Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mina de Kentucky. EEUU
Mina de Kentucky. EEUU
Mina de Kentucky. EEUU
Tar-Sand Resources
of
Western Kentucky
Martin C. Noger
Martin C. Noger
Reprinted from the 1984 Eastern Oil Shale Symposium, November 2628, 1984, sponsored
by the University of Kentucky Institute for Mining and Minerals Research and the Kentucky
Energy Cabinet.
i
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY Computer and Laboratory Services Section:
Charles T. Wethington Jr., President Steven Cordiviola, Head
Fitzgerald Bramwell, Vice President for Research and Graduate Richard E. Sergeant, Geologist IV
Studies Joseph B. Dixon, Information Technology Manager I
Jack Supplee, Director, Administrative Affairs, Research and James M. McElhone, Information Systems Technical Support
Graduate Studies Specialist IV
Henry E. Francis, Scientist II
KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ADVISORY Karen Cisler, Scientist I
BOARD C. Lee Helms, Research Analyst
Jacqueline Swigart, Chair, Louisville Steven R. Mock, Research Analyst
Henry M. Morgan, Vice Chair, Utica Mark F. Thompson, Research Analyst
William W. Bowdy, Fort Thomas
Steve Cawood, Frankfort GEOLOGICAL DIVISION
Hugh B. Gabbard, Winchester Coal and Minerals Section:
Kenneth Gibson, Madisonville Donald R. Chesnut Jr., Head
Ron D. Gilkerson, Lexington Garland R. Dever Jr., Geologist V
Mark E. Gormley, Versailles Cortland F. Eble, Geologist V
Rosanne Kruzich, Louisville Gerald A. Weisenfluh, Geologist V
W.A. Mossbarger, Lexington David A. Williams, Geologist V, Henderson office
John F. Tate, Bonnyman Stephen F. Greb, Geologist IV
David A. Zegeer, Lexington William M. Andrews Jr., Geologist II
Ralph N. Thomas, Emeritus Member, Owensboro Ernest E. Thacker, Geologist I
George H. Warren Jr., Emeritus Member, Owensboro Geologic Mapping and Hydrocarbon Resources Section:
James A. Drahovzal, Head
KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Warren H. Anderson, Geologist IV
Donald C. Haney, State Geologist and Director
David C. Harris, Geologist IV
John D. Kiefer, Assistant State Geologist for Administration
Brandon C. Nuttall, Geologist IV
James C. Cobb, Assistant State Geologist for Research
Thomas N. Sparks, Geologist III
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION Douglas C. Curl, Geologist II
Personnel and Finance Section: John B. Hickman, Geologist II
James L. Hamilton, Administrative Staff Officer II Steven L. Martin, Geologist II
Jackie Silvers, Administrative Staff Officer I Jason A. Patton, Geologist II
Clerical Section: Anna E. Watson, Geologist I
Jody L. Cruse, Staff Support Associate II Xin-Yue Yang, Post-Doctoral Scholar
Kammy McCleery-Malloy, Office Assistant R. Shawn Duncan, Geological Technician
Juanita G. Smith, Office Assistant, Henderson office Christopher P. Hettinger, Geological Technician
Michael P. Solis, Geological Technician
Office of Communications and Technology Transfer:
Carol L. Ruthven, Manager Water Resources Section:
Margaret Luther Smath, Geologic Editor III James S. Dinger, Head
Douglas W. Reynolds Jr., Geologist II, Communications Coordi- Daniel I. Carey, Hydrologist V
nator for the Kentucky Board of Registration for Professional David R. Wunsch, Hydrogeologist V
Geologists Philip G. Conrad, Hydrogeologist IV
Terry D. Hounshell, Chief Cartographic Illustrator James C. Currens, Hydrogeologist IV
Michael L. Murphy, Graphic Design Technician R. Stephen Fisher, Hydrogeologist IV
Collie Rulo, Graphic Design Technician John F. Stickney, Hydrogeologist IV
Shirley Davis Dawson, Staff Support Associate II Robert M. Williams, Hydrogeologist IV
Alex W. Fogle, Hydrologist III
Well Sample and Core Library: Robert E. Andrews, Hydrogeologist II
Patrick J. Gooding, Manager E. Glynn Beck, Hydrogeologist II, Henderson office
Robert R. Daniel, Senior Laboratory Technician Dennis H. Cumbie, Hydrogeologist II
Office of Geologic Information: Carlos M. Galcerán Jr., Hydrogeologist II
Bart Davidson, Manager C. Douglas R. Graham, Hydrogeologist II
Richard A. Smath, Geologist II, ESIC Coordinator Philip K. Fields, Geological Technician, Henderson office
Kevin J. Wente, Geologist I Gregory L. Secrist, Geological Technician
William A. Briscoe III, Publication Sales Supervisor Steven E. Webb, Geological Technician
Roger S. Banks, Account Clerk I Geologic Hazards:
Luanne Davis, Staff Support Associate II Edward W. Woolery, Geologist IV
Theola L. Evans, Staff Support Associate I
ii
CONTENTS
Page
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Geologic Setting of Tar-Sand Occurrences .................................................................................................................................. 1
Resource Evaluations and Geologic Aspects ................................................................................................................................ 1
Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation .......................................................................................................... 2
Hardinsburg Sandstone ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Tar Springs Sandstone of the Leitchfield Formation .................................................................................................................... 9
Caseyville Formation .................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Tar-Sand Development ............................................................................................................................................................... 15
Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................................................ 17
Recommendations ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19
References Cited ......................................................................................................................................................................... 27
FIGURES
Page
