Utica Regional Shale Study

A look at 123 wells across an interval that is drawing increased attention for its potential.

The Utica Shale/Point Pleasant shale intervals continue to shine in the Appalachian Basin.

Historically, Utica Shale/Point Pleasant intervals have been considered likely source units for hydrocarbons produced from Trenton and Black River reservoirs.

The study wells represent a portion of our experience in this area. View our Interactive Map to see just how many wells we have analyzed.

Over the last few years, the Utica Shale and Point Pleasant shales have demonstrated to be significant reservoir targets and have become one of the most economic unconventional plays in North America.

The Point Pleasant deposition occurred at the end of the Middle Ordovician and was followed by Utica Shale deposition during the beginning of the Upper Ordovician as part of the Cincinnati Group. Deposition of these sediments occurred between 465 and 455 million years ago.

The Point Pleasant Formation consists of interbedded limestones, calcareous shales, and black carbonaceous shales that were deposited in the Utica Shale/Point Pleasant sub-basin of the Central Appalachian Basin located between the Lexington and Trenton platforms. Deposition of the Utica was more extensive than the deposition of the Point Pleasant, and consists of organic-rich shales. These units were deposited in a low-energy environment with restricted circulation resulting in organic-rich sedimentation of source/ reservoir rocks.

deliverables

Reservoir potential evaluation