ------8

4. Generalized bedrock map of Indiana ------9

5. Map of Indiana showing regional structure on top of the Knox Dolomite ------10

6. Map of Indiana showing regional structure on top of the Trenton Limestone ---- 10

7. Map of Indiana showing regional structure on top of the Devonian carbonate sequence ------12

8. Map of Indiana showing regional structure on top of the Cypress Formation --- 12

9. Map showing outcrop and subsurface distribution of the Geneva Dolomite in Indiana ------13

10. Map of Indiana showing stratigraphic position and ownership of gas storage projects------15 4 ILLUSTRATIONS

Page - Figure 11. Map of Indiana showing areas of oil production ------21 12. Map of Indiana showing areas of gas production ------22

13. Map showing structure of Mt. Carmel Fault region, south-central Indiana ---- 25

14. Map showing location of reef structures in west-central Indiana ------26

TABLES

Page

Table 1. Stratigraphic position of natural gas reservoirs and gas storage reservoirs in Indiana ------11

2. Statistical summary of gas storage projects in Indiana ------facing 14 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA 1 r By T. A. Dawson and G. L. Carpenter ABSTRACT with the problem of trying to transmit gas cross country at uniform rates to a consumer Underground gas storage is the practical public that cannot use it at uniform rates. means of making available the increased sup­ Three media have been employed to overcome plies of natural gas that are needed in Indiana this problem. in winter periods of peak demand. To date, Where considerable quantities of natural 21 gas storage projects providing an estimated gas have been developed locally, these may storage capacity of 48 billion cubic feet have be used to supplement transmission line gas been initiated. Expansion of storage capac­ supplies in winter periods of peak demand. ity is anticipated. Unfortunately, not many areas of the Midwest Basic geologic factors and availability of have appreciable quantities of locally devel­ subsurface information make establishment oped natural gas. Indiana has very little, its of gas storage in the Illinois Basin much gas production being only a fraction of a per­ easier than in the Michigan Basin or on the cent of the total gas used, Cincinnati Arch. Within the Illinois Basin, A second medium that has been used to storage possibilities are good in the area in overcome the problem of uniform gas trans­ which Pennsylvanian and Mississippian rocks mission versus nonuniform gas demand is contain oil and gas and are excellent in the makeup gas, that is, coke gas and liquified Geneva Dolomite belt. Throughout Indiana petroleum gas, The use of makeup gas to reservoir conditions inOrdovician and Cam­ meet peak winter demands, however, is sel­ brian rocks are adequate for gas storage, but dom completely satisfactorybecause of costs. known significant entrapments in these rocks Not infrequently makeup gas costs more than are few. the price for which it is sold. The third medium used to overcome the discord between gas supply and gas demand INTRODUCTION is underground gas storage. Underground gas storage consists of stockpiling cross­ REASON FOR UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE countrytransmission line gas in the proxim­ ity of consuming areas when demand is low, Most gas consumed in the Midwest is primarily in summer months, and using this transported cross country from the Midcon­ stockpiled gas when demand is high, primar­ tinent and Gulf Coast by pipelines. Cross­ ily in winter months. For much of the Mid­ country gas transmission pipelines, with at­ west, stockpiling transmission line gas in tendant compressor installations and other natural underground reservoirs is the only needs, require vast capital outlays. These practical means of overcoming the supply­ costly transmission systems need to be used demand discord. In Indiana, with its meager proficiently if transmission costs are not to supplies of native naturalgas and many urban become a burdensome part of the price paid gas-consuming centers, underground gas for gas by the consumer. They need to be storage has become a primary concern of the used continuously at near maximum capacity; gas industry. they need to be used in the summer as' well as in the winter. But consumer demand for WHO STORES GAS natural gas is particularly variable in the Midwest because the temperature spread is Normally two types of gas companies pro­ great and because much of the gas consumed vide service in moving gas from the Midcon­ is used for home heating; gas consumption on tinent and Gulf Coast fields to the Midwest a cold winter day may be several times as consumer. One is the gas transmission com­ much as on an average day and many times pany' and the other is the gas distribution as much as on a warm summer day. Thus company; the services of each are totally the gas industry in the Midwest is confronted complimentary to the other. The transmis­

1 As of October 10, 1961. 5 6 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

sion company transmits gas cross country mates for these states are 437, 465, and 184 and sells it to the distribution company. The billion cubic feet respectively. distribution company makes deliverythrough Expansion of gas storage inIndiana seems - its anastomosing urban lines to the individual inevitable. Some communities do not have consumer. gas service, and many that have service need At first thought, the incentive for estab­ increased supplies. The most economical lishing gas storage might seem to rest solely means of extending service and increasing with the gas transmitter. This is not true, supplies is by gas storage. Engineers of however, because of the type of agreement both cross-country transmission companies commonly made between the transmitter and and intrastate distribution companies are con­ the distributor. To transmit gas through its cerned daily with programs for expanding gas costly transmission system at relatively uni­ storage in Indiana. form rates, the transmitter will commonly Realizing that expansion of gas storage agree to sell gas to the distributor at a re­ was in the public's interest, the Indiana Leg­ duced price if the distributor will agree to islature in 1959 enacted a law permitting ap­ accept gas at a reasonably constant rate plication ofthe principle of eminent domain throughout the year. With this type ofagree­ in acquiring properties for developing gas ment the distributor obviously ends up with storage in subsurface strata (Indiana General excess gas supplies during the summer Assembly, Acts of 1959, chap. 5, p. 16-19). months, and thus the incentive for establish­ ing gas storage will be as great for the gas distributor as for the gas transmitter. Eight ~~l.;~--L------;----r---T---l of the nine companies operating storage pro­ i ~; 'I lA ""Rn ; ST. JOSEPH! ELKHART L::'_Q~S:=-: jects in Indiana are distributors. I IPORTER r.---j , , j : LAKE I' r·1 r---1 NOBLE I DEKAlB : Whether gas storage is established by the I f MARSHAll I transmitter or by the distributor does not af­ I'-_,.(' ",~~~~~ __JKOSCIUSKO} '-- T·- --i fect the final result: The proficiency with , i; II JASPER ! PULASKI II fULTON ~,.- _ J WHITLEY I ALLEN I' I I ; I L r-i ~--;1 ~ which costly transmission systems are used , ::! I . --,-·--1 I I ,-" ~-I- , is upgraded, and more gas is made available r..J ~ IMIAMI! WABASH J:::~! I I :l----1.- WHITE.-~ CASS I I 1$ J WElLS!ADAMS to consuming centers during winter months. 1 I I BEHTOH t' __I CARlI00 _1-_T-EL- l_J f- I GRANT IBlAc;;r- I t_-__ 1 I HOWARD ! I FORD I JAY I , WARREN jTlPPECANOEI"--·l.,;-----t __r-L_=-} i STATUS OF GAS STORAGE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIANA I ."...- I CLINTON ! TIPTON I I '"---1 I ' I ! L I ~ DELAWARE I ' 'mi'UNTAI{--;]---' -[;!' RANDOL... ' In Indiana there are more than two hundred tl 't:-<§>~' BOO.E !NAMILTON' ~ ~--1--J gas-consuming centers (fig. 2). (See also '3;--~ *' L--r----L--j NEHIIY , I' 1 i ? ... -r--- -l J ( HANCOCK I ~ WAYNE fig. 1 for countynames.) Annual consumption '~J PARKE II .HENDRICKSI MARION I ,"-- - ~ I , I'IJTNAIOI J- ~ I --r-­ is estimated to be more than 225 billion cubic ~---l...---'---i .. ~l-.,. __ j - ! /iUSH ~AYETT~UNIONI : r' L r= I ISNElBY I ~---'---' feet. With the expansion of service in exist­ VIGD .... -·1 MORGAN IJOHNSON ~_--I I ing centers and the addition of new centers I CLAY J L I I I fRANkliN I --J [- OWEN r~- '1-L.--;iloECATURY-.,---: each year, annual consumption is going up , I 1 ~ I " I ~ ·--lMO'ROE'lflROWN, ,,# -.-L -1 l,f rapidly. Thus there is a need for large gas SUll/V,," r I ~~ J I RIPLEY ~ storage capacity in Indiana. I GREENE >__-=..I,-L:- ! JENNINGS' '~.- _ I _ _-I ' JACKSON' _~_~OHIO Currently gas storage is being developed -:;; J I LAWltEHCE I .l--;" , SWITZER­ \ I I I'-...... r--_ ( j JEFfERSON I lAND at a relatively rapid rate (fig. 3), and there KNOX ( DAVfESS IMARTlNL " r-­i )"SCOTTI are now 21 projects in the State. Large stor­ ! " ,WAsNINcrON,.>/_l ,,,,,j--,,, -1.,,--1 ORANGE ~ ..I age capacityhas not yet been developed, how­ -:r .. 'r' / I CLARK • 1... PII\£ 10080ls ~--, ever, and Indiana lags b.ehind most neighbor­ --rL-::> ~ GIBSON L _I _ ~AWFORDJ.I "-taOYD ing states. Total developed storage capacity "-- ~ _r ~ iT- -j ~ HARRISON!. [;..... : WAlIRICKJ.' 'PERRY in Indiana is estimated to be about 48 billion POSEY !4.~~~~l j SPENCER cubic feet. This amount is somewhat more .. I I than the estimated 27 billion cubic feet for Kentucky, but it is only a fraction of that es­ Figure 1.-Map of Indiana showing counties. timated for Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois (Pipe Line News, 1961, and Bell, 1961). Esti­ INTRODUCTION 7

M c H G A N

EXPLANATION ® Gas storage project

Interstate pipeline o

Intrastate pipeline

City, town, or industrial plant with gas service

o

CI)

o

.....

