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A Multi-Disciplinary Approach for Mapping Rock Units with Geologic Carbon Sequestration Potential

 

Carter, Kristin M.1 and Venteris, Erik R.2 

1Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Topographic & Geologic Survey, Pittsburgh, PA

2Ohio Division of Geologic Survey, Columbus, OH

 

Members of the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership have collaborated to map the structure and thickness of several, discreet geologic packages that may have potential for carbon dioxide sequestration.  This research is being conducted as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national network of Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships. A unique, multi-disciplinary approach was adopted that included compiling a wide range of legacy data and mapping it using a combination of computer and hand contouring.  Comprehensive databases of the seven-state study area were built from members’ digital oil and gas well databases, as well as core, outcrop, subcrop, and seismic data.  Existing geologic maps and cross sections were used during map preparation where digital data gaps and/or complex structural relationships were encountered.  Structure and isopach contour maps were generated using computer contouring (Geostatistical Analyst (ArcGIS) and PETRA), with varying degrees of manual contour manipulation.  Conversion of contour lines to vectorized grids (for evaluation of carbon sequestration potential) proved challenging due to complex geologic structures such as the Rome Trough and occasional large data gaps.  Several methods for conversion of hand-edited contour maps to grids were evaluated.  Structure contour maps of selected study units, ranging from Cambrian to Lower Devonian in age, are presented as examples of the multi-disciplinary approach employed by the Partnership.