Post-Knox Unconformity- Significance at Unionport Gas-Storage Project and Relationship to Petroleum Exploration in Indiana su By STANLEY J. KELLER and TALAL F. ABDULKAREEM DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OCCASIONAL PAPER 31 3 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 AND INDUSTRIAL MINERALS SECTION GEOLOGY SECTION DONALD D. CARR, Geologist and Head ROBERT H. SHAVER, Paleontologist and Head CURTIS H. AULT, Geologist and Associate Head HENRY H. GRAY, Head Stratigrapher PEl-YUAN CHEN, Geologist N. K. BLEUER, Glacial Geologist DONALD L. EGGERT, Geologist EDWIN J. HARTKE, Environmental Geologist GORDON S. FRASER, Geologist JOHN R. HILL, Glacial Geologist DENVER HARPER, Geologist CARL B. REXROAD Paleontologist WALTER A. HASENMUELLER, Geologist NELSON R. SHAFFE-R, Geologist GEOPHYSICS SECTION PAUL IRWIN, Geological Assistant MAURICE E. BIGGS, Geophysicist and Head ROBERT F. BLAKELY, Geophysicist JOSEPH F. WHALEY, Geophysicist DRAFTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY SECTION JOHN R. HELMS, Driller WILLIAM H. MORAN, Chief Draftsman and Head SAMUEL L. RIDDLE, Geophysical Assistant RICHARD T. HILL, Geological Draftsman ROGER L. PURCELL, Senior Geological Draftsman PETROLEUM SECTION GEORGE R. RINGER; Photographer G. L. CARPENTER, Geologist and Head WILBUR E. STALIONS, Artist-Draftsman ANDREW J. HREHA, Geologist BRIAN D. KEITH, Geologist- EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SECTION STANLEY J. KELLER, Geologist R. DEE RARICK, Geologist and Head DAN M. SULLIVAN, Geologist JAMES T. CAZEE, Geological Assistant SHERRY CAZEE, Geological Assistant GEOCHEMISTRY SECTION WILLIAM E. HAMM, Geological Assistant R. K. LEININGER, Geochemist and Head LOUIS V. MILLER, Coal Chemist PUBLICATIONS SECTION MARGARET V. GOLDE, Instrumental Analyst GERALDS. WOODARD, Editor and Head JOSEPH G. HAILER, Geochemist/Analyst PAT GERTH, Sales and Records Clerk AUTHORS OF THIS REPORT: Stanley J. Keller is a staff geologist of the Indiana Geological Survey. Talal F. Abdulkareem is a graduate student in the Department of Geology at Indiana University. Post-Knox Unconformity- Significance at Unionport Gas-Storage Project and Relationship to Petroleum Exploration in Indiana By STANLEY J. KELLER and TALAL F. ABDULKAREEM DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OCCASIONAL PAPER 31 PRINTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF INDIANA BLOOMINGTON, INDIAN A: 1980 STATE OF INDIANA Otis R. Bowen, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Joseph D. Cloud, Director GEOLOGICAL SURVEY John B. Patton, State Geologist For sale by Geological Survey, Bloomington, Ind. 47405 Price $1.25 Contents Page Page Abstract ........................ 1 Regional structure in Randolph County ... 7 Introduction . 1 Effect of post-Knox unconformity Purpose and method of study . .1 at Union port . 7 Acknowledgments . 4 Natural-gas storage at Unionport ....... 13 Regional geology . 4 Unconformities and petroleum Post-Knox unconformity . 4 entrapment .................... 13 The Trenton Field and the Cincinnati Arch . 5 Areas of petroleum production in the Formations and their lithologies Midwest ...................... 16 at Unionport .................... 5 Summary ...................... 17 Knox Dolomite ................. 5 Literature cited . 17 Glenwood Shale ................. 5 Appendix: Wells in Randolph County Black River Limestone . 7 used in cross sections . 19 Trenton Limestone . 7 Illustrations Page Figure 1 Map of Indiana showing counties, geologic provinces, and study area in Randolph County . 2 2 Generalized stratigraphic section for the Unionport area . 3 3 Map showing location of oil and gas fields in Indiana . 6 4 Map of Randolph County showing structure on top of the Trenton Limestone . 8 5 Structure cross sections A, B, and C showing the post-Knox unconformity in the Unionport gas-storage project . 9 6 Map showing structure on top of the Knox Dolomite in the Unionport gas-storage project ...................................... 10 7 Map showing thickness of the Glenwood Shale in the Unionport gas-storage project 11 8 Map showing structure on top of the Trenton Limestone in the Unionport gas­ storage project . 12 9 Map showing composite thickness of Trenton, Black River, and Glenwood rocks in the Unionport gas-storage project . 14 10 Map showing location of gas-storage wells in the Unionport gas-storage project . 