Scale of mi les o 10 20 30 40 50 I ! ! ! I I

K E c

Figure 2.-Map of Indiana showing gas pipelines, storage projects, and consuming centers. Modified after Walker and Rarick, 1960. 8 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

gas storage desirable in virtually every part 20 of Indiana. Gas storage, however, cannot be - established with equal ease in all parts of Indiana. II> Gas canbe stored underground only where 15 t; Q) nature has provided two basic geologic pre­ '0 Q. requisites--a porous rock stratum to house "0 the gas and an entrapment, structural or 10 ... Q) stratigraphic, to preventthe gas from migrat­ .c E ing. The regional geology of Indiana is such ::> Z that prevalence of these prerequisites is much 5 greater in some areas than in others. Thus regional geology is a factor that influences the location of gas storage development in Indiana. Gas can be stored underground wherever nature has provided adequate reservoir and Figure 3.-Graph showing total gas storage projects entrapment conditions, but as a practical in Indiana by years. matter underground gas storage can be es­ tablished only where these conditions are evident. In Indiana only limited amounts of ACKNOWLEDGMENTS knowledge about reservoir and entrapment conditions can be learned from surface geo­ Special acknowledgment is due Mr. Frank logic work. Most of this knowledge comes H. Walker, former member of the Indiana from subsurface information, that is, infor­ Geological Survey who is now Director of the mation gained from records of holes drilled Oil and Gas Division, Kentucky Department in search of oil and gas. Thus, as it is in of Mines and Minerals. Mr. Walker prepared those areas where subsurface information is a summary article on gas storage in Indiana abundant that reservoir and entrapment con­ for inclusion in an Interstate Oil Compact ditions will be best understood, availability Commissionpublication on underground stor­ of subsurface information is a second factor age of natural gas In the United States. Mr. that influences the location of gas storage Walker's manuscript was available to us. development in Indiana. Assistance rendered by Mr. Stanley Kel­ ler and Mr. G. A. Abbott, members of the Indiana Geological Survey, is acknowledged. REGIONAL GEOLOGY Mr. Keller compiled data used in some of the illustrations, and Mr. Abbott assisted in pre­ The regional geologic structure of Indiana paring all illustrations. is simple, and the entire State is readilydi­ All nine companies operating storage pro­ visible into three major structural prov­ jects in Indiana cooperated with us, and a inces--the Illinois Basin, the CincinnatiArch, considerable part of the data in table 2 was and the Michigan Basin (figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and furnished by these companies. 8).z Forpurposes of this report, the -1,000­ foot contour on top of the Knox Dolomite (fig. 5) is considered to mark the boundaries ofthe FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LOCATION three structural provinces; the position of OF GAS STORAGE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIANA z As used in this report, the terms Illinois Because pipelines are costly, interstate Basin, Cincinnati Arch, and Michigan Basin gas transmitters desire to establish storage refer only to the portions of these major as close as possible to their transmission structural provinces that lie in Indiana. The lines, and intrastate gas distributors desire term Cincinnati Arch embraces the total pos­ to establish storage as close as possible to itive feature that separates the Illinois and the consuming centers they serve. Location Michigan Basins. For the northwestern part of interstate transmission lines and distri­ of this feature, the term Kankakee Arch has bution of consuming centers (fig. 2) make sometimes been used by others. FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LOCATION OF GAS STORAGE DEVELOPMENT 9

EXPLANATION

Pennsylvanian rocks ~ Mississippian rocks

Devonian and Mississippian shale ~ Devoniano carbonate rocks Silurian rocks

Ordovician racks

o

z

Scale of miles o 10 20 30 40 50 I ! ! I , ! K K E c

Figure 4.-Generalized bedrock map of Indiana. Modified after Patton, 1955. 10 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA r

50 Miles I I I I 1

Figure 5.-Map of Indiana showing regional structure Figure 6.-Map of Indiana showing regional structure on top of the Knox Dolomite. Contour interval on top of the Trenton Limestone. Contour interval 500 feet. After Dawson. 1960. 500 feet. Modified after Dawson, 1952.

this contour is very closely approximated by ments are associated with differential com­ the position of the -500-foot contour on top paction of rocks in the Pennsylvanian, Ches­ of the Trenton Limestone (fig. 6) and is gen­ ter (upper Mississippian) and Silurian (table erally approximated by the position of the 1). Differential compaction between lentic­ +500-foot contour on top of the Devonian car­ ular quartz sand bodies and surrounding clay bonate sequence (fig. 7). muds in the Chester and Pennsylvanian, and Entrapment8.-The regional dip of strata in between reef growths and surrounding lime Indiana is mild. Dips range from 5 to 10 feet and clay muds in the Silurian, has induced per mile on the Cincinnati Arch to as much draped structural entrapments in overlying as 60 or 70 feet per mile in the illinois Basin. porous beds. Pennsylvanian and Chester There are few pronounced diastrophic struc­ rocks are present in Indiana only in the Illi­ tural features. Those known consist of the nois Basin (fig. 4). And reef growths with Kentland Dome in Newton County, which has induced draped structure are known in Indi­ been described as a cryptovolcanic structure, ana only in the Illinois Basin; Silurian reefs the Mt. Carmel Fault in Monroe, Lawrence. on the Cincinnati Arch lack bedrock cover and Washington Counties, and unnamed faults and in the Michigan Basin are an unknown in Cass, Perry, Spencer, Posey, and Gibson quantity. Counties. Compaction structural entrap­ Stratigraphic entrapments are common ments and stratigraphic entrapments are only in the Illinois Basin, as they are limited much more common than diastrophic struc­ primarily to Pennsylvanian and Chester tural entrapments. rocks. In the Pennsylvanian and Chester, Compaction (draped) structural entrap­ lenses of porous quartz sand are commonly FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LOCATION OF GAS STORAGE DEVELOPMENT 11 Table 1.-Stratigraphic position of natural gas resef'Voirs and gas storage tesef'Voirs in Indiana

! System Series Formation O'f' group Litho1ogy* Natural gas Gas storage Conemaugh Undifferentiated ah, 55, 15, coal " Pennsylvanian Allegheny Undifferentiated sh, SS, 15, coal x x Pottsville Undifferentiated sh, as, coal " I Kinkaid Limestone Is, sh

Degonia Sandstone 95, sh

Clore Limestone 19, ss, sh Palestine Sandstone ss, sh " Menard Limestone Is, sh

Waltersburg Sandstone 55, ah

Vienna Limestone Is, sh

Tar Springs Formation ss, sh x

Chester Glen Dean Limestone 15, sh

Hardinsburg Formation 5S, sh x

Golconda Limestone 15, sh

Big Clifty (Jackson) Formation 55, sh X I

Mississippian Beech Creek (Barlow) Limestone Is

Cypress Formation 5S, sh I x x

Paint Creek Formation Is, ss, sh x

Bethel Formation ss, sh x x

Renault Formation 15, 55, sh X

Aux: Vases Formation 1s, sh, ss x

Ste. Genvieve Limestone Is, sn, ss x

Meramec St. Louis Litnestone Is, sh Salem Limestone 15 " Harrodsburg Limestone Is, sh I Osage Borden Group sit, sn, Is, ss

Kinderhook Rockford Limestone Is

New Albany Shale sn x

North Vernon Limestone dol x Devonian Undifferentiated Jeffersonville Limestone Is, dol "

