A GEOLOGIC STUDY TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE AN APPALACHIAN STORAGE HUB FOR NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS FINAL REPORT Project Start Date: August 1, 2016 Project End Date: July 31, 2017 APPALACHIAN OIL & NATURAL GAS RESEARCH CONSORTIUM Editors Kristin M. Carter1 and Douglas G. Patchen2 Authors Kristin M. Carter1, Douglas G. Patchen2, Jessica P. Moore3, Mohammad Fakhari4, Gary W. Daft, Jr.3, Michael Solis4, Brian J. Dunst1, Robin V. Anthony1, Katherine W. Schmid1, Kyle Metz4, Philip Dinterman3, Julie M. Bloxson4, Erica N. Schubert4, John Saucer3 With Contributions From Antonette Markowski1, Stephen Shank1, Ellen Davis1, Lindsey Ditzler1, Irma Drndar1, Eric Hirschfeld1, Michael E. Hohn3, John Bocan3, Michael Angle4 1 Pennsylvania Geological Survey 2 West Virginia University Research Corporation 3 West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey 4 Ohio Geological Survey July 31, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................................................................ i FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................ii TABLES ................................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................................... ix ACRONYMS USED IN THIS REPORT .......................................................................................... x UNIT ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT ......................................................................... xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................. xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. xiii 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE .......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research Team .................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Scope of Work ..................................................................................................................... 2 2.0 DATA DELIVERABLE ACCESS, ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT .................................. 4 2.1 Study Website ..................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Data Management .............................................................................................................. 8 3.0 SUBSURFACE GEOLOGY OF INTERVALS OF INTEREST....................................................... 10 3.1 Regional Cross Sections .................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Map Preparation Methods ............................................................................................... 14 3.3 Greenbrier Limestone (GRNB) .......................................................................................... 15 3.4 Keener to Berea Interval (KENR-BERE) ............................................................................. 19 3.5 Upper Devonian Sandstones............................................................................................. 22 3.5.1 Venango Group (V5-V1) ............................................................................................ 22 3.5.2 Bradford Group (B5-B1) ............................................................................................ 25 3.5.3 Elk Group (E4-E1) ...................................................................................................... 28 3.6 Oriskany Sandstone (ORSK) .............................................................................................. 32 3.7 Salina F4 Salt (SLNF) .......................................................................................................... 35 3.8 Newburg Sandstone (NBRG) ............................................................................................. 38 3.9 Clinton/Medina Group (CATG).......................................................................................... 41 3.10 Rose Run-Gatesburg Sandstones (RSRN) .......................................................................... 44 4.0 RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION ...................................................................................... 47 4.1 Greenbrier Limestone (Mined-Rock Caverns) .................................................................. 47 4.1.1 Methods .................................................................................................................... 47 4.1.2 Depth......................................................................................................................... 48 4.1.3 Thickness ................................................................................................................... 49 4.1.4 Facies Distribution .................................................................................................... 50 4.2 Salina F4 Salt (Salt Caverns) .............................................................................................. 60 4.2.1 Methods .................................................................................................................... 64 4.2.2 Depth......................................................................................................................... 65 4.2.3 Thickness ................................................................................................................... 65 4.2.4 Extent ........................................................................................................................ 72 4.3 Depleted Gas Reservoirs (Devonian- through Cambrian-Age Sandstones) ..................... 73 4.3.1 Reservoir Data Compilation ...................................................................................... 73 4.3.2 Thin Section Examination ......................................................................................... 74 i 4.3.3 Preliminary Assessment ............................................................................................ 76 4.4 Detailed Ratings and Results............................................................................................. 83 4.4.1 Methods .................................................................................................................... 83 4.4.2 Rating Results ............................................................................................................ 89 5.0 RANKING RESULTS, STACKED OPPORTUNITIES AND FIELD-LEVEL PROSPECTS ................ 92 5.1 Ranking Efforts .................................................................................................................. 92 5.2 Importance of Stacked Opportunities .............................................................................. 94 5.3 Field-Level Prospects ........................................................................................................ 94 5.3.1 Northern Prospect .................................................................................................... 95 5.3.1.1 Oriskany Sandstone Interval ................................................................................. 96 5.3.1.2 Salina F4 Salt Interval: Salt Caverns .................................................................... 100 5.3.1.3 Clinton/Medina Group Interval: Depleted Gas Field .......................................... 103 5.3.2 Central Prospect ...................................................................................................... 106 5.3.2.1 Greenbrier Limestone Interval: Mined-Rock Caverns ........................................ 107 5.3.2.2 Keener to Berea Interval: Depleted Gas Fields ................................................... 110 5.3.2.3 Upper Devonian Venango Group: Natural Gas Storage Field ............................. 113 5.3.2.4 Upper Devonian Elk Group: Depleted Gas Field ................................................. 115 5.3.2.5 Salina F4 Salt: Salt Caverns ................................................................................. 121 5.3.3 Southern Prospect .................................................................................................. 123 5.3.3.1 Greenbrier Limestone: Mined-Rock Caverns ...................................................... 124 5.3.3.2 Keener to Berea Interval: Depleted Gas Fields ................................................... 128 5.3.3.3 Oriskany Sandstone: Depleted Gas Fields .......................................................... 133 5.3.3.4 Oriskany Sandstone: Natural Gas Storage Field ................................................. 138 5.3.3.5 Newburg Sandstone: Depleted Gas Fields .......................................................... 142 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ENGINEERING FOLLOW-UP STUDY ..... 152 7.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................. 154 8.0 REFERENCES CITED .......................................................................................................... 158 FIGURES Figure 2-1. The Study database will continue to be password-protected until the end of the project and will be served via the WVGES website