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Professional Paper 1708

Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin: Distribution, Geologic Framework, and Geochemical Character

Edit by Leslie F. Ruppert and Robert T. Ryder

Thumbnail of and link to report titles PDF (10.4 MB)Introduction

Fossil fuels from the Appalachian basin region have been major contributors to the Nation’s energy supplies over much of the last three centuries. Appalachian coal and petroleum resources are still available in sufficient quantities to contribute significantly to fulfilling the Nation’s energy needs. Although both conventional oil and gas continue to be produced in the Appalachian basin, most new wells in the region are drilled in shale reservoirs to produce natural gas.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Professional Paper 1708 is a modern, indepth collection of reports, cross sections, and maps that describe the geology of the Appalachian basin and its fossil fuel resources. This publication supplements and updates older USGS regional studies of Appalachian basin coal and petroleum resources. Some chapters are new, and several have been published in outside journals or as other USGS publications. Although this volume is not a comprehensive regional treatment of all notable geologic and fossil fuel localities in the Appalachian basin, the selected study areas and topics presented in the chapters pertain to large segments of the basin and a wide range of stratigraphic intervals. This volume discusses the locations of coal and petroleum accumulations, the stratigraphic and structural framework, and the geochemical characteristics of the coal beds and petroleum in the basin, as well as the results of recent USGS assessments of coal, oil, and gas resources in the basin.

Many of the maps and accompanying data supporting the reports in this volume are available from chapter I.1 as downloadable geographic information system (GIS) data files about the characteristics of selected coal beds and oil and gas fields, locations of oil and gas wells, coal production, coal chemistry, total petroleum system (TPS) boundaries, and bedrock geology. Log ASCII Standard (LAS) files for geophysical (gamma ray) wireline well logs are included in other chapters.

Professional Paper 1708 is intended primarily for geoscientists in academia, industry, and government who are interested in Appalachian basin geology and its coal and petroleum resources. Other users, however, may find the topics, papers, and digital images valuable for land-use and policy planning. Among the anticipated benefits of the report are improvements in (1) resource assessment estimates and methodology, (2) exploration strategies, (3) basin models, and (4) energy use policies.

First posted March 19, 2015

  • Report Contents
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For additional information, contact:
Eastern Energy Resources Science Center
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http://energy.usgs.gov/GeneralInfo/ScienceCenters/Eastern.aspx/

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Leslie F. Ruppert

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Suggested citation:

Ruppert, L.F., and Ryder, R.T., eds., 2014, Coal and petroleum resources in the Appalachian basin; Distribution, geologic framework, and geochemical character: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1708–A.1 through I.1 [42 chapters are separately paged], http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/pp1708.

ISSN 2330–7102 (online)