1. Regional surface tectonic features and areas of tar-sand outcrop in Kentucky .............................................................. 2
2. Generalized columnar section showing principal tar-sand units in western Kentucky .................................................. 3
3. Isopach map of bitumen-impregnated sandstone in the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation,
Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Logan, and Warren Counties, Kentucky .......................................................................... 4
4. Stratigraphic cross section of the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Edmonson County,
Kentucky ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
5. Preliminary structure map on top of the Beech Creek Limestone .................................................................................. 6
6. Outline of resource areas in the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Butler, Edmonson,
Grayson, Logan, and Warren Counties, Kentucky ......................................................................................................... 7
7. Outline of resource areas in the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Breckinridge, Grayson,
and Ohio Counties, Kentucky ......................................................................................................................................... 8
8. Resource-richness map of the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Butler, Edmonson,
Grayson, Logan, and Warren Counties, Kentucky ......................................................................................................... 9
9. Resource-richness map of the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Breckinridge, Grayson,
and Ohio Counties, Kentucky ....................................................................................................................................... 10
10. Isopach map of the bitumen-impregnated sandstone of the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Butler, Edmonson, Logan,
and Warren Counties, Kentucky ................................................................................................................................... 12
11. Outline of resource areas in the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky ...................................................................................................................................................................... 13
12. Outline of resource areas in the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Breckinridge, Grayson, and Ohio Counties, Kentucky ...... 14
13. Resource-richness map of the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15
14. Resource-richness map of the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Breckinridge, Grayson, and Ohio Counties, Kentucky ......... 16
15. Outline of resource areas in the Tar Springs Sandstone, Breckinridge and Hancock Counties, Kentucky .................. 18
16. Outline of resource areas in the Tar Springs Sandstone, Butler County, Kentucky ..................................................... 19
17. Resource-richness map of the Tar Springs Sandstone, Breckinridge and Hancock Counties, Kentucky ..................... 20
18. Resource-richness map of the Tar Springs Sandstone, Butler County, Kentucky ........................................................ 21
19. Generalized outcrop map of Pennsylvanian formations, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Hart, Ohio, and Warren
Counties ........................................................................................................................................................................ 22
20. Outline of resource areas of the Caseyville Formation, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23
21. Resource-richness map of the Caseyville Formation, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24
22. Tar-sand development projects in western Kentucky ................................................................................................... 26
iii
TABLES
Page
1. Measured in-place resource of the Big Clifty Sandstone ............................................................................................. 11
2. Speculative in-place resource of the Big Clifty Sandstone .......................................................................................... 11
3. Measured in-place resource of the Hardinsburg Sandstone ......................................................................................... 17
4. Speculative in-place resource of the Hardinsburg Sandstone ...................................................................................... 17
5. Speculative in-place resource of the Tar Springs Sandstone ........................................................................................ 21
6. Measured in-place resource of the Caseyville Formation ............................................................................................ 24
7. Speculative in-place resource of the Caseyville Formation ......................................................................................... 25
8. Western Kentucky in-place tar-sand resource .............................................................................................................. 25
iv
MISSION STATEMENT
The Kentucky Geological Survey at the University of Kentucky is a
State-mandated organization whose mission is the collection, preservation,
and dissemination of information about mineral and water resources and
the geology of the Commonwealth. KGS has conducted research on the
geology and mineral resources of Kentucky for more than 150 years, and
has developed extensive public databases for oil and natural gas, coal,
water, and industrial minerals that are used by thousands of citizens each
year. The Surveys efforts have resulted in topographic and geologic map
coverage for Kentucky that has not been matched by any other state in the
Nation.