Geneva Dolomite dol x x

Silurian Undifferentiated Undifferentiated 15, dol, sh x

Cincinnatian Undifferentiated sh, Is x Cynthiana Formation

Trenton Limestone Is, dol x x Mohawkian Black River Limestone 15, dol x Ordovician Chazyan Joachim Dolomite dol

St, Peter Sandstone ss x Canadian Knox Dolomite dol, ••

Ea.u Claire Formation slt, an, SS~ dol Cambrian St. Croixan Mt. Simon Sandstone ss

Precambrian

* dol -- dolomite 1s -- limestone ss sandstone sh -- shale sIt -- siltstone 12 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA -

50 Miles 50 Miles L...-.L..-..L-...L-...L--" L...-'--.L-.....'--',--',

Figure 7.-Map of Indiana showing regional structure Figure S.-Map of Indiana showing regional structure on top of the Devonian carbonate sequence. Gen­ on top of the Cypress Formation. Generalized eralized limit of mapped horizon shown by dashed limit of mapped horizon shown by dashed line. line. Contour interval 500 feet. Compiled by Contour interval 500 feet. Compiled by Dan M. Arthur P. Pinsak, 1961. Sullivan, 1961.

wholly encased in impervious shale beds. as the Pennsylvanian and Chester, are re­ Although the oil and gas of the Trenton Field stricted to the Illinois Basin. are trapped under stratigraphic conditions, Devonian and Silurian carbonate strata the principal entrapment is of regional pro­ occur at depth in both the Illinois and Michi­ portions and therefore probably of no value gan Basins. Reservoir characteristics of for gas storage. these rocks are not well understood in the P01'OU8 8trata.-Many more porous strata in Michigan Basin or in parts of the Illinois which gas can be stored when favorable en­ Basin. But in an east-west oriented belt trapment conditions exist occur in the Illinois within the Illinois Basin, where there has Basin than on the Cincinnati Arch or in the been extensive drilling for Devonian oil and Michigan Basin. There are literally dozens gas, the Devonian strata are well understood. of porous sandstone units in the Pennsylva­ In this belt, dolomites in the Devonian are as nian and Chester. Natural accumulations of porous and permeable as any rocks in Indiana. oil and gas occur in some Pennsylvanian The thickest and most persistent of these stratigraphic units containing sand and in all dolomite strata is the basal Devonian strati­ Chester units containing sand. In addition, graphic unit known as the Geneva Dolomite all carbonate stratigraphic units of Meramec (fig. 9). (middle Mississippian) age are porous in re­ The Trenton Limestone and sub-Trenton strictedareas and all have been found to con­ rock units (table 1) occur with bedrock cover tain oil and gas. Meramec rocks (table 1), throughout virtually all of Indiana. Forma­

- ._-_._._------­ FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LOCATION OF GAS STORAGE DEVELOPMENT 13

occur in the Illinois Basin. r AVAILABILITY OF SUBSURFACE INFORMATION Subsurface information is of paramount importance in interpreting structure and stratigraphy in Indiana. Possibilities for de­ termining structural conditions favorable for gas storage by surface mapping are very lim­ ited. The northern two thirds of the State is blanketed by glacial drift, and in many areas of the southern part of the State, efforts to map structure in detail are frustrated by lack of exposures in areas of low relief. Furthermore, many ofthe compaction struc­ tural features of the Illinois Basin are not evidenced, or are only vaguely suggested, in the surface bedrock. Within Indiana recognition of most com­ paction structural entrapments, some dia­ strophic structural entrapments, and all stratigraphic entrapments is possible only through the medium of subsurface informa­ tion. In addition, knowledge of the porosity and permeability characteristics of reservoir strata is always enhancedby subsurface data, and many times these characteristics can be

50 Miles understood only from subsurface data. Thus ,--,---,---,--,---" geologic conditions under which gas can be Figure 9.-Map showing outcrop and subsurface stored will be most evident in those areas of distribution of the Geneva Dolomite in Indiana. Indiana for which there are plentiful subsur­ face data. Intense drilling for oil and gas has taken tions within this rock section that may rea­ place in two areas of Indiana-- (1) the east­ sonably be considered as potential gas stor­ central part of the State in the Trenton Field age reservoirs are the Trenton Limestone, on the Cincinnati Arch and (2) the southwest­ St. Peter Sandstone, Knox Dolomite, Eau ern part of the State in large areas of the Il­ Claire Formation, and Mt. Simon Sandstone. linois Basin. Drilling in the Trenton Field Considered as a whole, the reservoir char­ took place many years ago; the drilling rec­ acteristics of these formations are somewhat ords are very incomplete and very limited better on parts of the Cincinnati Arch and in in quality (mostly drillers logs), and many parts of the Michigan Basin than in the Illi­ of the records are unusable because of inac­ nois Basin, although to some degree each curacies. On the other hand, drilling in the formation must be considered as a potential Illinois Basin is recent, and excellent rec­ storage reservoir in some parts of all three ords, such as drillers logs, samples, elec­ provinces. tric logs, and drilling-time logs, are avail­ It can readily be concluded that the basic able for interpreting subsurface geologic con­ geologic prerequisites for establishing under­ ditions. As it is only in the Illinois Basin ground gas storage, namely, entrapments and that good quality subsurface information in porous strata, are more prevalent in the Il­ large quantity is available, geologic condi­ linois Basin than in the other two regional tions under which gas can be stored are more provinces. Virtually all significant compac­ readily determinable in that structural prov­ tion structures, most of the known strati­ ince than inthe other two structural provinces. graphic entrapments, all porous Pennsylva­ In summation, both regional geology and nian and Mississippian rocks, and the highly available subsurface information favor gas porous and permeable Devonian dolomites storage development in the Illinois Basin. 14 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

These factors have influenced the location of nine for injection and extraction of gas and gas storage development in Indiana to date; four for observation. Thirty-nine old holes 16 of the total 21 storage projects are in the were cleaned out and plugged during develop­ Illinois Basin (figs. 4, 5, 6, and 10). They ment. Total storage capacity is 2,469,300 undoubtedly will also influence the location Mef, working storage capacity is 969,300 of future gas storage development inIndiana. Mcf, and maximum daily deliverability is The gas storer in the Illinois Basin com­ 40,000 Mef. monly has only to study available subsurface Alford, which is the third oldest storage data to select sites favorable for gas storage. project in Indiana, was placed in operation in But the gas storer situated on the Cincinnati 1951. Arch or in the Michigan Basin will commonly have to conduct costly exploration programs to find sites favorable for gas storage, and GIRO EAST PROJECT basic geologic factors indicate that he will be conducting these programs in areas where The Giro East project (pl. 1, fig. 10, and entrapments (particularly compactionstruc­ table 2) in Pike County is owned by the Texas tures and stratigraphic traps) and porous Gas Transmission Corp. The storage reser­ strata are relativelyfew compared to entrap­ voir is Cypress sandstone in whichthere was ments and porous strata in the Illinois Basin. a natural accumulation of gas. Entrapment is stratigraphic. Depth of the reservoir is 1,380 feet, and average thickness is 30 feet. GAS STORAGE PROJECTS IN INDIANA Twelve wells have been completed for in­ jection and extraction of gas. Two old holes Some of Indiana's 21 gas storage projects have been cleaned out and plugged, and four are new (fig. 3 and table 2). In some ofthese new holes have been abandoned and plugged. gas injection has not yet been initiated; in No gas has been stored to date. others, though gas injection has been started, development is considered to be in an exper­ imental or testing stage. Inclusion in this GLENDALE NORTH PROJECT report of a newly started gas storage project does not imply that a successful gas storage The Glendale North project (pl. 1, fig. 10, operation has been established. Forpurposes and table 2) in Daviess County is owned by of this report all areas for which gas storage the Hoosier Pipe Line Corp. Storage is in permits have been issued are considered as Cypress sandstone in a stratigraphic entrap­ gas storage projects. ment. The storage reservoir is a depleted We estimate that total gas storage capac­ natural gas reservoir. Depth to the reser­ ity in Indiana will be about 48 billion cubic voir is 740 feet, and average thickness is 10 feet when projects in an experimental or test­ feet. ing stage are put into operation. Totalwork­ Five wells are operated, four for injection ing capacity (storage capacity less cushion and extraction ofgas and one for observation. gas) will be about 27 billion cubic feet, and All are converted gas producers. Working total maximum daily deliverability will be storage capacity is 200,000 Mcf. about 450, 000 Mcf (thousand cubic feet).

