What is marcellus and utica shale

Most of the drilling activity in the Utica Shale has occurred in eastern Ohio. Here, the Utica Shale is relatively shallow, only a few thousand to several thousand feet below the surface.

Wells drilled in this region have yielded significant amounts of natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil. During the third quarter of , approximately 5. That is The future development of the Utica Shale is promising. In areas where the Marcellus Shale has been developed, the Utica has an infrastructure advantage.

Previously installed drilling utilities, such as drill pads, pipelines and roadways, may still be useful for developing the Utica Shale in those areas. Toggle navigation Intertek.

Industries Services. Assurance Enabling you to identify and mitigate the intrinsic risk in your operations, supply chains and business processes. Testing Evaluating how your products and services meet and exceed quality, safety, sustainability and performance standards. Inspection Validating the specifications, value and safety of your raw materials, products and assets.

Certification Formally confirming that your products and services meet all trusted external and internal standards. Assurance Testing Inspection Certification. In central Pennsylvania, where the Utica is deep below the Marcellus, it is virtually untested with horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Limited testing suggests that the Utica Shale will be an enormous fossil fuel resource.

Figure 2: Generalized stratigraphic sequence of rock units surrounding the Utica Shale and Marcellus Shale. The Utica and Marcellus are so geographically extensive that it is impossible to present a stratigraphic sequence that would be correct in all areas.

This diagram presents a generalized sequence of rocks that might be present in central and western Pennsylvania. Image by Geology. The Utica Shale is much deeper than the Marcellus. The Utica Shale elevation map shown as Figure 3 in the right column of this page has contour lines that show the elevation of the base of the Utica Shale in feet below sea level. In some parts of Pennsylvania, the Utica Shale can be over two miles below sea level. However, the depth of the Utica Shale decreases to the west into Ohio and to the northwest under the Great Lakes and into Canada.

In these areas the Utica Shale rises to less than feet below sea level. Beyond the potential source rock areas, the Utica Shale rises to Earth's surface and can be seen in outcrop. Most of the major rock units in the Appalachian Basin are thickest in the east and thin towards the west. The rock units that occur between the Marcellus Shale and the Utica Shale follow this trend.

In central Pennsylvania, the Utica can be up to feet below the Marcellus Shale, but that depth difference decreases to the west. In eastern Ohio the Utica can be less than feet below the Marcellus. These depth relationships of the Utica Shale and the Marcellus Shale are shown in the generalized cross sections shown below as Figure 5a and Figure 5b. Elevations shown on the map are feet below sea level. Figure 5a: The cross section above shows the subsurface position of the Marcellus Shale, Utica Shale and the continental basement rock.

The line of cross section is shown as line A-B on the inset map. Note that the Utica Shale is about feet below the Marcellus under eastern Ohio but about feet below the Marcellus in south-central Pennsylvania. Also note that the Marcellus Shale potential source rock does not extend as far into Ohio as the Utica. This cross section was compiled by Geology. Department of Energy [4]. Dark beds are shale, light beds are limestone.

Part of the dark color in the Utica Shale comes from organic matter. A writing pen is shown for scale. Figure 5b: The cross section above shows the subsurface position of the Marcellus Shale, Utica Shale and the continental basement rock.

Note that the Utica Shale is about feet below the Marcellus under western New York but about feet below the Marcellus in south-central Pennsylvania. Also note that the Marcellus Shale potential source rock does not extend as far into New York as the Utica. The thickness of the Utica Shale is variable.

Throughout most of its extent, it ranges in thickness from less than feet to over feet. Thickest areas are on the eastern side of its extent, and it generally thins to the northwest. A thickness map of the Utica Shale is shown as Figure 6.

A major advantage of having a stacked play strategy utilizing multiple rock formations is that it allows us to take advantage of existing infrastructure. By making repeat visits to previously used pads, environmental impacts are minimized and greater cost savings are realized. Company Overview Operations Contact Us. Company Overview.

Investor Relations. Search for:' Artboard 1. The Marcellus and Utica Shale. Emergency Hotline If you need to report an emergency, you can contact Seneca Resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at in Pennsylvania and in California. Examples of test data include:.