Hatch, Joseph R.¹, Christopher S. Swezey², William B. Harrison³
(1) U. S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO
(2) U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA
(3) Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

ABSTRACT: Use of Natural Gas Compositions to Identify Michigan Basin Petroleum Systems

Nine hundred and ninety-one natural gas samples from the Michigan Basin were separated into five geochemically distinct, stratigraphically limited groups (A-E below). The gas analyses were selected from data sets compiled at the Michigan Basin Core Research Laboratory and the U.S. Geological Survey. These gas composition groups indicate the presence of at least five petroleum systems in the basin. Geochemically distinct oils are produced from intervals A (Traverse Group), B (Dundee Limestone and Detroit River Group), C (Salina Group and Niagara Group), and D (Trenton Formation) providing supporting evidence for these petroleum systems. Hydrocarbon source rocks for stratigraphic interval A are most likely in the Upper Devonian Antrim Shale and Lower Mississippian Sunbury Shale; for interval B, Middle Devonian Amherstburg Formation; for interval C, Middle Silurian Guelph Dolomite; for interval D, Middle Ordovician Trenton Formation; and for interval E, Lower to Middle Ordovician Foster Formation.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90026©2004 AAPG Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, April 18-21, 2004.