GREEN HILL PROJECT ALFORD PROJECT The Green Hill project (pl. 1, fig. 10, and The Alford project (pl. 1, fig. 10, and table 2) in Warren County is owned by the table 2) in Pike County is owned by the Texas Indiana Gas and Water Co. Storage is in do­ Gas Transmission Corp. Storage is in Cy­ lomite near the top of the Silurian. Entrap­ press sandstone in a stratigraphic entrap­ ment is structural, probably due to a Siluri­ ment. The storage reservoir, which is a de­ an reef; that is, structural closure has prob­ pleted natural gas reservoir, averages 20 ably been induced by differential compaction feet in thickness and is at a depth of 1,050 between underlying reef and nonreef rocks. feet. Porosity averages 12 percent, and per­ The storage reservoir is an aquifer, has an meability averages 59 millidarcies. average thickness of 15 feet, and is ata depth Forty-three wells are operated, thirty- of 410 feet. GAS STORAGE PROJECTS IN INDIANA 15

M c H G A N ----C------r------r------T-----l-­

STRATIGRAPHIC POSITION : , , ! L---~----: I Allegheny Ii! rI-~f---_' 1 e Cypress i '--,J.J 1L;ok,;U. i L_IJ--~ o Bethel '"-;~ f---- I ____ ~ ~ ~ , () Devonian , , I :- L 'I I i e Silurian I I L I r_Lr--l__ I 8 Devonian and Silurian : l,J" -'~Roya,-l I 'I t--T-~I' ~ Trenton or Cynthiana l,- ---1--1 ~--L. center,' ii' I ' 0 St. Peter , I r I .-.-_LTJ" L---f--'-l ~-1---l l , r--TI --1 OWNERSHIP 1 _~een Hill r--'-l,r--r--T-L--i i / 6 Ohio Volley TransmisSion , J/ I Westpoint I L I I r----: :I: Corporation Lawrenceburg Gos Company r-f -1 l--' u.onport i Central Indiana Gas '---'--1 Company , ~ ~ l ' L' ~----i 0 Southern Indi ana Gas and i ) - ·,---l---~--r --j ; i Electric Company I \ I @INDIANAPOLIS - I Northern Indiana Public j I r~ ...,..J.., Service Company Hoosier Pipe line ~~-.,--; L ~ ... ---r--! ! ~-l Corporation --L Citizens Gas and rl L... _ r ! I ~ _J-- _---.J, Coke Utility J r I Indwianaoter GCOSompany and -J' r- ---:1-L -r ~ - ~1-1 y' Texas Gas Trons- ! -, " nf I Greensburg Jd" --:-- I mission Corporation wilfreh" ~~weSVIII=--i >'Unionville, .l :.--( I Lonetrew -(}-Worlhington l l -1' ~ I Lawrenceburg 'UnIon t---~-- - I I ~ ~--~-r--l AI ',.I--'--~ Oaktown r .I IL "1I;;;n I _r r ' ,eesvl e ('---.r-~rl.J.-'"'~ ~ J r--- I 1 o Giro East I ~ ·ILoogo~tee I I r--l r_.""f"~,,,!~£lle North ~ ,J - .,. Alfordl -, _ r- _ _ L-L I _[--~ I -r-) '-, -r~ -~--f . J ~ r ~ ,JJ I Scale of miles I 10 20 40 50 I

K E

Figure lO.-Map of Indiana showing stratigraphic position and ownership of gas storage projects. 16 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

Four wells have been completed for in­ 15 to 20 million cubic feet per day--and is jection and extraction of gas, and a permit not commensurate with the recorded reser­ has been issuedfor completion of a fifth well. voir permeability. The vuggy character of - Only a small amount of gas has beeninjected the Devonian dolomite reservoir probablyex­ to date, and the project is classed as exper­ plains the high deliverability of wells. Actual imental. reservoir permeability is probably several times the recorded permeability of 40 to 140 millidarcies. GREENSBURG PROJECT The reservoir thickness of 35 feet repre­ sents that part of the Devonian dolomite sec­ The Greensburg project (pI. 1, fig. 10, tion mechanically opened in storage wells. and table 2) in Decatur County is owned by Effective reservoir thickness is probably the Indiana Gas and Water Co. Storage is in much greater because the vuggy dolomite the Trenton Limestone in a stratigraphic en­ opened in storage wells is underlain by the trapment; the stratigraphic nature of the en­ vuggy Geneva Dolomite, which is underlain trapment is deduced, as there is virtually no by vuggy Silurian dolomite. Effective reser­ structural closure ontop of the Trenton Lime­ voir thickness is probably limited only by stone. The storage reservoir, a depleted structural closure, which is about 85 feet. natural gas reservoir, averages 15 feet in thickness and is at a depth of 880 feet; its po­ rosity averages 4 percent. LACONIA PROJECT Eighty-sevenwells are operated, sixty for injection and extraction of gas and twenty­ The Laconia project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and seven for observation. All were originally table 2) in Harrison County is owned by the drilled for gas production. Total storage ca­ Ohio Valley Transmission Corp., subsidiary pacity, working storage capacity, and maxi­ of the Louisville Gas and Electric Co. Stor­ mum daily deliverability are 1,000,000 Mcf, age is in Devonian and Silurian dolomite in a 400,000 Mcf, and 1,600 Mcf respectively. structural entrapment. The storage reser­ Greensburg is the second oldest gas stor­ voir is a depleted natural gas reservoir and age project in Indiana. Storage operations averages 15 feet in thickness. Depth to the were initiated in 1950. reservoir ranges from 460 to 650 feet; vari­ ation in depth is due principally to rugged terrain. Porosity averages 15 percent, and HOWESVILLE PROJECT permeability averages 500 millidarcies. Thirty-four wells are operated, thirty-one The Howesville project (pl. I, fig. 10, and for injection and extraction Qf gas and three table 2) in Greene County is owned bythe Cit­ for observation. Permits have been issued izens Gas and Coke Utility. Storage is in De­ for the completion of two additional wells. vonian dolomite in the lower part of the un­ Total storage capacity is 1,535,289 Mcf, and differentiated North Vernon and Jefferson­ working storage capacity is 640,918 Mcf. ville Limestones. Entrapment is structural The Laconia projectis contiguous withthe and is due to an underlying Silurian reef; that Doe Run gas storage project in Meade County, is, structural closure in Devonian beds has Ky., which is also operated bythe Louisville been induced by differential compaction be­ Gas and Electric Co. Figures that represent tween reef and nonreef rocks in tqe Silurian. the combined storage capacity of these two The storage reservoir, a natural gas reser­ contiguous storage areas have appeared in voir, is at a depth of 1,720 feet and is 35 feet print. The figures presented here, however, thick. Porosity averages 16.6 percent, and pertain only to the Laconia storage project. permeability ranges from 40 to 140 milli­ The Devonian and Silurian carbonate sec­ darcies. tion in the area of the Laconia project is a­ Eleven wells are operated, five for injec­ nomalously thin. The Devonian part of the tion and extraction of gas and six for obser­ section, which is dolomite as opposed to lime­ vation. Total storage capacity is 5,000,000 stone in surrounding areas, is particularly Mcf, working storage capacity is 3,200,000 thin. It is only 20 feet thick in some places Mcf, and daily deliverability is 25,000 Mcf. and may very well be even thinner in others. The deliverability potential of individual This Devonian dolomite, which is undifferen­ wells in Howesville is extremely high--about tiatedNorth Vernon and Jeffersonville in age, GAS STORAGE PROJECTS IN INDIANA 17