Contents

Part Title and Author PDF Link
Covers Front and Back Covers PDF (2.39 MB)
Front Chapter Numbers and Titles PDF (38.4 KB)
A.1 Executive Summary
By Leslie F. Ruppert and Robert T. Ryder
PDF (157 KB)
B.1 Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin—Index Maps of Included Studies
By Leslie F. Ruppert, Michael H. Trippi, and Scott A. Kinney
PDF (5.81 MB)
C.1 Appalachian Basin Oil and Natural Gas: Stratigraphic Framework, Total Petroleum Systems, and Estimated Ultimate Recovery
By Robert T. Ryder, Robert C. Milici, Christopher S. Swezey, and Michael H. Trippi
PDF (151 KB)
C.2 Geographic Information System (GIS)-Based Maps of Appalachian Basin Oil and Gas Fields
By Robert T. Ryder, Scott A. Kinney, Steve Suitt, Matthew D. Merrill, and Michael H. Trippi
PDF (1.46 MB)
D.1 Coal and Coalbed-Methane Resources in the Appalachian and Black Warrior Basins—Maps Showing the Distribution of Coal Fields, Coal Beds, and Coalbed-Methane Fields
By Michael H. Trippi, Leslie F. Ruppert, Robert C. Milici, and Scott A. Kinney
PDF (4.69 MB)
D.2 Correlation Chart of Pennsylvanian Rocks in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania Showing Approximate Position of Coal Beds, Coal Zones, and Key Stratigraphic Units
By Leslie F. Ruppert, Michael H. Trippi, and Ernie R. Slucher
PDF (198 KB)
D.3 Bituminous Coal Production in the Appalachian Basin: Past, Present, and Future
By Robert C. Milici and Désirée E. Polyak
PDF (582 KB)
D.4 Coal Assessments and Coal Research in the Appalachian Basin
By Susan J. Tewalt and Leslie F. Ruppert
PDF (4.22 MB)
E.1 Index Map of Cross Sections Through Parts of the Appalachian Basin (Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia)
By Robert T. Ryder and Michael H. Trippi
PDF (1.43 MB)
E.2.1 Stratigraphic Framework of Cambrian and Ordovician Rocks in the Central Appalachian Basin From Lake County, Ohio, to Juniata County, Pennsylvania
By Robert T. Ryder; revised and digitized by Robert D. Crangle, Jr.
PDF (67.7 KB)
E.2.2 Stratigraphic Framework of Cambrian and Ordovician Rocks in the Central Appalachian Basin From Medina County, Ohio, Through Southwestern and South-Central Pennsylvania to Hampshire County, West Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder, Anita G. Harris, and John E. Repetski; revised and digitized by Robert D. Crangle, Jr.
PDF 114 KB
E.2.3 Stratigraphic Framework of Cambrian and Ordovician Rocks in the Central Appalachian Basin From Richland County, Ohio, to Rockingham County, Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder; revised and digitized by Robert D. Crangle, Jr.
PDF (62.9 KB)
E.2.4 Stratigraphic Framework of Cambrian and Ordovician Rocks in the Central Appalachian Basin From Campbell County, Kentucky, to Tazewell County, Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder, John E. Repetski, and Anita G. Harris; revised and digitized by Erika E. Lentz
PDF (65.3 KB)
E.2.5 Stratigraphic Framework of Cambrian and Ordovician Rocks in the Appalachian Basin From Sequatchie County, Tennessee, Through Eastern Kentucky, to Mingo County, West Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder, Robert D. Crangle, Jr., John E. Repetski, and Anita G. Harris
PDF (92.9 KB)
E.3.1 Stratigraphic Framework and Depositional Sequences in the Lower Silurian Regional Oil and Gas Accumulation, Appalachian Basin From Ashland County, Ohio, Through Southwestern Pennsylvania, to Preston County, West Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder
PDF (63.8 KB)
E.3.2 Stratigraphic Framework and Depositional Sequences in the Lower Silurian Regional Oil and Gas Accumulation, Appalachian Basin From Licking County, Ohio, to Fayette County, West Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder
PDF (91.9 KB)
E.3.3 Stratigraphic Framework and Depositional Sequences in the Lower Silurian Regional Oil and Gas Accumulation, Appalachian Basin From Jackson County, Ohio, Through Northwestern Pennsylvania, to Orleans County, New York
By Robert T. Ryder
PDF (66.2 KB)
E.4.1 Geologic Cross Section D–D´ Through the Appalachian Basin from the Findlay Arch, Sandusky County, Ohio, to the Valley and Ridge Province, Hardy County, West Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder, Robert D. Crangle, Jr., Michael H. Trippi, Christopher S. Swezey, Erika E. Lentz, Elisabeth L. Rowan, and Rebecca S. Hope
PDF (150 KB)
E.4.2 Geologic Cross Section E–E´ Through the Appalachian Basin from the Findlay Arch, Wood County, Ohio, to the Valley and Ridge Province, Pendleton County, West Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder, Christopher S. Swezey, Robert D. Crangle, Jr., and Michael H. Trippi
PDF (150 KB)
