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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Environmental Geosciences (DEG)

Abstract

Environmental Geosciences, V. 16, No. 4 (December 2009), P. 187200.

Copyright copy2009. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists/Division of Environmental Geosciences. All rights reserved.

DOI:10.1306/eg.04210909005

Unraveling the stratigraphy of the Oriskany Sandstone: A necessity in assessing its site-specific carbon sequestration potential

Jaime Kostelnik,1 Kristin M. Carter2

1Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 500 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-4745; [email protected].
2Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 500 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-4745; [email protected].

AUTHORS

Jaime Kostelnik is a senior geologic scientist at the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, Carbon Sequestration Section in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has been with the PA Survey since 2001, and her research interests include sedimentary geology, petroleum geology, and carbon sequestration in the Appalachian Basin. She holds an M.S. degree in geology from Wright State University and a B.S. degree in geology from Juniata College.

Kristin Carter joined the Pennsylvania Geological Survey in 2001 and currently serves as chief of the Carbon Sequestration Section. Kristin researches oil, gas, and subsurface geology for the Commonwealth, and has been researching geologic carbon sequestration opportunities in Pennsylvania and surrounding states since 2003 as part of the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership. Kristin received her M.S. degree in geological sciences from Lehigh University in 1993 and her B.S. degree in geology and environmental science (double major) from Allegheny College in 1991.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work in this report was generated as part of the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) funded in large part by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Energy Technology Laboratory and managed by Battelle. The authors thank Christopher D. Laughrey of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey for his many contributions to the petrographic work presented in this article and also for his valuable comments on the manuscript. We also thank all MRCSP partner states who provided thin sections, geophysical logs, and core data (where available), including the Ohio Division of Geological Survey; West Virginia Geologic and Economic Survey; New York State Museum, Reservoir Characterization Group; and Maryland Geological Survey. In particular, Mark Baranoski of the Ohio Division of Geological Survey was instrumental in selecting and cutting samples from all Ohio wells used in this study. We also thank John H. Barnes of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey for all of his assistance with the SEM work presented in this study.

ABSTRACT

The widespread distribution, favorable reservoir characteristics, and depth make the Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone a viable sequestration target in the Appalachian Basin. The Oriskany Sandstone is thickest in the structurally complex Ridge and Valley Province, thins toward the northern and western basin margins, and is even absent in other parts of the basin (i.e., the no-sand area of northwestern Pennsylvania). We evaluated four regions using petrographic data, core analyses, and geophysical log analyses. Throughout the entire study area, average porosities range from 1.35 to 14%. The most notable porosity types are primary intergranular, secondary dissolution, and fracture porosity. Intergranular primary porosity dominates at stratigraphic pinch-out zones near the Oriskany no-sand area and at the western limit of the Oriskany Sandstone. Secondary porosity occurs from dissolution of carbonate constituents primarily in the combination-traps natural gas play extending through western Pennsylvania, western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio. Fracture porosity dominates in the central Appalachian Plateau Province and Valley and Ridge Province. Based on average porosity, the most likely regions for successful sequestration in the Oriskany interval are (1) updip from Oriskany Sandstone pinch-outs in eastern Ohio, and (2) western Pennsylvania, western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio where production occurs from a combination of stratigraphic and structural traps. Permeability data, where available, were used to further evaluate the potential of these regions. Permeability ranges from 0.2 to 42.7 md. Stratigraphic pinch-outs at the northern and western limits of the basin have the highest permeabilities. We recommend detailed site assessments when evaluating the sequestration potential of a given injection site based on the variability observed in the Oriskany structure, lithology, and reservoir characteristics.

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