constitutes the principal part of the storage The Leesville project is on the Dennison reservoir, but some storage wells penetrate Dome of the Leesville Anticline (Melhorn and - the Silurian rocks. Thus the storage reser­ Smith, 1959). voir has been designated as Devonian and Si­ lurian in age. LINKVILLE PROJECT LAWRENCEBURG PROJECT The Lilikville project (pL 1, fig. 10, and The Lawrenceburg project (pI. I, fig. 10, table 2) in Marshall County is owned by the and table 2) in Dearborn County is owned by Northern Indiana Public Service Co. Storage the Lawrenceburg Gas Co. Storage is in the is in Silurian dolomite, and entrapment is Cynthiana Formation. Although lack of mark­ interpolated from meager data as being struc­ er beds precludes a structural interpretation, turaL The storage reservoir is an aquifer, entrapment is presumed to be stratigraphic. is at a depth of 465 feet, and is 15 feet thick. The storage reservoir, a natural gas reser­ Three wells have been completed, one for voir, is approximately 20 feet thick and is at injection and extraction of gas and two for ob­ a depth of 250 feet. servation. Forty-eight test holes for strati­ Three wells are operated for injection and graphic and structural information have also extraction of gas. Total storage capacity and been drilled. To date no gas has been stored. working storage capacity are each 15,000 Very little data on wells drilled in Lilik­ Mcf, and maximum daily deliverability is ville have been released bythe operator. But 1,500 Mcf. scattered control from the few old holes The Cynthiana Formation consists of al­ drilled in the area suggests anomalous struc­ ternatinglimestone and black shale beds. Gas ture, and thus it is conjectured that entrap­ occurrence in this formation in southeastern ment at the Lilikville project is structuraL Indiana and northern Kentucky is common. Data at hand indicate that gas occurs in the limestone beds and not in the shale beds. LINTON PROJECT Because simple monoclinal dips prevail throughout the area of southeastern Indiana The Linton project (pL 1, fig. 10, and table and northern Kentucky, the gas accumulations 2) in Greene County is owned by the Citizens in the Cynthiana limestones are presumed to Gas and Coke Utility. Storage is in Devonian be stratigraphic. The Cynthiana limestones dolomite in the lower part of the undifferen­ may very well be lenticular. tiated North Vernon and Jeffersonville Lime­ stones, and entrapment is structural. Struc­ ture is due to an underlying Silurian pinnacle LEEBVILLE PROJECT reef. The storage reservoir, which is 40 feet thick and is at a depth of 1,950 feet, is a The Leesville project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and natural gas reservoir. Porosity averages table 2) in Lawrence County is owned by the 11. 6 percent, and recorded permeability Texas Gas Transmission Corp. Storage is ranges from 2.5 to 25 millidarcies. inthe Geneva Dolomite (basal Devonian), and Twelve wells have been completed, five entrapment is structural. The storage res­ for injection and extraction of gas and seven ervoir is an aquifer, averages 20 feet in for observation. The operator rates total thickness, and is at a depth of 750 to 850 storage capacity at 3,460,000 Mcf and work­ feet. Variation in depth is due primarily to ing storage capacity at 2,500,000 McL No rough terrain. gas has been stored to date, but the operator Sixteen wells are operated, nine for in­ plans to initiate gas injection in the near jection and extraction of gas and seven for future. observation. Permits for drilling two new Structural and reservoir conditions at storage wells have been issued. During de­ Linton are very similar to those at Howes­ velopment eight old holes were cleaned out ville, and points made about the high deliv­ and plugged and three structure test wells erability of wells and effective reservoir were drilled and plugged. Total storage ca­ thickness at Howesville are probably appli­ pacity is 2,600,000 Mcf, and maximum daily cable to Linton. Structural closure at Linton deliverability is 10,000 Mcf. is approximately 130 feet.

------.. --... ~-~ ... ~-~... ----~ ----_...-_...__...-_... 18 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

LONETREE PROJECT same sandstone body. Records indicate that the three injection-extraction wells at the The Lonetree project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and south edge of the project are completed in a table 2) in Greene County is near Howesville sandstone approximately 25 feet below Coal and Linton and like them is owned by the Ci­ III, whereas the injection-extraction wells in tizens Gas and Coke Utility. As at Howes­ the remainder of the project are completed ville and Linton, storage is in a natural gas in a sandstone approximately 55 feet below reservoir in Devonian dolomite in the lower Coal III. part of the undifferentiated North Vernon and Oaktown is the oldest gas storage project Jeffersonville Limestones, and entrapment in Indiana. Storage operations were initiated is due to structure formed over an underlying in 1944 by the Kentucky Natural Gas Corp. , Silurian reef. The storage reservoir is 40 forerunner of the Texas Gas Transmission feet thick and is ata depth of 1,750 feet. De­ Corp. fined structural closure is approximately 60 feet. Ten wells have been completed, three for OLIVER PROJECT injection and extraction of gas and seven for observation. A small amount of gas was in­ The Oliver project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and table jected at Lonetree in 1959. For the present, 2) in Posey County is owned by the Southern storage operations have been suspended. Indiana Gas and Electric Co. As at Oaktown, storage is in sandstone in the lower part of the Allegheny Series, and entrapment is LOOGOOTEE PROJECT stratigraphic. The storage reservoir, a de­ pleted natural gas reservoir, averages 10 The Loogootee project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and feet in thickness and is at a depth of 780 feet. table 2) in Daviess County is owned by the Porosity averages 18.2 percent, and perme­ Hoosier Pipe Line Corp. Storage is in Bethel ability averages 119 milldarcies. sandstone, and entrapment is stratigraphic. Forty-five wells are operated, all for in­ The storage reservoir, a depleted natural gas jection and extraction of gas; one old hole reservoir, averages 20 feet in thickness and was cleaned out and plugged and seven dry is at a depth of 560 feet. holes were abandoned and plugged. Four wells are operated for injection and Total storage capacity is 2,900,000 Mcf, extraction of gas, and all of them are con­ working storage capacity is 1,041,000 Mcf, verted gas producers. Working storage ca­ and maximum daily deliverability is 40,000 pacity is 105,000 Mcf. Mcf. Three of the wells at Oliver are completed in a small sandstone reservoir approximately OAKTOWN PROJECT 50 feet above the main storage reservoir. This small reservoir is used as a reserve The Oaktown project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and source of gas to meet abnormally high peak table 2) in Knox Countyis owned by the Texas demands. Maintained normally at maximum Gas Transmission Corp. Storage is in a de­ pressure, it provides short-term high deliv­ pleted natural gas reservoir in sandstone in erability. the lower part of the Allegheny Series. En­ trapment is stratigraphic. The stprage res­ ervoir averages 8 feet in thickness and is at ROYAL CENTER PROJECT a depth of 610 feet. Twenty-nine wells are operated, twenty­ The Royal Center project (pI. 1, fig. 10, four for injection and extraction of gas and and table 2) in Cass and Fulton Counties 1S five for observation. Twenty-two old holes owned by the Northern Indiana Public Service were cleaned out and plugged during develop­ Co. Storage is in the St. Peter Sandstone in ment. Total storage capacity is 1,031,200 a structural entrapment. The storage reser­ Mcf, working storage capacity is 610, 710 voir, which is an aquifer, averages 23 feet Md, and maximum daily deliverability is in thickness and is at a depth of 1,350 feet. 9,000 Mcf. Porosity is 17 percent, and permeability av­ We believe that all injection-extraction erages 400 millidarcies. wells in Oaktown may not be completed inthe Twenty wells are operated, twelve for in­ GAS STORAGE PROJECTS IN INDIANA 19 jection and extraction ofgas and eight for ob­ diana Gas and Water Co. Entrapment condi­ servation. Twenty-four additional holes have tions are structural. Two reservoirs are been drilled for stratigraphic and structural being operated. information. Total storage capacity is esti­ Inthe upper reservoir storage is inlenses r mated to be between 2,000,000 and 10,000,000 of Devonian dolomite in the undifferentiated Mcf, and working storage capacity is esti­ North Vernon and Jeffersonville Limestones mated to bebetween 1,000,000 and 8,000,000 at a depth of 800 feet. The storage reservoir McL Maximum daily deliverability is esti­ is a depleted natural gas reservoir and is 7 mated at 20,000 Mcf to 80,000 Mcf. feet thick (net thickness). Porosity is 6 per­ The structural feature in which storage is cent. Twenty-two wells are operated, twelve effected at Royal Center is a large anticline, for gas injection and extraction and ten for bounded on the southeast by a fault which has observation. Total storage capacity, work­ displacement of about 100 feet. These major ing storage capacity, and maximum daily de­ diastrophic structuralfeatures were first re­ liverability are 2,470,000 Md, 984,580 Mcf, vealed by the exploration and development and 23,000 Md respectively. drilling connected with the Royal Center gas In the lower reservoir storage is in the storage project. Geneva Dolomite (basal Devonian) and is at a depth of 890 feet. This reservoir is an aqui­ fer and is 40 feet thick. Nine permits that UNIONPORT PROJECT authorize the operator to drill wells into the Geneva Dolomite have been issued. Some of The Unionport project (pl. 1, fig. 10, and these wells have been completed, and gas in­ table 2) in Randolph County is owned by the jection has been initiated. All active opera­ Central Indiana Gas Co. Storage is in the tions shown on the Unionville map of plate 1 Trenton Limestone. The storage reservoir, indicate wells scheduled to be drilled to the which contained some natural gas, is 15 feet Geneva. thick and is at a depth of 1,060 feet. Poros­ The Unionville project is on the Unionville ity is 6 percent, and permeability is 1 milli­ Dome of the Leesville Anticline (Melhorn and darcy. Type of entrapment is not known but Smith, 1959). is guessed to be stratigraphic. No gas has been stored to date. Twenty test holes have been d:r:illed for stratigraphic WESTPOINT PROJECT and structuralinformation, and permits have been issued for completion of four gas stor­ The Westpoint project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and age wells. table 2) in Tippecanoe County is owned bythe As yet, little data have been released on Indiana Gas and Water Co. Storage is in an the newly drilled holes in Unionport, and thus aquifer in Devonianlimestone of the undiffer­ a structural interpretationhas not beenmade. entiated North Vernon and Jeffersonville sec­ We speculate, however, that entrapment con­ tion at a depth of 400 feet. Average thickness ditions are not structural, but stratigraphic. of the reservoir is 12 feet, and porosity is 8 This speculation is made because most gas percent. Entrapment is structural. accumulations in the Trenton Limestone in Twenty-seven wells are operated, thirteen eastern Indiana are due to lateral changes in for gas injection and extraction and fourteen permeability rather than to structural clo­ for observation. Total storage capacity is sure. 650, 000 Mcf, and working storage capacity The operator at Unionport has indicated is 200,000 Mcf. Maximum daily deliverabil­ that gas storage may be attempted in the Knox ity is 7,500 Mcf. Dolomite should the low porosity and perme­ Structural closure on the Devonian carbon­ ability of the Trenton preclude effective stor­ ate sequence at Westpoint, as at nearby Green age. Hill, is probably related to an underlying Si­ lurian reef. Closure is much less, however, than that associated with Silurian pinnacle UNIONVILLE PROJECT reefs to the south in Vigo, Sullivan, and Greene Counties. The Westpoint structure, The Unionville project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and which has closure of about 30 feet, does not table 2) in Monroe County is owned by the In­ have a pinnacle shape. 20 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS OF INDIANA