One of the major goals of the Kentucky Geological Survey is to make
the results of basic and applied research easily accessible to the public.
This is accomplished through the publication of both technical and
nontechnical reports and maps, as well as providing information through
open-file reports and public databases.
v
© 1999
Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky
For further information contact:
Manager, Office of Communications and Technology Transfer
Kentucky Geological Survey
228 Mining and Mineral Resources Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0107
ISSN 0075-5605
vi
1
ABSTRACT
Tar-sand deposits in western Kentucky have been recognized as a potentially significant mineral resource
since the middle of the 19th century. Deposits of bitumen-bearing Late Mississippian and Early Pennsylvanian
sandstones have been reported both at the surface and in the subsurface for a distance of approximately 100 miles
along the southeastern rim of the Eastern Interior Basin.
Prior to 1981, published studies of western Kentucky tar-sand deposits had concentrated on the outcrop
areas where bitumen-bearing sandstones were present at or near the surface. In-place oil resources were esti-
mated at less than 50 million barrels (MMbbl). Reports that delineated subsurface occurrences of asphaltic
sandstones in western Kentucky were not available.
In 1981 the Kentucky Geological Survey initiated a project to inventory and evaluate the oil-resource
potential of the asphaltic sandstones in the subsurface of western Kentucky. A preliminary report on the Big
Clifty (Late Mississippian) was published in 1982.
In 1982 this project was combined with the Interstate Oil Compact Commissions (IOCC) project to catalog
and evaluate the tar-sand-resource potential of the United States. Results of investigations by the Kentucky
Geological Survey, in conjunction with Lewin and Associates, who were selected to compile the IOCC report,
have confirmed that major tar-sand resources are present in western Kentucky. In-place resources are calcu-
lated to be in excess of 3 billion barrels (Bbbl).
GEOLOGIC SETTING OF TAR-SAND There is a diversity of opinion regarding the source of hy-
drocarbons that formed the bitumen in the sandstones. Some
OCCURRENCES writers (Russell, 1933; Sedimentation Seminar, 1978) have
Tar-sand deposits in western Kentucky occur along the concluded that the marine shales of Late Mississippian age
southeastern rim of the Eastern Interior Basin and dip approxi- were the source of the oil from which the asphalt-like mate-
mately 30 to 50 feet per mile (ft/mi) to the north, northwest, rial was produced, whereas Walters (1974) suggested that the
and west into the basin. Regional structure is modified by source was the deeper Devonian-age Chattanooga Shale.
eastwest-trending faults (Fig. 1).
The principal stratigraphic units that contain tar-sand de- RESOURCE EVALUATIONS AND
posits (also referred to as asphaltic sandstones, heavy-oil de-
posits, or bitumen-impregnated sandstones) are the Kyrock GEOLOGIC ASPECTS
and Bee Spring Sandstones of Early Pennsylvanian age and Prior to 1981, published studies (U.S. Army Corps of En-
the Tar Springs, Hardinsburg, and Big Clifty Sandstones of gineers, 1951; Ball Associates, Ltd., 1965) had concentrated
Late Mississippian age (Fig. 2). on outcrop areas where bitumen-bearing sandstones were
No single geological control will adequately explain the present at or near the surface. In-place oil resources were es-
localization of all the Kentucky deposits (McGrain, 1976; timated at about 50 million barrels (MMbbl). Reports that
McGrain and Ponsetto, 1981). In northern Logan County, delineated subsurface occurrences of asphaltic sandstones in
northern Warren County, northern Grayson County, and else- western Kentucky were not available.
where, the proximity of deposits to known faults suggests struc- In 1981 the Kentucky Geological Survey initiated a project
tural control and orientation. Locations of some surface de- to inventory and evaluate the oil-resource potential of asphal-
posits in Edmonson County appear to be related to a deep tic sandstones in the subsurface of western Kentucky. A pre-
sandstone-filled paleovalley. Other deposits can be explained liminary report (Williams and others, 1982) on the Big Clifty
only as stratigraphic traps or local porous zones in the enclos- Sandstone (Late Mississippian) was published.
ing rock. Much detailed subsurface information is needed to
provide the answers.