15 Post-Knox Unconformity-Significance at Unionport Gas-Storage Project and Relationship to Petroleum Exploration in Indiana By STANLEY J. KELLER and TALAL F. ABDULKAREEM Abstract formity has been demonstrated to have had a The post-Knox unconformity provides the direct relationship to hydrocarbon entrap­ principal trapping conditions for underground ment. gas storage at Unionport in Randolph County. The Unionport gas-storage project (Ran­ Erosion remnants of the porous Knox dolph County), the Sellersburg gas-storage Dolomite protrude upward into the overlying project (Clark County), and the Redkey pool impermeable Black River Limestone. in the Trenton Field (Jay County) (fig. 1) are Although the unconformity has long been three separate areas in Indiana in which the recognized in Indiana, data for detailed post-Knox unconformity influences the trap­ mapping of its surface are lacking except at ping conditions. Only at Unionport is it Unionport. Here about 50 wells drilled to the possible to do any detailed mapping on the Knox outline a surface of steep-sided, ovate unconformity. At the Unionport gas-storage erosion remnants of limited lateral extent project about 50 wells have been drilled to with vertical relief of about 150 feet. No the Knox. From this concentration of well drainage pattern is evident. The unconformity data we attempted to reconstruct the geologic is postulated to have been developed in an conditions associated with the unconformity arid environment with wind as the primary as related to gas storage. We felt that these erosion agent. conditions would reflect similar entrapments The erosion-induced irregularity of the likely existing in other parts of Indiana. post-Knox unconformity is only slightly The Unionport area of Randolph County reflected on the top of the Trenton lies in east-central Indiana near the Ohio state Limestone. The composite thickness from the line. This area of study includes about 45 top of the Trenton to the top of the Knox square miles surrounding the gas-storage ranges from 400 to 530 feet at the Unionport project (fig. 1). gas-storage project. Petroleum has been produced in Indiana, Purpose and Method of Study Ohio, Kentucky, and southern Ontario from This report presents the subsurface geology of erosion remnants associated with the post­ rock units ranging from the Knox Dolomite Knox unconformity. We feel that petroleum through the Trenton Limestone (fig. 2) in the deposits under similar geologic conditions area of the Unionport gas-storage project. exist in Indiana and that the crestal area of Particular emphasis is placed on determining the Cincinnati Arch provides the most the relationship between the unconformity favorable general area for exploration. and its effect on entrapment conditions for underground gas storage. Introduction Structure maps were compiled on the top Throughout Indiana and adjoining states the of the Knox Dolomite and the top of the Ordovician System contains a major uncon­ Trenton Limestone, and thickness maps of formity between the Knox Dolomite and the the Glenwood Shale, the Black River overlying rock units. This unconformity exists Limestone, and the Trenton Limestone were in the subsurface rocks of Indiana at depths also compiled (fig. 2). Detailed structure cross ranging from 1,500 to 7,500 feet. Beneath the sections were constructed to show the unconformity, natural gas is stored at subsurface structure and stratigraphic se­ Unionport and Sellersburg and oil has been quence of the rock units. produced at Redkey. Therefore the uncon- 1 2 POST-KNOX UNCONFORMITY ST. JOSEPH M IC H IGAN NOBLE DE KALB MARSH ALL ALLEN ADAM S BENTON 0 / HO WARD WARREN / TIPTON FR ANKLI N DECATUR BRO WN BARTHOLO MEW 0 25 Miles 25 0 25 Km II I I I I Figure 1. Map of Indiana showing counties, geologic provinces, and study area in Randolph County. Sellersburg, Unionport, and Redkey are features associated with the post-Knox unconformity. Modified from Carpenter, Dawson, and Keller, 1975, fig . 8. PURPOSE AND METHOD OF STUDY 3 THICK- SYSTEM SERIES FORMATION NESS LITHOLOGY (FT) I I I I I Trenton 100 Limestone, tan, very finely to I I medium crystalline, dolomitic Limestone I I I to I I 130 in upper part II I I B z <( B - z - z <( _J Limestone, tan to gray, micro- <! Black River 270 n.. crystalline; some dolomitic - Limestone to limestone; trace of thin greenish ~ 350 (.) <( bentonite (B) - I u > 0 0 0:: · . ~1 0 Shale, greentsh, and dolomite, 0 Glenwood Shale . -< I to tan, finely crystalline; quartz ·- · 16 I .. •JI 6 60 sand grains 16 16 II I 6 I z I b. I <( - I I 0 I 61 <( II I z I 61 <( I I Dolomite, tan, very finely to u Knox I 61 v ~ I A 1000 medium crystalline; abundant Dolomite ~ : white chert; trace of pyrite 11 I ' and dark shale z z /6 I <! <( v I - X 16 0:: I 0 (!) n: I I ~ u 16 I <! ~ v I _j_ (.) CJ) I 6 I I I Figure 2. Generalized stratigraphic section for the Unionport area. Data for this report have been gathered drillers logs, sample logs, scout tickets, and from nearly 90 well records on file in the colored strip logs. Gas-storage capacities and Petroleum Section, Indiana Geological Sur­ some reservoir characteristics were provided vey, Bloomington, Ind. Well data used by the owner of the field, Indiana Gas Co., included laterlog-gamma ray-neutron logs, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. 4 POST-KNOX UNCONFORMITY Acknowledgments were referred to by Gutstadt (1958, p. 52) as We express our appreciation to Dr. John B. belonging to the Chazyan Series and have Patton, State Geologist, who suggested this been referred to by many as merely Chazyan. study. His advice and encouragement proved But the terms Chazyan and Chazyan Series helpful. Special thanks are extended to are no longer in formal use by the Indiana Mr.