--> Abstract: Major Gas Plays in the Appalachian Basin, by D. G. Patchen; #91013 (1992).

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ABSTRACT: Major Gas Plays in the Appalachian Basin

PATCHEN, DOUGLAS G., Appalachian Oil and Natural Gas Research Consortium, National Center for Coal and Energy, Morgantown, WV

Organizing gas reservoirs in a basin into a series of geologically

similar plays can be an important contribution to the exploration programs of independent operators. A knowledge of the areal extent of each play, where production has been established, the types of traps to expect, reservoir character, and relative production of each play can help independents formulate exploration and development strategies.

Preliminary review of all Appalachian basin gas reservoirs suggests that 34 geologically distinct plays can be defined ranging from Pennsylvanian to Cambrian. Plays have been defined by these criteria: geologic age, gas source, trap type, degree of structural control, and depositional environment. Under a contract from the United States Department of Energy, the Appalachian Oil and Natural Gas Research Consortium is preparing an atlas of major gas plays and creating a reservoir-based database for those plays. Plays to be described are both stratigraphic and structural. Clastic stratigraphic plays include: fluvial deltaic sandstones, nearshore sandstones, shelf sandstones, turbidites, and transgressive sandstones. Carbonate plays include shallow shelf carbonates and reefs. Fractured re ervoir plays include: fractured black shales, black and gray shales interbedded with siltstones, chert, sandstone, and carbonates. Other plays are associated with unconformities, high-amplitude folds or faults in the eastern overthrust, and a combination of folds, faults and facies changes. The atlas and machine-readable database are scheduled for completion by October, 1994.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91013©1992 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Champaign, Illinois, September 20-22, 1992 (2009)