2 Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation
Figure 1. Regional surface tectonic features and areas of tar-sand outcrop in Kentucky.
In 1982 this project was combined with the Interstate Oil Resource evaluations and geologic aspects of the individual
Compact Commissions (IOCC) study to catalog and evalu- asphaltic sandstones of western Kentucky are discussed in
ate the tar-sand and heavy-oil resources of the United States. the following sections, starting with the oldest, the Big Clifty
Results of the investigations by the Kentucky Geological Sur- Sandstone of Late Mississippian age.
vey, in conjunction with Lewin and Associates, who were se-
lected to compile the IOCC report (IOCC, 1984), have con-
firmed that major tar-sand resources are present in western BIG CLIFTY SANDSTONE MEMBER OF
Kentucky. In-place resources for tar-bearing sandstones are THE GOLCONDA FORMATION
calculated to be 3.4 billion barrels (Bbbl). The Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda For-
Resource assessment includes two categories: measured mation consists predominantly of sandstone with variable
and speculative. Measured resource is defined as that part of amounts of shale, siltstone, and minor amounts of limestone.
the resource that can be deduced to exist from well control, The composite thickness of the unit may be as great as 100
primarily using core analyses. Speculative resource is defined feet (ft). The sandstone facies ranges from very fine to me-
as that part of the resource that is presumed to exist from dium; fine-grained sandstone predominates. The sandstone is
reported tar shows on drillers logs, occasional core analyses, thin to massive bedded, with some crossbedding and thin,
and geological interpretations (IOCC, 1984). ripple-bedded sandstones near the top of the unit. Outcrop
Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation 3
Figure 3. Isopach map of bitumen-impregnated sandstone in the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda
Formation, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Logan, and Warren Counties, Kentucky.
echelon in some areas and bifurcating in others. In the study Measured and speculative resource areas of the Big Clifty
area, relative fault displacement in both systems is predomi- Sandstone were outlined using data from core holes, drillers
nantly down to the north. All faults appear to be high angle, logs, outcrops of tar sand, and geological interpretations of
and normal, with throws of about 100 ft or less. the thickness of bitumen-impregnated sandstones (Figs. 6
Structure contours on top of the Beech Creek Limestone 7). Area outlines are generally extrapolated one section out
Member of the Golconda Formation (Fig. 2) indicate that the from the nearest well.
unit is more than 600 ft above sea level in northern Logan Well data consisting of 70 core analyses, more than 50
County and about 1,000 ft below sea level in northwestern outcrop samples from industrial sources, and 15 drillers logs
Butler County, a difference of about 1,600 ft (Fig. 5). Surface were used to determine the boundaries of areas of measured
geologic maps indicate a regional dip of 30 to 50 ft/mi, sug- resource. In addition, three core analyses from industrial
gesting that about one-third of the structural difference in el- sources, more than 50 drillers logs, outcrops of bitumen-im-
evation is probably due to faulting. pregnated sandstone, and outcrop areas were used to estab-
The structural configuration of other tar-sand deposits (Fig. lish the boundaries of speculative areas.
2) of Late Mississippian and Early Pennsylvanian ages in Average reservoir properties for the Big Clifty are: poros-
Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Logan, and Warren Counties ity, 15 percent; permeability, 100 millidarcys; oil saturation,
appears to conform to the structural pattern on top of the Beech 45 percent; depths, 0 to 600 ft. Oil gravity is 10° API.
Creek Limestone.
Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation 5
Figure 4. Stratigraphic cross section of the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Edmonson
County, Kentucky. No horizontal scale.
Boundaries for richness categories measured in barrels per gitude and latitude lines, contain about 660 acres. The acre-
acre for in-place resources of measured and speculative areas age within a richness category multiplied by the barrels per
of the Big Clifty Sandstone are delineated on Figures 8 and 9. acre equals the resource in-place.
