Ronald A. Riley and Mark T. Baranoski, Ohio Division of Geological Survey, Columbus, OH 43229

The Ohio Division of Geological Survey (ODGS), in conjunction with the State geological surveys in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and the New York State Museum Institute recently completed a regional study of the Ordovician Trenton-Black River interval in the Appalachian Basin. This industry-government partnership was partially co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and a consortium of oil and gas companies.

A network of regional cross sections across the Appalachian Basin was generated by the ODGS to unravel the regional Trenton-Black River stratigraphy and facies relationships, which are necessary for understanding the exploration potential of these productive reservoirs. Cross sections were tied to open-file and published reports, continuously cored Trenton-Black River wells, geophysical well logs, and Geolog sample descriptions. Six geophysical log cross-section lines oriented parallel to strike, and 12 cross-section lines oriented perpendicular to strike were constructed.

The stratigraphic framework developed by these cross sections established regionally consistent formation/interval boundaries that were used for development of structure, isopach, and facies maps. These cross sections also were critical in understanding the Trenton-Black River depositional environment, basin architecture and facies distribution, which has important implications for Trenton-Black River exploration. The relationship of the deeper-water Utica/Point Pleasant Sub-basin to the thick Trenton/Lexington carbonate platforms that rim much of this sub-basin is illustrated and defines a potential exploration trend. Regional correlations also indicate a clean carbonate in the upper portion of the Trenton in portions of western New York, which may have exploration potential for hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs and is yet untested.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90059©2006 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Buffalo, New York