Utica Shale: Difference between revisions
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|title= Marcellus and Utica Shale Data |
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|accessdate=2011-03-08}}</ref> In 2011 drilling and permits for drilling in the Utica Shale in Ohio have reached record highs <ref>{{cite news|last=Gerino|first=Dan|title=‘Fracking’ permits booming|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/13/fracking-permits-booming.html|newspaper=Columbus Dispatch}}</ref> |
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It reaches a thickness of up to {{convert|1000|ft|m|-1}}<ref name=usgs/> and can be as thin as {{convert|70|ft|m|-1}} towards the margins of the basin. {{convert|250|ft|m|-1}} are exposed in the type section. |
It reaches a thickness of up to {{convert|1000|ft|m|-1}}<ref name=usgs/> and can be as thin as {{convert|70|ft|m|-1}} towards the margins of the basin. {{convert|250|ft|m|-1}} are exposed in the type section. |
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Revision as of 14:56, 3 November 2011
| Utica Shale | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Underlies | Lorraine shale |
| Overlies | Trenton limestone Canajoharie shale |
| Thickness | up to 1,000 feet (300 m)[1] |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Shale |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 43°03′50″N 75°10′48″W / 43.064°N 75.18°W |
| Region | Appalachian Basin |
| Country |  Canada United States |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Utica, New York |
| Named by | Ebenezer Emmons, 1842 |
The Utica Shale is a stratigraphical unit of Middle Ordovician age in the Appalachian Basin. It underlies much of the northeastern United States and adjacent parts of Canada.
It takes the name from the city of Utica, New York, as it was first described as an outcrop along the Starch Factory Creek east of the city by Ebenezer Emmons in 1842.[2]
Lithology
The Utica Shale is composed of calcareous organic rich shale.[3]
Hydrocarbon production
Shale gas is produced from the Utica Shale in Quebec.[4]
Distribution
The Utica Shale lies under most of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia and extends under adjacent parts of Ontario and Quebec in Canada and Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia in the United States.
It occurs in outcrops in the state of New York[1] and in the subsurface in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.[3]
It has recently become the target of gas and oil exploration in eastern Ohio and Pennsylvania where it is around 8,000 feet deep.[5] In 2011 drilling and permits for drilling in the Utica Shale in Ohio have reached record highs [6]
It reaches a thickness of up to 1,000 feet (300 m)[1] and can be as thin as 70 feet (20 m) towards the margins of the basin. 250 feet (80 m) are exposed in the type section.
Oil and natural gas have been found as of 2011. Exploration companies continue to drill wells in order to determine the potential of the Utica Shale. [7]
Relationship to other units
The Utica Shale underlies the Lorraine Group and overlies the Trenton Group limestone in the Utica area and the Canajoharie shale in Mohawk River Valley.
The Utica Shale is divided into the Nowadaga Zone, Loyal Creek Zone and Holland Patent Zone.[1]
It lies a few thousand feet under the Marcellus Shale.
References
- ^ a b c d USGS-GEOLOX Database. "Utica Shale". Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ^ Emmons, Ebenezer, 1842, Geology of New York; Part II, Survey of the second geological district: New York State Museum, 437p.
- ^ a b Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Utica Shale". Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ^ Forest Oil Corporation - Press Releases and Notices
- ^ Ohio.gov Database. "Marcellus and Utica Shale Data". Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- ^ Gerino, Dan. "'Fracking' permits booming". Columbus Dispatch.
- ^ oilshalegas.com. "Utica Shale Operational Reports". Retrieved 2011-10-10.
External links
- Utica Shale, Next Major Oil Discovery in the US? at OilShaleGas.com
- Utica Shale - The Natural Gas Giant Below the Marcellus? at geology.com
- Utica Shale, A Major Oil Discovery at TheInfoMine.com