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West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF MIDDLE AND UPPER DEVONIAN ORGANIC-RICH SHALES IN WEST VIRGINIA Ray Boswell and Susan Pool WVGES Reports of Investigation -- 35 2018 West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey Reports of Investigation 35 Lithostratigraphy of Middle and Upper Devonian Organic-Rich Shales in West Virginia Recommended Citation: Boswell, R. M. and S. E. Pool, 2018, Lithostratigraphy of Middle and Upper Devonian Organic-Rich Shales in West Virginia: West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey, Reports of Investigation RI-35, 47 p, 31 f. Available Online: http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/MUDvnnSh/MUDvnnSh.htm Cover: Photograph courtesy of Northeast Natural Energy; used with permission. Disclaimer and Publications Policy: This publication represents interpretations of best available data made by professional geologists. As in all research work, professional interpretations may vary and can change over time for reasons including, but not limited to, improved data and interpretation. This publication is offered as a service of the State of West Virginia; proper use of the information herein is the sole responsibility of the user. Permission to reproduce this publication is granted if acknowledgement is given to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. Table of Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………….……. 1 Introduction…………………………………………………..…………………………….……………………………..….….…… 1 Data and Methods…………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..………… 4 Middle Devonian (Givetian) Marcellus-Mahantango-Tully Interval…………………………….………… 16 Marcellus…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..……………… 16 Mahantango……………………………………………………………………………………….……………..……………… 20 Hamilton……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….…….………… 26 Tully……………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….…………… 26 Upper Devonian (Basal Frasnian) Genesee-Harrell Interval…………………………………...…….……..… 26 Upper Devonian (Upper Frasnian) Sonyea-West Falls-Java Interval……………….……...…………….. 30 Upper Devonian (Famennian) Ohio Shale Interval…………………………………..….….…….………………. 34 Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 39 Additional Materials……………………………………………..…………………………………………….….……………… 41 Acknowledgements…………………………………..……………………………………………………..….………………… 41 References……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….……………. 42 i | WVGES RI-35 List of Figures Figure 1. Stratigraphic chart for West Virginia (west of Allegheny Front)……………………………….….….…… 3 Figure 2. Study well locations………………………………………………………………………………………………..….………. 5 Figure 3. Example geophysical well log, #2482, Jackson County, West Virginia………………………….………. 6 Figure 4a. Schematic illustration, lateral lithofacies boundary convention…………………………………..………. 7 Figure 4b. Schematic cross-section (W to E), lithostratigraphy of organic-rich shales……………….…….…… 8 Figure 4c. Schematic cross-section (SW to NE), lithostratigraphy of organic-rich shales……………………… 9 Figure 4d. Schematic detail, lithostratigraphy of Hamilton Group……………………………………………….……… 10 Figure 5. Example lithostratigraphic cross-section (W to E)……………………………………………….……………… 11 Figure 6. Example geophysical well log, #3141, Barbour County, West Virginia………………………………… 12 Figure 7. Example geophysical well log, #1705, Monongalia County, West Virginia……………………..…… 13 Figure 8. Example geophysical well log, #1894, Wayne County, West Virginia………………………..………… 14 Figure 9. Example geophysical well log, #4833, Kanawha County, West Virginia…………………….………… 15 Figure 10. Top of Onondaga Limestone and Equivalents, Subsea Elevation………………………………………… 17 Figure 11a. Marcellus Formation—Net Shale, Isochore Map……………………………………………………….………. 18 Figure 11b. “Transition Zone” within the Basal Marcellus Formation and Needmore Shale, Isochore Map……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….………… 19 Figure 11c. Union Springs Member of Marcellus Formation and “lower Marcellus,” Isochore Map……… 21 Figure 11d. Cherry Valley Member of Marcellus Formation, Isochore Map…………………………………………… 22 Figure 11e. Oatka Creek Member of Marcellus Formation and “upper Marcellus,” Isochore Map…..…… 23 Figure 11f. Lower Portion of Oatka Creek Member of Marcellus Formation and “upper Marcellus B,” Isochore Map…………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…………… 24 Figure 11g. Upper Portion of Oatka Creek Member of Marcellus Formation and “upper Marcellus A,” Isochore Map……………………………………………………………………………………………………….….………… 25 Figure 12. Mahantango Formation, Isochore Map…………………………………….…………………………….….……… 27 Figure 13. Hamilton Group, Isochore Map…………………………………….………………………………..………….……… 28 Figure 14. Tully Limestone, Isochore Map………………………………….…………………………………….………………… 29 Figure 15. Geneseo Shale Member of Genesee Formation and Burket Shale Member of Harrell Shale, Isochore Map………………………..………………..