Facies Distribution of the Upper

Ordovician Utica Shale in Ohio using

Core and Well Logging
Dr. Julie M. Bloxson
Stephen F. Austin State University
January 22, 2018
 Overarching Research Goals
• Create a quick, non-destructive core
mineralogy assessment method.
– Cores are expensive.
• Correlate mineralogy to geophysical

1 cm
logs to extrapolate.
– Cores are scarce, well logs are not.
• Determine the controls between
mineralogy deposition, resource
assessment.
– Deposition is controlled by topography.
 The Utica Shale has long been
known as a dark, organic rich
NY shale in the Appalachian
Basin.
IN OH PA

WV
KY

Schumacher, et al. (2013)

Utica Shale outcrop in New Richmond, OH.

Ordovician was a greenhouse, transitioning to a tectonically
active, icehouse period
460-443 Ma
• Located 20-25⁰S.
Appalachian Basin • Initially warm seas, similar to
the Bahama Bank.
• Eventual onset of tectonic
activity, changing of the water
temperature, flooding of the
platform.
Bahamas Dive Center (2017)

Modified from Scotese (2001)

Ohio Ordovician resources include
fossils, CCS, hydrocarbons
Upper portion of the
Lexington Limestone outside
Lexington, KY
CWRU Rock Room, Rm 204

Hsu (2010)

World Atlas (2017)

Ohio Ordovician resources include
fossils, CCS, hydrocarbons
Upper portion of the
Lexington Limestone outside
Lexington, KY
CWRU Rock Room, Rm 204

Hsu (2010)

World Atlas (2017)

 Not “Layer-Cake” Stratigraphy

Wickstrom, et al. (2012)

Discontinuous layers of deposition, including organic material.

 Objective
• To map the mineralogy
across the state, and assess
controls on deposition.

Methods
• Well Log Analysis
• Core Log Analysis
 Well logs are an abundant source of data for
subsurface study
Over 275,000 wells in Ohio
since 1880’s.

100,000 wells since the 1980’s.

Each black dot represents a

known well.
 Well Logging identifies rock types based upon rock
responses to different types of energy.
• Record the rocks’
naturally emitted energy
or their response to
being bombarded by
various energies.
• Using known values,
can identify lithology.

Frontier Technology Corporation (2015)

 Multiple well logs provide a better idea of changes in rock type

Gamma Ray Shale Indicator

Density Bulk Density (matrix, pores, fluids)

Porosity Hydrogen Indicator (pore space)

Photoelectric Effect Mineralogy

Sonic Bulk Density

Radiation Information Network (2011)

Log-Log Correlation Create structure and thickness maps by identifying
formation boundaries.
 A sense of lithology
can be obtained by
using one log.
shale
Gamma Ray log is a proxy for non-shaley
shale content and is regularly a bit shaley
interbedded shaley
measured during drilling.
shale
non-shaley
a bit shaley
interbedded shaley

shale
sand

limestone

dolostone

anhydrite
halite
interbedded shale
and sand
shale
non-shaley
a bit shaley
interbedded shaley

shale
sand

limestone

dolostone

anhydrite
halite
interbedded shale
and sand
 Methods
• Well Log Analysis
• 62 wells for lithology cluster analysis
via GAMLS- five well log tools
• 268 wells for correlation (thickness
and structure)- one or two well log
tools
 Automated Well Log Analysis

• GAMLS- Geological Analysis

via Maximum Likelihood (pattern
recognition software using MLANS).
• Used multi-dimensional cross
plots to identify facies within the
shales and limestones.
 GAMLS
Lithology mode 2
Identification mode 1

shale
mode 9
Ten different rock types mode 5
were identified. mode 4
mode 6
Six Shales

limestone
mode 3
Three Limestones mode 7

One Dolostone mode 8

mode 10

ds
*data from two wells
 Core Analysis
Previously measured mineralogy and
core descriptions to verify well log
analysis.

Correlate calcite content to GAMLS

rock type groupings to help constrain
calcite content across the state.
 GAMLS rock types can be regrouped based upon calcite abundance
A facies is a rock with unique characteristics that distinguish it from adjacent rocks and reflect its
origin, including mineralogy, sediment source, fossil content, sedimentary structures, and
textures.
Rock types Calcite Content in Cores
from the (%)
well logs 0 25 50 75 100
Facies Groups

Shale Facies
-1SD (little calcite)
Mean

+1SD
Calcareous Shale Facies
(moderate calcite)
Argillaceous Limestone
skewed due Limestone
to small (mostly calcite)
sample size Dolomite (that’s another discussion)
 Facies Name
A A’
Shale Facies
(little calcite)

Calcareous Shale darker

Facies
(moderate calcite) shales
Argillaceous Limestone
Limestone
(mostly calcite)
Dolomite (that’s another
discussion)
lighter
shales

A’

A
To assess controls on deposition during
this time period, we need to spatially
evaluate the distribution of these facies
across the state.