In-place resource assessments for the measured and specu- The Bee Spring-Brownsville Area, encompassing about
lative areas of the Big Clifty Sandstone and other tar-sand 67,000 acres, contains the largest measured in-place resource
deposits were derived in the following manner. In general, of 520 MMbbl (Table 1). The Cooperstown-Gasper Area, cov-
the value of the barrels per acre (B/A) assumed for each area ering 43,000 acres, contains 390 MMbbl. The Riverside Area,
of richness is 40 percent of the difference between the rich- encompassing 14,500 acres, contains 160 MMbbl. The Dimple
ness categories that define an area. For example, when calcu- Area, which covers 1,900 acres, contains 120 MMbbl. The
lating the resource in-place for an area falling between the total in-place measured resource has an areal extent of about
richness category outlines for 0 B/A and 10,000 B/A, the as- 144,000 acres and contains about 1.2 Bbbl.
sumed average for the area would be 40 percent of 10,000 The Main Area, with an areal extent of 150,000 acres, has
B/A, or 4,000 B/A. The values used for the richness areas not the largest speculative in-place resource of 685 MMbbl (Table
falling between categories are full original designations. In 2). The Welchs Creek Area, covering 13,000 acres, contains
certain areas, a subjective evaluation, based on core, results 65 MMbbl. The Shrewsbury Area, covering 10,000 acres, con-
in a higher or lower assumed B/A value. For example, core tains 40 MMbbl. The Nolin Area, covering 5,500 acres, con-
data in the Bee Spring Area (Fig. 8) show that the area within tains 20 MMbbl. The West Short Creek and McDaniels-Out-
the 20,000 B/A richness category generally contains more oil crop Areas, encompassing 6,000 and 17,000 acres, contain
than 20,000 B/A (Table 1). Thus, the B/A value used in deter- 30 and 70 MMbbl, respectively. The total in-place specula-
mining the in-place resource has been increased by 4,000 B/A. tive resource, covering about 200,000 acres, contains about
The acreage of an area was determined by the number of 910 MMbbl.
sections multiplied by 625 acres. Kentucky sections based on The total in-place resource for the Big Clifty from mea-
the Carter coordinate system, which is determined from lon- sured (1,190 MMbbl) and speculative (910 MMbbl) areas is
calculated to be about 2.1 Bbbl.
6 Hardinsburg Sandstone
Figure 6. Outline of resource areas in the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Butler, Edmonson,
Grayson, Logan, and Warren Counties, Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the Interstate
Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC).
The boundaries of the speculative areas were established The Bee Spring-Brownsville Area, with an areal extent of
by data from one core analysis, about 15 drillers logs, out- 44,000 acres, contains the largest measured in-place resource
crops of tar sand, outcrop area, and geological interpretation of 180 MMbbl (Table 3). The Riverside Area, covering about
of the thickness of bitumen-impregnated sandstone. The 10,000 acres, contains 40 MMbbl, and the Dimple Area, en-
boundaries of the two speculative areas (Fig. 12) in northern compassing about 12,000 acres, contains 30 MMbbl. The in-
Grayson and southwestern Breckinridge Counties are based place measured resource has an areal extent of 66,000 acres
on reported shows of tar sand on drillers logs. and contains an estimated 250 MMbbl.
Key reservoir properties for the Hardinsburg are: poros- The Main Area, covering about 73,000 acres, has the larg-
ity, 14 percent; permeability, 10 to 400 millidarcys; oil satu- est speculative in-place resource of 150 MMbbl (Table 4).
ration, 40 to 70 percent; depth, 125 to 440 ft. Oil gravity is The Nolin Lake Area, covering 2,500 acres, contains 5
10° API. MMbbl. The West Short Creek and East Fordsville Areas,
The boundaries for richness categories measured in bar- covering 8,000 and 4,500 acres, contain an estimated 15 and
rels per acre for in-place resources for measured and specula- 10 MMbbl, respectively. The total in-place speculative re-
tive areas of the Hardinsburg Sandstone are delineated on source, covering about 88,000 acres, is calculated to be 180
Figures 13 and 14. MMbbl.