………………………………………………………………….…..... 31 Figure 16. West River Shale Member of Genesee Formation, Isochore Map………………………………….…… 32 Figure 17. Middlesex Shale Member of Sonyea Formation and Middlesex Shale, Isochore Map………… 33 Figure 18. Cashaqua Shale Member of Sonyea Formation, Isochore Map…………………………………………… 35 ii | WVGES RI-35 List of Figures (continued) Figure 19. Rhinestreet Shale Member of West Falls Formation and Rhinestreet Shale, Isochore Map… 36 Figure 20. Angola Shale Member of West Falls Formation, Isochore Map……………………………………….…. 37 Figure 21. Java Formation, Isochore Map…………………………………….………………………………………………….…. 38 Figure 22. Lower Part of Huron Member of Ohio Shale, Isochore Map………………………………………………. 40 iii | WVGES RI-35 List of Additional Materials available online, http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/MUDvnnSh/MUDvnnSh.htm A. Excel spreadsheet—general well data, stratigraphic unit tops, and interval thicknesses B. Gamma-ray log stratigraphic cross-sections A-A’, West to East 1 Marshall, Wetzel, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Mineral Counties B-B’, West to East 2 Pleasants, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Barbour, Preston, Tucker, and Grant Counties C-C’, West to East 3 Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Randolph, Pocahontas, and Pendleton Counties D-D’, West to East 4 Mason, Jackson, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Braxton, and Webster Counties E-E’, West to East 5 Mason, Putnam, Kanawha, Nicholas, Fayette, and Greenbrier Counties F-F’, West to East 6 Cabell, Lincoln, Boone, Raleigh, and Summers Counties G-G’, North to South 1 Hancock, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Ritchie, Wirt, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, and Wayne Counties H-H’, North to South 2 Greene (PA), Monongalia, Marion, Harrison, Lewis, Gilmer, Calhoun, Roane, Kanawha, Boone, Logan, and Mingo Counties I-I’, North to South 3 Preston, Barbour, Upshur, Webster, Nicholas, Fayette, Raleigh, Wyoming, Mingo, and McDowell Counties J-J’, North to South 4 Mineral, Grant, Pendleton, Randolph, Webster, Greenbrier, Summers, and Mercer Counties C. Devonian Organic-Rich Shales Interactive Map iv | WVGES RI-35 List of Abbreviations (Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols) Abbreviation Abbreviation Description & and ‘ feet @ at degrees # number + plus (i.e., and greater) % percent API American Petroleum Institute (API units used for measuring gamma-ray) C. central CI contour interval Co. County DEN, Den bulk density DOE Department of Energy Dol Dolomite E east E. eastern EGSP Eastern Gas Shales Project F degrees Fahrenheit Fm Formation Ft feet g/cc, g/cm3 grams per cubic centimeter GAPI, gAPI gamma-ray API units geophysical well log(s) log(s) GR gamma ray Gr Group L Lower Ls Limestone M Middle Mbr Member MD measured depth MERC Morgantown Energy Research Center N north NE northeast Neut, Neut. neutron NETL National Energy Technology Laboratory No. number Ohm-m, ohm-m Ohm-meters squared per meter PA Pennsylvania pC Precambrian Phi porosity Sh Shale Ss Sandstone v | WVGES RI-35 List of Abbreviations (continued) Abbreviation Abbreviation Description ss subsea SW southwest U Upper U.S. United States U.S. DOE United States Department of Energy W west WV West Virginia WVGES West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey vi | WVGES RI-35 Lithostratigraphy of Middle and Upper Devonian Organic-Rich Shales in West Virginia Ray M. Boswell (U.S. DOE/NETL) and Susan E. Pool (WVGES) Abstract Middle and Upper Devonian organic-rich shale formations in West Virginia include significant oil and gas source rocks and reservoirs. Formal lithostratigraphy for these units is well established in the southern and eastern portions of the State but is typically less well-defined in the northern and central areas where the units occur deep in the subsurface and where resource development is currently concentrated. Historically, subsurface lithostratigraphic terminology has been assigned by reference to units defined in outcrops along basin margins and extended into the subsurface through correlation of geophysical well logs. However, lateral changes in the lithology of units complicate the extension of lithostratigraphic designations defined in outcrop over long distances. Further, terminology emanating from the more distal northern (western New York) and western (Ohio and Kentucky) basin margins is not readily reconciled with terminology established in more proximal outcrops along the Allegheny Front and extended westward. Differences in the nature of information available from outcrop studies as opposed to that provided by logs further complicate the reconciliation of terminology. As a result, the geographic distribution and lithostratigraphic nomenclature for many Middle and Upper Devonian shales remains unsettled, particularly in the basin center. In this study, correlation
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