Two time intervals were identified:

• one with mostly carbonate deposition
(Lexington and Trenton)
• one with mostly shale deposition (Point Pleasant
and Utica Shale)
Abundance of Facies Groups in the Point Pleasant and Utica Shale
Dark Shale Facies Calcareous Shale Facies Argillaceous Limestone
little to no calcite moderate calcite Facies
abundant calcite
Major facies distribution of the Lexington Major facies distribution of the Utica Shale
and Trenton Limestones and Point Pleasant Formation
 Paleogeographic Controls on Facies
Deposition
Appalachian Basin
As we have mountains building
towards the east, the increased load
on the crust is pushing down the area
directly adjacent to the mountains
(NY, PA, Eastern OH), causing
deepening and thickening of the
sediments.
 Sebree Trough
An extension of the Sebree Trough into Ohio.
Bathymetric low during the Ordovician that
filed with shales while the carbonates
deposited on either side.

Calcite was not transported into this area.

Thinning of the Limestone Platform
underneath. Both suggest an extension of the
trough.
Modified from Kolata, et al (2001)
 Waverly Arch low tide high tide
Precambrian structural high normal wave base
that was thought to be gone by storm wave
the beginning of the base
Ordovician.
Affected transport and
Modified from Koirala, et al. (2016)
deposition of calcite and
coarse skeletal debris and sands
silicliclastics.
calcarenite with shale partings

skeletal calcarenite with increased shale

light shale, with occasional limestone debris

deep marine- shale

 Precambrian Utica
Mountain and Harlem
Faults
Created topographic high’s or low’s,
reactivated during or after deposition
for mixing.
Overall, deposition is controlled by Precambrian
topographic high’s and low’s.
• High’s create an area of preferential carbonate deposition
(ex., Waverly Arch).
• Low’s create an area of either carbonate dissolution, non-
deposition, or preferential clay deposition.
– Need to look at more cores.

Modified from Koirala, et al. (2016)

 Furthermore…
• The Sebree Trough does extend somewhat into Ohio based
upon facies and isopach maps, but we still need to know
whether shale deposition is because of decreased influx of
carbonate, dissolution, or increased deposition of clay.
• Knowing the controls and specific locations of facies
deposition will allow for more efficient and better prediction
of resources.
 Upper portion of the Lexington

Thank you Limestone outside Lexington, KY

 References
• Bahamas Dive Center (2017) Nassau All Day Dive. Accessed on June 16, 2017 at https://www.scubadivebahamas.com/stuart-
cove-all-day-dive/
• Kolata, D., Huff, W., and Bergstrom, S. (2001) The Ordovician Sebree Trough: An oceanic passage to the midcontinent United
States. GSA Bulletin, 113; 1067-1078.
• Scotese, C. (2001) Atlas of Earth History, PALEOMAP Project, Arlington, Texas, 52 pp.
• Hsu, J. (2010) Sped-Up Bacteria Could Transform Carbon Dioxide into Natural Gas. Accessed on June, 16, 2017 at
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-01/sped-bacteria-could-transform-carbon-dioxide-natural-gas
• World Atlas (2017) The World’s Largest Oil Reserves By County. Accessed on June 16, 2017 at
http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-largest-oil-reserves-by-country.html
• Koirala, D. R., Ettensohn, F.R., and Clepper, M.L. (2016) Eustatic and far-field tectonic control on the development of an
intra-platform carbonate-shoal complex: upper tongue of the Tanglewood Member, Upper Ordovician Lexington Limestone,
central Kentucky, U.S.A. Sedimentary Geology 345, 1-18.
• Frontier Technology Corporation (2015) Oil and Well Logging. Accessed on May 1, 2017 at: http://www.frontier-
cf252.com/oil-well-logging.html
• Radiation Information Network (2011) Page 5 Gamma Radiation. Accessed on May 1, 2017 at:
http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/gamma.htm
• Schumacher, G.A., Mott, B.E., and Angle, M.P. (2013) Ohio’s Geology in Core and Outcrop: A Field Guide for Citizens and
Environmental and Geotechnical Investigators. Columbus, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological
Survey Information Circular 63, 191 p.
• Wickstrom L. Perry, C., Riley, R., and Erenpreiss, M. (2012) The Utica-Point Pleasant Shale Play of Ohio. Presentation.
Columbus, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey Presentation. Accessed on January 19, 2018
at http://www.geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/energy/Utica-PointPleasant_presentation.pdf