8 Hardinsburg Sandstone
Figure 7. Outline of resource areas in the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Breckinridge,
Grayson, and Ohio Counties, Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Tar Springs Sandstone of the Leitchfield Formation 9
Figure 8. Resource-richness map of the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Butler, Edmonson,
Grayson, Logan, and Warren Counties, Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
TAR SPRINGS SANDSTONE OF THE The speculative resource area of the Tar Springs Sand-
stone in Breckinridge County was outlined using data from
LEITCHFIELD FORMATION more than 30 drillers logs (Fig. 15). The speculative area in
The Tar Springs Sandstone of the Leitchfield Formation Butler County was outlined using data from 19 drillers logs
consists predominantly of sandstone and shale. The sandstone and three cable tool cores (Fig. 16). No areas were consid-
facies is about 60 ft thick in Breckinridge County, where it ered to be in the measured category because of the paucity of
crops out as cliff-forming sandstone. The Tar Springs is char- core analyses.
acterized by rapid lateral facies changes from sandstone to The Breckinridge and Dimple Areas were considered to
shale. Grain size varies from coarse to fine to medium. Shales have similar reservoir characteristics, based on data from core
are medium gray to black. analyses of the three cable tool cores from the Dimple Area.
Tar Springs sandstones appear to have originated from ter- Average reservoir properties for the Tar Springs Sandstone
rigenous detrital deposits, which were deposited by a south- are: porosity, 20 percent; permeability, 100 millidarcys; oil
ward- and southwestward-prograding delta (IOCC, 1984). A saturation, 25 percent; oil gravity, 14 to 17° API. However,
near-shore barrier-island depositional environment has been the above reservoir properties may be too low for the Breck-
suggested for the Tar Springs in Breckinridge County (Neeley, inridge Area. A recently acquired analysis of a core from the
1982).
10 Tar Springs Sandstone of the Leitchfield Formation
Figure 9. Resource-richness map of the Big Clifty Sandstone Member of the Golconda Formation, Breckinridge,
Grayson, and Ohio Counties, Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Tar Springs Sandstone of the Leitchfield Formation 11
Table 1. Measured in-place resource of the Big Clifty Sandstone. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from
the IOGCC.
Resource-Richness Barrels per Acre-Foot Net Pay, Feet Barrels per Acre Areal Extent In-Place Resource
Category (average) (average) (average) (average) (MMbbl)
Cooperstown-Gasper Area
20,000 + B/A 750 26 22,000 10,000 220
10,000–20,000 B/A 520 20 10,000 1,250 10
0–10,000 B/A 350 14 5,000 32,000 160
Bee Spring-
Brownsville Area
20,000 + B/A 600 40 24,000 3,000 70
10,000–20,000 B/A 560 25 14,000 14,000 200
0–10,000 B/A 500 10 5,000 50,000 250
Riverside Area
30,000 B/A 700 43 30,000 2,500 75
10,000–30,000 B/A 500 35 18,000 2,500 45
0–10,000 B/A 400 10 4,000 9,500 40
Dimple Area
10,000 B/A 400 26 10,000 8,000 80
0–10,000 B/A 100 40 4,000 11,000 40
Total measured in-place resource 143,750 1,190
Table 2. Speculative in-place resource of the Big Clifty Sandstone. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission,
from IOGCC.
Resource-Richness Barrels per Acre-Foot Net Pay, Feet Barrels per Acre Areal Extent In-Place Resource
Category (average) (average) (average) (acres) (MMbbl)
Main Area
20,000 B/A 500 40 20,000 1,000 20
10,000–20,000 B/A 560 25 14,000 6,400 90
0–10,000 B/A 400 10 4,000 142,000 575
Shrewsbury Area
0–10,000 B/A 400 10 4,000 10,000 40
McDaniels-Outcrop Area
0–10,000 B/A 400* 10 4,000 17,000 70
*Assumed same as the reservoir properties of the 0–10,000 resource contour of measured area.
12 Caseyville Formation
Figure 10. Isopach map of the bitumen-impregnated sandstone of the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Butler, Edmonson,
Logan, and Warren Counties, Kentucky.