WILFRED PROJECT structure of the pinnacle reef type. As at Howesville, Linton, and Wilfred, - The Wilfred project (pI. 1, fig. 10, and effective reservoir permeability and effective table 2) in Sullivan County is owned by the reservoir thickness are probably greater Texas Gas Transmission Corp. Storage is than the recorded figures indicate. in the Geneva Dolomite (basal Devonian), from which oil was produced in commercial quantities. The storage reservoir is at a GAS STORAGE POSSIBILITIES IN INDIANA depth of 2, 030 feet, is 30 feet thick, and has porosity of 12.3 percent and permeability of PENNSYLVANIAN AND MISSISSIPPIAN SYSTEMS 84 millidarcies. Entrapment is in a reef structure whichhas 125 feet of closure ontop Pennsylvanian, upper MissiSSippian (Ches­ of the Devonian carbonate sequence. ter), and middle Mississippian (Meramec) Eighteen wells are operated, thirteen for rocks are present in Indiana only in the Illi­ injection and extraction of gas and five for nois Basin. Lower Mississippian rocks are observation. Twenty-four old holes were present in both the Illinois and Michigan cleaned out and plugged during development, Basins. There are, however, only negligible and seven stratigraphic tests were drilled occurrences of porous strata in the lower and plugged. Total storage capacity is Mississippian of the Illinois Basin and no po­ 2,400,000 Mcf, working storage capacity is rous strata in the lower Mississippian of the 1,200,000 Mcf, and maximum daily deliver­ Michigan Basin. ability is 30,000 Mcf. Since 1939 the Pennsylvanian, Chester, Structural and stratigraphic circumstances and Meramec of southwestern Indiana have at Wilfred are essentially identical to those been intensively explored for oil. The area at Howesville and Linton, and the deliverabil­ explored includes Posey, Gibson, Vander­ ity potential of individual wells in Wilfred is burgh, Warrick, Pike, Spencer, Perry, Du­ known to be extremely high. As at Howes­ bois, Martin, Daviess, and Knox Counties ville and Linton, the true permeability of the (fig. 1). More than 250 oil fields and some storage reservoir is probably many times the gas fields have been found (figs. 11 and 12). recorded permeability. Also, as at Howes­ Many of the oil fields are comprised of mul­ ville and Linton, the Silurian rocks which lie tiple reservoirs, and more than 500 oil res­ immediately below.the Geneva probably have ervoirs have been discovered. Depth to the sufficient porosity and permeability to serve reservoirs ranges from a few hundred feet to as an effective reservoir. approximately 3,000 feet; area of the reser­ voirs ranges from less than a 100 acres to several hundred acres; and thickness of the WORTHINGTON PROJECT reservoirs ranges from a few feet to as much as 30 t040 feet (Carpenter and Smith, 1961). The Worthington project (pI. 1, fig. 10, As has been pointed out, porous strata and table 2) in Greene County is owned by the abound in the Pennsylvanian and Chester and Citizens Gas and Coke Utility. Storage is in occur in the Meramec. Oil has been found Devonian dolomite in the lower part of the in 18 stratigraphic units of this rock section, undifferentiated North Vernon and Jefferson­ and gas has been found in 14 (table 1). As ville Limestones in a natural gas reservoir. has also been pointed out, compaction struc­ The storage reservoir is at a dept!t of 1,420 tures and stratigraphic traps are common in feet and is 35 feet thick. Porosity is 18. 1 the Pennsylvanianand Chester. Stratigraphic percent, and permeability determinations of traps also are present in the Meramec. Most 18.2 to 35.4 millidarcies have been made. of the oil that has been found in southwestern Entrapment is due to a reef structure. Indianahas accumulated in stratigraphic traps Twenty-eight wells are operated, fourteen or compaction structures. Pronounced dia­ for observation and fourteen for gas injection strophic structures in southwestern Indiana, and extraction. Total storage capacity is as throughout Indiana, are not common. 9,000,000 Mcf. There are faults of appreciable displacement Data on new wells drilled in Worthington in Posey, Gibson, Spencer, and Perry Coun­ have not been released by the operator. Four ties, but these have not played a significant old holes in the southern part of the project role in the location of oil and gas accumula­ are high structurally, however, and suggest tions.

------~...... GAS STORAGE POSSIBILITIES IN INDIANA 21 - M C H G A N

o

z

Scole of miles o 10 20 30 40 50 L I I j I I K K E

Figure H.-Map of Indiana showing areas of oil production. 22 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA r M C H G A N

en

o z

...J

...J

Scale of miles

K E

Figure 12.-Map of Indiana showing areas of gas production. GAS STORAGE POSSIBILITIES IN INDIANA 23

