Characterization of Possible Carbon Sequestration Targets in Cambrian Strata near Jamestown, NY

Alexa Stolorow¹, Brian Slater¹, Taury Smith¹, John P. Martin², and Joel Sminchak^3
1New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12230, [email protected]
²NYSDERDA, Albany, NY 12203, [email protected]
³Battelle, Columbus, OH 43201, [email protected]

A relatively small 50 mW capture-ready coal-burning power plant has been proposed in Jamestown, New York. Mapping of potential sequestration targets using existing well data in the area suggests that the greatest potential lies in the Cambrian Rose Run Sandstone and the underlying Cambrian basal sandstone. Regional mapping of the bedrock across NY shows the Upper Cambrian section to be at least 800 feet thick in the area. Logs from nearby wells suggest that both units have multiple intervals of 5 – 10% porosity.

A stratigraphic test well drilled near Jamestown serves as a preliminary step in assessing the feasibility of sequestering supercritical carbon dioxide in the area. The drilling plan includes an extensive logging suite, sidewall cores, and continuous core. The first coring run includes sections of the Upper Cambrian Little Falls dolomite and the Rose Run sandstone member of the Galway formation. The second run consists of the basal sandstone which directly overlies the Pre-Cambrian basement. A suite of wireline logs (PEX, ECS, HRLA, DSI, and FMI) were run across the entire Cambro- Ordovician section and sidewall cores were collected from depths chosen based on the well logs. The purpose of these plugs is to sample the caprock and any porous intervals missed by the whole core. Samples from the well will then be measured for porosity and permeability and corresponding thin sections will be made. The core and thin sections will be photographed and described in detail. The study of this well will lead to a better understanding of the carbon sequestration potential in the Cambrian strata in Western New York.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90095©2009 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Evansville, Indiana, September 20-22, 2009