Tar Springs Sandstone from a depth of 125 to 139 ft lists able. In this report the two sandstone bodies are referred to as
average reservoir properties as: porosity, 24 percent; perme- the Caseyville Formation. Outcrop areas of Pennsylvanian-
ability, 696 millidarcys; and oil saturation, 58 percent. age formations and outcrops of bitumen-impregnated sand-
The boundaries for the richness categories measured for stone are shown on Figure 19.
in-place resources of the Tar Springs Sandstone for the Breck- In central Edmonson County the Caseyville consists of two
inridge and Dimple Areas are shown on Figures 17 and 18. sandstone bodies about 200 ft thick deposited in a northeast
The Dimple Area, covering 12,500 acres, is calculated to con- southwest-trending paleovalley. The lower body consists of
tain an in-place speculative resource of 125 MMbbl (Table medium- to coarse-grained, crossbedded sandstone. The up-
5). The Breckinridge Area, encompassing 21,500 acres, is per body is fine- to medium-grained, crossbedded sandstone
calculated to contain 215 MMbbl. that contains some shale. The lower sandstone may have been
The total in-place speculative resource for the Tar Springs deposited by a low-sinuosity braided stream; the upper sand-
Sandstone is calculated to be 340 MMbbl. stone was deposited by a series of small, high-sinuosity me-
andering streams. The upper unit was deposited by more vari-
able paleocurrents and extends beyond the limits of the ero-
CASEYVILLE FORMATION sional valley (Sedimentation Seminar, 1978).
The Caseyville Formation of Early Pennsylvanian age con- Measured and speculative resource areas of the Caseyville
tains two bitumen-impregnated sandstones: the Bee Spring Formation were outlined using data from core and drillers
and Kyrock. In some areas these sandstones are separated by logs (Fig. 20). The measured resource area boundary was es-
the Main Nolin coal bed. In other areas the Main Nolin coal
bed is absent and the two sandstone bodies are indistinguish-
Caseyville Formation 13
Figure 11. Outline of resource areas in the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, with permission, from the IOGCC.
tablished from 25 cores from industrial sources. Speculative The Nash Area, covering 14,000 acres, contains an in-place
area boundaries were determined from six cores and four drill- speculative resource of 140 MMbbl (Table 7). The East
ers logs. Welchs Creek Area, encompassing 16,000 acres, contains 40
Reservoir characteristics of the Caseyville Formation are MMbbl; the Nolin Area, covering 8,000 acres, contains 40
highly lenticular bitumen-impregnated sandstones and highly MMbbl; and the East Shrewsbury Area, covering 6,000 acres,
variable oil saturations. Intervals of tar sand can change from contains 30 MMbbl.
40 to 5 ft in short lateral distances, and oil saturations change The total in-place resource for the Caseyville Formation
rapidly from almost barren to over 60 percent. Permeability for measured (300 MMbbl) and speculative (250 MMbbl)
is moderate to high, generally over 100 millidarcys. areas is calculated to be 550 MMbbl.
Boundaries for richness categories measured in barrels per The total measured (1,730 MMbbl) and speculative (1,680
acre for in-place resources of measured and speculative areas MMbbl) in-place resource for tar-sand deposits in western
of the Caseyville are shown on Figure 21. Kentucky is calculated to be 3.42 Bbbl (Table 8).
The Bee Spring-Brownsville Area, covering 35,000 acres,
contains a measured in-place resource of 300 MMbbl and
generally overlies the measured in-place resources of
Hardinsburg and Big Clifty Sandstones for the same area
(Table 6).
14 Caseyville Formation
Figure 12. Outline of resource areas in the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Breckinridge, Grayson, and Ohio Counties,
Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Tar-Sand Development 15
Figure 13. Resource-richness map of the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Figure 14. Resource-richness map of the Hardinsburg Sandstone, Breckinridge, Grayson, and Ohio Counties, Kentucky.
From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Conclusions 17
Table 3. Measured in-place resource of the Hardinsburg Sandstone. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission,
from the IOGCC.
Resource-Richness Barrels per Acre-Foot Net Pay, Feet Barrels per Acre Areal Extent In-Place Resource
Category (average) (average) (average) (acres) (MMbbl)
Riverside Area
5,000 + B/A 500 12 6,000 5,000 30
0–5,000 B/A 500 4 2,000 5,000 10
Dimple Area
5,000 + B/A 310 7 6,000 2,000 10
0–5,000 B/A 275 7 2,000 10,000 20
bustion process. A forward wet combustion process, preceded Boark Oil and Gas Company is currently involved in a
by a steam preheat to establish good communication with pro- demonstration project in Breckinridge County to heat heavy
ducing wells, was selected for a 1-acre pilot test area. Overall oil in the Tar Springs Sandstone by use of a microwave tech-
results of the pilot are considered very satisfactory, with high nique.
production rates per unit of displacing fluid having been
achieved (Ward and Ward, 1984). Efforts are being made to
raise funds to construct a 1,000-barrel-per-day commercial CONCLUSIONS
module. 1. Exploration and development activities indicate that sig-
nificant oil resources are present in subsurface tar-sand
In 1983, Cresset Corporation constructed a pilot plant in
deposits in western Kentucky.
