Appalachian, Illinois and Michigan Basin Arch Geology Utilizing a Gamma Ray In-Situ Data Set to Visualize Hydrocarbon Plays

Abstract

Appalachian, Illinois and Michigan basin arch geology utilizing a gamma ray in situ data set to visualize hydrocarbon plays.

Ralph A. Williams Reservoir Visualization Inc., Ridgway, PA., United States

A dynamic chronostratigraphic framework was constructed to visualize depositional systems of hydrocarbon plays of northeastern USA. Data used is one in situ parameter, natural gamma ray readings, obtained from one hundred thirty thousand wells. Gamma ray well log data in digital format was entered into a geologic project encompassing all of northeastern USA. Over one and one half million stratigraphic interpretations have been made to date. The Black River formation of the Ordovician provides a continuous, uninterrupted geologic datum across the three basins of northeastern USA. A structure map of the top of the Black River (456 mya) demonstrates the arches; Cincinnati, Finley and Kankakee, which define the separation of basins. At the top of the Trenton (448 mya) lies the Point Pleasant (the Utica Play) which is visualized by viewing isopachs, analytics and well log cross sections of detailed individual parasequences. The Utica shale (444 mya) is visualized and mapped from outcrop at Utica, New York to outcrop at the Cincinnati arch and to the Mississippi River. The next three geologic systems; Silurian, Devonian and Mississippian outcropping at the three arches are visualized with multi-basin cross sections and outcrop maps. A detailed chronostratigraphic framework of the Devonian was correlated across multiple basins. Parasequences of the oldest Devonian shale, the Marcellus, to the youngest, the New Albany, were correlated and visualized. Analytics of normalized gamma ray data from fifty thousand wells, penetrating the entire Devonian section, create maps and cross sections at any data window providing insight into facies distribution. Very detailed sequence stratigraphy was necessary to create a chronostratigraphic framework over multiple basins which correlate local formation names of like geologic age. A tie of this dynamic chronostratigraphic framework to previous literature is demonstrated by a comparison to previous New Albany work by Lineback of the Illinois Geologic Survey in 1980.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90218 © 2015 Eastern Section Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 20-22, 2015