Most natural gas reservoirs in the Penn­ cate that there are significant entrapments. sylvanian and Mississippian strata of south­ Pronounced diastrophic structures are not - western Indiana that have appreciable size known in the Michigan Basin, and stratigraph­ have already been used for gas storage, ic entrapments in the Devonian and Silurian namely, Oliver, Oaktown, and Alford (fig. are unknownthroughout Indiana. Reef struc­ 10). Also, some of limited size have been tures occur south of the Michigan Basin inthe used for gas storage, namely, Loogootee, area of Silurian outcrop in the north-central Glendale North, and Giro East. None of the part ofthe State, but as yet they have not been oil reservoirs, however, have been used for positively identified in the Michigan Basin gas storage. portion of Indiana. Gas and oil have been Many Pennsylvanian and MissiSSippian oil found at only four places. At three of these, reservoirs with good porosity and perme­ development consists of the completion of a ability are being waterflooded, and many of single well; at the fourth, seven gas wells these secondary recovery projects are near­ have been completed. The only gas storage ing depletion. Oil reservoirs that are de­ project in the Michigan Basin is adjacent to pleted by waterflooding should be numerous the seven-well gasfield and is known as the in a few years. These, and perhaps some oil l.,inkville gas storage project (fig. 10). Stor­ reservoirs that have been subjected to pri­ age at Linkville is to be effected in the Silu­ mary depletion only, offer excellent prospects rian. Circumstances of entrapment at Link­ for gas storage. ville are not clear. (See Linkville project.) Gas storage possibilities in the Devonian and Silurian carbonates of the Illinois Basin DEVONIAN AND SILURIAN SYSTEMS vary. South of the Geneva Dolomite belt they arelimited, north of the Geneva belt they are Except for the New Albany Shale (upper­ only fair, and within the Geneva belt (fig. 9) most Devonian) the Devonian and Silurian they are excellent. rocks of Indiana are composed of a virtually South of the Geneva belt few deep wells continuous carbonate section that ranges in have been drilled. In those that have, the age from early Silurian to middle Devonian. prevailing lithology in the Devonian and Si­ This carbonate rock section, less than 100 lurian is limestone and not porous dolomite. feet thick in areas of outcropin southeastern No oil has been found and gas wells have been Indiana, attains thicknesses of 1,000 feet in completed at only three places. At two of northeastern Indiana (in the Michigan Basin) these, Salem and Smedley in Washington and 1,350 feet in southwestern Indiana (inthe County, the gas accumulations are noncom­ Illinois Basin). Pronounced compaction mercial. The third, Laconia in Harrison structures, in theform of Silurian reefs, and County, is the site of the Laconia gas storage also extremely permeable dolomites occurin project (fig. 10), At Laconia both the Devo­ this carbonate rock section in some areas. nian and Silurian rocks are locally dolomit­ Where these two phenomena are coincident, ized and are porous and permeable; entrap­ unique gas storage possibilities exist. ment is caused by mild folding. The Devonian and Silurian carbonate rocks In the rather small part of the Illinois provide gas storage possibilities only in the Basin that lies north of the Geneva belt (figs. Michigan and Illinois Basins. Throughout 4, 5, 6, and 9), test wells are few, and no much of the CincinnatiArch these carbonates oil or gas has been found. Subsurface data do not have bedrock cover, and in part ofthat indicate that the Silurian contains dolomite province they have been totally removed by but that the Devonian consists principally of erosion; bedrock cover is present in limited limestone. Reefs probably occur in the Silu­ areas (fig. 4), but it is very thin. rian; they occur to the south in the Geneva Gas storage possibilities in the Devonian belt and to the north in the Silurian outcrop. and Silurian carbonate rocks of the Michigan There are only two gas storage projects in Basin are limited. Relatively little subsur­ the area, Westpoint and Green Hill (fig. 10). face data are available for study, as few oil Storage at both is in the Devonian and Silu­ and gas test wells have been drilled, and this rian section; at WestpOint it is in Devonian fact may color opinion as to gas storage pos­ limestone, and at Green Hill it is in Silurian sibilities. But subsurface data at hand, al­ dolomite. Entrapment at both projects is though indicating that there are some porous caused by mild structural closure, which is Devonian and Siluriandolomites, do not indi­ believed to be related to Silurian reefs. The

---_...... _------­ 24 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

structural closures at Westpoint and Green The pinnacle-shaped Silurian reefs are not Hill were outlined by exploratory drilling pro­ restricted to the area shown in figure 14. A grams conducted by the Indiana Gas and Water few are known to the south in Daviess and r Co. for the express purpose of determining Dubois Counties, but these are outside the sites favorable for gas storage. At both pro­ Geneva belt. Structural closure on beds over­ jects the storage reservoirs are aquifers. lying the reefs is a result of differential com­ Within the Geneva belt the Geneva Dolo­ paction in the Silurian- -differential compac­ mite, the basal Devonian formation, and do­ tion between the reefs and the muds deposited lomites inthe overlying undifferentiated North adjacent to the reefs. Some closure exists Vernon and Jeffersonville section have supe­ in all beds overlying the reefs but is greatest rior reservoir quality, and structural clo­ in the beds immediately overlying the reefs. sures are relatively abundant. The struc­ Closure characteristically is abrupt. Char­ tural closures are readily divisible into two acteristically, too, it is pronounced, com­ groups, those that occur to the east along the monly being about 100 to 125 feet on top of Mt. Carmel Fault (fig. 13) and those that oc­ the Devonian carbonate rocks, some 130 to cur to the west in the pinnacle reef area (fig. 170 feet above the reefs. (Reef structure as 14). used in this paper refers to the draped struc­ The Mt. Carmel Fault is one of the few ture induced on strata above a reef and not pronounced diastrophic structural features to the reef itself. ) known in Indiana. Throughout its mapped ex­ Prolific oil production has been obtained tent it is paralleled to the west by a struc­ from Devonian beds in many reef structures tural reversal designated as the Leesville of Sullivan and Vigo Counties, and some oil Anticline (Melhorn and Smith, 1959). Domes production has been obtainedfrom some reef oflimited closure occur on the Leesville Anti­ structures in Clay and Vermillion Counties. cline, and two of these (fig. 13) are the sites In the reef structures of Greene and Owen ofgas storage projects. At Leesville in Law­ Counties, with one exception, only gas has rence County storage has been established in been found. anaquifer in the Geneva Dolomite. AtUnion­ Gas storage has been established in five ville in Monroe County storage has been es­ of the pinnacle reef structures (figs. 10 and tablished in the undifferentiated North Vernon 14). At Wilfred storage is in the Geneva Do­ and Jeffersonville section and in the under­ lomite, which was originally an oil reservoir. lying Geneva; the upper reservoir originally At Howesville, Linton, Lonetree, and Worth­ contained a commercial accumulation of gas, ington the storage reservoirs are all in the whereas the Geneva reservoir is an aquifer. lower part of the undifferentiated North Ver­ Wherever structural closures occur along the non and Jeffersonville section, and all origi­ Leesville Anticline within the Geneva belt, nally contained accumulations of natural gas. opportunities exist for establishing gas stor­ Structural closure on top of the Devonian age in Devonian dolomites. limestone section at Wilfred is 125 feet; at Within the Devonian and Silurian carbonate Howesville it is 85 feet; at Linton it is 130 section of Indiana, gas storage possibilities feet; at Lonetree it is 60 feet; and at Worth­ are best in the western part of the Geneva ington it is estimated to be about 100 feet. belt. In this area there has been extensive Three of these projects- - Wilfred, Howes­ drilling for Devonian oil, and abundant sub­ ville, and Worthington- -are in operation, and surface information has resulted. Gas stor­ a fourth, Linton, is being placed in operation. age possibilities are unique bec8;use highly The combined storage capacity of these four permeable Devonian dolomites are coincident projects is nearly 20 billion cubic feet, only with pronounced Silurian reef structures (figs. slightly less than half of the total developed 9 and 14). storage capacity in Indiana. Reef structures The Geneva Dolomite is 30 to 50 feet thick of west- central Indiana that have not been in the reef-structure area. There is a second utilized (fig. 14) offer excellent opportunities Devonian dolomite in this area in the lower for developing new gas storage projects. part of the undifferentiated North Vernon and The reef- structure storage is very prob­ Jeffersonville Limestones, immediately ably the best type of storage in Indiana. It above the Geneva; it is 30 to 40 feet thick. has two meritorious aspects. These are re­ Both dolomites are vuggy, and theirhigh per­ latively large storage capacity with limited meability is believed to be directly related areal extent and high deliverability. The to this vuggy characteristic. large storage capacity is due tothe combina­

------. ------­ GAS STORAGE POSSIBILITIES IN INDIANA 25 - EXPLANATION

Structure contours on top of --800­ the Borden Group. Contour interval 40 feet ---Q'--­::> High angle fault. D, downthrown side; U, upthrown side)

Gas storage area

Miles

INDIANA \

INDEX MAP

T 4 N

T 3 N R1E

Figure lS.-Map showing structure of Mt. Carmel Fault region, south-central Indiana. Modified after Melhorn and Smith, 1959. 26 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

EXPLANATION r Structure contour on top of the --500- Devonian carbonate sequence. Contour interval 100 feet Reef structure evidenced by sub­ (}j stantia I well control Reef structure evidenced by limited o well control • Reef structure utilized for gas storage o 5 10 Miles I I

INDIANA

Figure H.-Map showing location of reef structures in west-central Indiana. GAS STORAGE POSSIBILITIES IN INDIANA 27