E.5.1 Regional Seismic Lines Across the Rome Trough and Allegheny Plateau of Northern West Virginia, Western Maryland, and Southwestern West Virginia
By Christopher S. Kulander and Robert T. Ryder
PDF (123 KB)
F.1 Thermal Maturity Patterns (Conodont Color Alteration Index and Vitrinite Reflectance) in Upper Ordovician and Devonian Rocks of the Appalachian Basin: A Major Revision of USGS Map I–917–E Using New Subsurface Collections
By John E. Repetski, Robert T. Ryder, David J. Weary, Anita G. Harris, and Michael H. Trippi
PDF (325 KB)
F.2 Thermal Maturity Patterns in Pennsylvanian Coal-Bearing Rocks in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
By Leslie F. Ruppert, Michael H. Trippi, James C. Hower, William C. Grady, and Jeffrey R. Levine
PDF (226 KB)
G.1 Assessment of Appalachian Basin Oil and Gas Resources: Carboniferous Coal-bed Gas Total Petroleum System
By Robert C. Milici
PDF (7.19 MB)
G.2 Coalbed-Methane Production in the Appalachian Basin
By Robert C. Milici and Désirée E. Polyak
PDF (2.36 MB)
G.3 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Mylan Park, Monongalia County, West Virginia
By Leslie F. Ruppert, Nick Fedorko, Peter D. Warwick, William C. Grady, James Q. Britton, William A. Schuller, and Robert D. Crangle, Jr.
PDF (2.11 MB)
G.4 Results of Coalbed-Methane Drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia
By Leslie F. Ruppert, Michael H. Trippi, Nick Fedorko, William C. Grady, Cortland F. Eble, and William A. Schuller
PDF (1.28 MB)
G.5 Appalachian Basin Bituminous Coal: Sulfur Content and Potential Sulfur Dioxide Emissions of Coal Mined for Electrical Power Generation
By Michael H. Trippi, Leslie F. Ruppert, Emil D. Attanasi, Robert C. Milici, and Philip A. Freeman
PDF (8.51 MB)
G.6 Composition of Natural Gas and Crude Oil Produced From 14 Wells in the Lower Silurian “Clinton” Sandstone and Medina Group Sandstones, Northeastern Ohio and Northwestern Pennsylvania
By Robert C. Burruss and Robert T. Ryder
PDF (1.45 MB)
G.7 Composition of Natural Gas and Crude Oil Produced From 10 Wells in the Lower Silurian "Clinton" Sandstone, Trumbull County, Ohio
By Robert C. Burruss and Robert T. Ryder
PDF (2.93 MB)
G.8 Evidence for Cambrian Petroleum Source Rocks in the Rome Trough of West Virginia and Kentucky, Appalachian Basin
By Robert T. Ryder, David C. Harris, Paul Gerome, Timothy J. Hainsworth, Robert C. Burruss, Paul G. Lillis, Daniel M. Jarvie, and Mark J. Pawlewicz
PDF (2.95 MB)
G.9 Assessment of Appalachian Basin Oil and Gas Resources: Devonian Gas Shales of the Devonian Shale-Middle and Upper Paleozoic Total Petroleum System
By Robert C. Milici and Christopher S. Swezey
PDF (9.50 MB)
G.10 Assessment of Appalachian Basin Oil and Gas Resources: Utica-Lower Paleozoic Total Petroleum System
By Robert T. Ryder
PDF (19.1 MB)
G.11 In Search of a Silurian Total Petroleum System in the Appalachian Basin of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
By Robert T. Ryder, Christopher S. Swezey, Michael H. Trippi, Erika E. Lentz, K. Lee Avary, John A. Harper, William M. Kappel, and Ronald G. Rea
PDF (191 KB)
G.12 The Geochemistry of Oils and Gases From the Cumberland Overthrust Sheet in Virginia and Tennessee
By Kristin O. Dennen, Mark Deering, and Robert C. Burruss
PDF (2.88 MB)
G.13 Overview of the Potential and Identified Petroleum Source Rocks of the Appalachian Basin, Eastern United States
By James L. Coleman, Jr., Robert T. Ryder, Robert C. Milici, and Stephen Brown
PDF (8.96 MB)
H.1 Introduction to Selected References on Fossil Fuels of the Central and Southern Appalachian Basin
By Leslie F. Ruppert, Erika E. Lentz, Susan J. Tewalt, and Yomayra A. Román Colón
PDF (96 KB)
H.2 Selected References: Oil and Gas Resources of the Central and Southern Appalachian Basin
By Erika E. Lentz, Leslie F. Ruppert, and Yomayra A. Román Colón
PDF (199 KB)
H.3 Selected References: Coal Geology of the Central and Southern Appalachian Basin
By Leslie F. Ruppert, Susan J. Tewalt, and Yomayra A. Román Colón
PDF (236 KB)
H.4 Selected References: Thermal History of the Central and Southern Appalachian Basin
By Erika E. Lentz, Leslie F. Ruppert, and Yomayra A. Román Colón
PDF (208 KB)
H.5 Selected References: Coalbed-Methane Resources of the Central and Southern Appalachian Basin
By Erika E. Lentz, Leslie F. Ruppert, and Yomayra A. Román Colón
PDF (168 KB)
H.6 Selected References: Gas Geochemistry of the Central and Southern Appalachian Basin
By Erika E. Lentz, Leslie F. Ruppert, and Yomayra A. Román Colón
PDF (109 KB)
I.1 Digital Data in Support of Studies and Assessments of Coal and Petroleum Resources in the Appalachian Basin
By Michael H. Trippi, Scott A. Kinney, Gregory Gunther, Robert T. Ryder, and Leslie F. Ruppert
PDF (223 KB)

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