Hon of pronounced closure and thick reser­ a sheet sand to the west side of the State and voir beds; the effective thickness of reser­ is thickest inthe northwest corner of the State voirs is, in fact, probably limited only by (Gutstadt, 1958). In all parts ofIndiana where structural closure as permeable dolomite in an appreciable section of the Knox has been the lower part of the undifferentiated North penetrated, some porous dolomite has been Vernon and Jeffersonville is underlain by found, and in some places porous sandstones permeable dolomite in the Geneva, which is of considerable thickness have been encoun­ underlain in many places by permeable Silu­ tered (Dawson, 1960). The Galesville Sand­ rian reef rock. The high deliverability, of stone, treated as lower Knox by Gutstadt course, is due to the unusually permeable (1958) and as upper Eau Claire by Dawson character ofthe reservoir dolomites; because (1960), is restricted tothe northwestern part of the vuggy characteristic of these rocks, of the State. The Mt. Simon Sandstone, pres­ true permeabilities are undoubtedly much ent throughout Indiana, is probably cleaner greater than recorded permeabilities (table and coarser, and therefore more porous and 2). With reservoirs at operating pressures, permeable, in the northern than inthe south­ the deliverability of individual wells is com­ ern part of the State (Dawson, 1960). monly about 15 to 20 million cubic feet per Although there are porous strata in some day. parts of the Ordovician and Cambrian section throughout Indiana, conditions of entrapment are limited. There are no known compaction ORDOVICIAN AND CAMBRIAN SYSTEMS structures in any Ordovician and Cambrian formations. Stratigraphic entrapments are Whereas gas storage possibilities in the known onlyin the Trenton (and possibly in the Pennsylvanian and MissisSippian rocks are Cynthiana), and these are considered to be of restricted to the Illinois Basin and gas stor­ only limited significance for gas storage. age possibilities in Devonian and Silurian Diastrophic structures, thus, take on a spe­ rocks are restricted to the Illinois and Mich­ cial significance when gas storage is consid­ igan Basins, gas storage possibilities in Or­ ered in Ordovician and Cambrian strata, and dovician and Cambrian rocks exist, to some as has been pointed out, these structures are degree, throughout the State. not numerous in Indiana. As for geologic factors that bear on the Known stratigraphic entrapments in the establishment of gas storage in Ordovician Trenton occur in the eastern part of the State. and Cambrian rocks, reservoir conditions Gas storage possibilities in the Trenton in in general are somewhat better on the Cin­ this area are considered to be limited, how­ cinnati Arch and in the Michigan Basin than ever, by several factors. First, the strati­ in the Illinois Basin. There are no data at graphic entrapment accounting for the major hand, however, to indicate that significant part of the Trenton oil and gas field (figs. 11 entrapments in these rocks are more prev­ and 12) is too large to be used for storage. alent in one province than in another. Secondly, subsurface data are limited in The Trenton Limestone and Cynthiana For­ quantity and quality. Thirdly, permeability mation, St. Peter Sandstone, Knox Dolomite, of the Trentonthroughout much of the area is Eau Claire Formation, and Mt. Simon Sand­ low. Fourthly, the multitude of unrecorded stone are stratigraphic units within the Ordo­ holes drilled would jeopardize the success of vician and Cambrian Systems that may rea­ storage projects in many places. sonably be considered as having reservoir There are four gas storage projects in In­ potential. Except for an area in the S'Outh­ diana that involve the Ordovician and Cam­ eastern part of the State where the Trenton brian section. All are on the Cincinnati Arch and Cynthiana are at shallow depth, or crop where storage possibilities are limited tothe out, and for the restricted exposures of the Ordovician and Cambrian. At two of these Trenton and St. Peter at Kentland Dome, all projects, Greensburg and Unionport (fig. 10), occur at considerable depth throughout Indi­ storage is in the Trenton Limestone. At ana. But distribution and physical charac­ Lawrenceburg (fig. 10) storage is in the Cyn­ teristics vary. The Trenton Limestone thiana Formation. At the fourth, Royal Cen­ grades from limestone in southern Indiana to ter, storage is in the St. Peter Sandstone. dolomite in northern Indiana (Gutstadt, 1958) At the Greensburg project entrapment is with attendant improvement in porosity and stratigraphic, at the Lawrenceburg and permeability. The St. Peter is restricted as Unionport projects entrapment is presumably 28 UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIANA

stratigraphic, and at the Royal Center project in the Geneva Dolomite belt. This east-west entrapment is structural. The Greensburg, oriented belt in which extremely permeable - Lawrenceburg, and Unionport projects are dolomites are present is restricted to part of limited in quality because of reservoir char­ the Illinois Basin. Where structural closures acteristics. At Royal Center the reservoir occur inthis belt, gas storage canbe effected, characteristics of the St. Peter are very and where pinnacle reef structures occur in good, and rated capacity is the largest of any this belt in west-central Indiana, storage pos­ storage project in Indiana. At Greensburg, sibilities are unique. Lawrenceburg, and Unionport the storage re­ Some permeable strata are present at servoirs originally contained accumulations depth in the Ordovician and Cambrian rock of natural gas, but at Royal Center the stor­ section throughout the State. Known signifi­ age reservoir is an aquifer. cant entrapments in this rock section, how­ Diastrophic structures are the key to es­ ever, are few. There are no known compac­ tablishing effective gas storage in the Ordo­ tion structures, and known stratigraphic en­ vician and Cambrian of Indiana. Where these trapments are limited to the Trenton Lime­ features exist multiple storage reservoirs stone in areas where permeability is fre­ probably can be developed; for example, at quently low. Diastrophic structures, thus, Royal Center (pI. 1) storage very likely can are of particular significance to the estab­ be effected in the Knox, Galesville, and Mt. lishment of gas storage in Ordovician or Simon, in addition to that in the St. Peter; Cambrian rocks, and these structures are and on the Leesville Anticline (fig. 13) stor­ not numerous in Indiana. age very likely can be developed in the Knox, particularly in the large sandstone body oc­ curring withinthe Knox, and in the Mt. Simon. Delineation of diastrophic structures in the Ordovician and Cambrian, however, entails SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY considerable costs. Geophysics or strati­ graphic drilling, or both, must be employed. Bell, A. H., 1961, Underground storage of The pronounced diastrophic structure at Royal natural gas in Illinois: Illinois Geol. Sur­ Center was delineated by an extensive ex­ vey Circ. 318, 27 p., 17 figs., 9 tables. ploratory drilling program conducted by the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. Carpenter, G. L., and Smith, Howard,1961, Oil development and production in Indiana during 1960: Indiana Geo!. Survey Mineral CONCLUSIONS Economics Ser. 7, 17 p., 1 fig., 3 tables.

Developed underground gas storage capac­ Dawson, T. A., 1952, Map showing gener­ ity in Indiana is relatively small. Gas stor­ alized structure of Trenton Limestone in age projects have been established at an in­ Indiana: Indiana Geo!. Survey Misc. Map creased tempo in recent years, however, and 3. currently aggressive programs are being conducted for the establishment of additional -----1960, Deep test well inLawrenceCoun­ storage sites. Storage capacity will be in­ ty, Indiana: Drillingtechniques and strat­ creased materially in the years immediately igraphic interpretations: Indiana Geo!. ahead. Survey Rept. Prog. 22, 36 p., 1 pI., 7 Because of basic geologic factors and figs., 5 tables. available subsurface information, gas stor­ age can be effected in the Illinois Basin much Gutstadt, A. M., 1958, Cambrian and Ordo­ easier than in other parts of Indiana. Stor­ vician stratigraphy and oil and gas possi­ age possibilities are very good in rocks of bilities in Indiana: Indiana Geol. Survey the Pennsylvanianand Mississippian Systems. Bull. 14, 103 p., 1 pI., 17 figs., 8 tables. In these rocks, which are restricted to the Illinois Basin, porous strata abound and com­ Melhorn, W. N., and Smith, N. M., 1959, paction structures and stratigraphic entrap­ The Mt. Carmel Fault and related struc­ mentsare very common. tural features in south-central Indiana: Within the Devonian and Silurian carbonate Indiana Geol. Survey Rept. Prog. 16, 29 sequence, storage possibilities are excellent p., 1 pI., 2 tables.

..------...... -~---...... ------.... -~--~ ...... -~--~...... ---­ SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 29

Patton, J. B., 1955, Underground storage of panies, 75th ed.: New York, Moore Pub­ liquid hydrocarbons in Indiana: Indiana lishing Co., Inc., 517 p. - GeoI. Survey Rept. Prog. 9, 19 p., 1 pI. , 1 fig., 1 table. Walker, F. H., 1962, Underground storage of natural gas in Indiana: Interstate Oil Pipe Line News, 1961, Underground storage Compact Comm., p. 43-55, 7 figs., 1 of gas hits record level in 1960: v. 33, table. June 15 issue, Ann. directory of pipe lines, p. 18. -----and Rarick, R. Dee, 1960, Map of In­ diana showing crude oil, natural gas, and Springborn, H. W., ed. director, 1961, refined petroleum products pipelines: In­ Brown's directory of American gas com­ diana GeoI. Survey Misc. Map 6.