Logan County to extract oil from surface-mined asphaltic sand-
stones of the Big Clifty by use of a solvent. Test runs using 2. Pilot studies have demonstrated that technologies are
daily mine samples of 200 tons have been successful. The available for the successful recovery of oil from both sub-
plant is presently on a standby operating basis. surface and surface deposits.
Table 4. Speculative in-place resource of the Hardinsburg Sandstone. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission,
from the IOGCC.
Resource-Richness Barrels per Acre-Foot Net Pay, Feet Barrels per Acre Areal Extent In-Place Resource
Category (average) (average) (average) (acres) (MMbbl)
Main Area
0–5,000 B/A 340* 6* 2,000 73,000 150
*Assumed similar in reservoir properties to the low resource contour of the Bee Spring-Brownsville Area measured in-place
resource.
18 Conclusions
Figure 15. Outline of resource areas in the Tar Springs Sandstone, Breckinridge and Hancock Counties, Kentucky.
From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Recommendations 19
Figure 16. Outline of resource areas in the Tar Springs Sandstone, Butler County, Kentucky. From IOCC (1984).
Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
3. The majority of resource areas contain two, and some- 2. The Kentucky Geological Survey should continue to
times three, tar-sand deposits in vertical sequences, en- monitor drilling activities in the tar-sand area in western
hancing the economic attractiveness of the areas. Kentucky and request sample cuttings from test holes to
4. Economic factors supporting the potential development further delineate the tar-sand deposits.
of the tar-sand deposits are accessibility to transporta- 3. Additional research, including studies of well samples,
tion, relatively shallow depths (0600 ft), and lease avail- construction of stratigraphic and structural cross sections,
ability. and source-rock analyses, should be undertaken to fur-
ther determine the geological factors responsible for lo-
calization of western Kentucky tar-sand deposits.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Additional core drilling for analytical data on reservoir
characteristics is needed, especially in resource areas
listed as speculative, for a more accurate resource deter-
mination.
20 Recommendations
Figure 17. Resource-richness map of the Tar Springs Sandstone, Breckinridge and Hancock Counties, Kentucky.
From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Recommendations 21
Figure 18. Resource-richness map of the Tar Springs Sandstone, Butler County, Kentucky. From IOCC (1984).
Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Table 5. Speculative in-place resource of the Tar Springs Sandstone. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission,
from the IOGCC.
Resource-Richness Barrels per Acre-Foot Net Pay, Feet Barrels per Acre Areal Extent In-Place Resource
Category (average) (average) (average) (acres) (MMbbl)
Dimple Area
10,000 B/A 430 25 10,000 12,500 125
Breckinridge Area
10,000 B/A 430* 25 10,000 21,500 215
Figure 19. Generalized outcrop map of Pennsylvanian formations, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Hart, Ohio, and Warren
Counties. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Recommendations 23
Figure 20. Outline of resource areas of the Caseyville Formation, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
24 Recommendations
Figure 21. Resource-richness map of the Caseyville Formation, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, and Warren Counties,
Kentucky. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission, from the IOGCC.
Table 6. Measured in-place resource of the Caseyville Formation. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission,
from the IOGCC.
Resource-Richness Barrels per Acre-Foot Net Pay, Feet Barrels per Acre Areal Extent In-Place Resource
Category (average) (average) (average) (acres) (MMbbl)
Bee Spring-Brownsville
Area
20,000 + B/A 800 30 24,000 4,000 100
10,000–20,000 B/A 700 20 14,000 8,000 110
0–10,000 B/A 600 7 4,000 23,000 90
Table 7. Speculative in-place resource of the Caseyville Formation. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission,
from the IOGCC.
Resource-Richness Barrels per Acre-Foot Net Pay, Feet Barrels per Acre Areal Extent In-Place Resource
Category (average) (average) (average) (acres) (MMbbl)
Nash Area
10,000–20,000 B/A 500 30 15,000 4,000 60
0–10,000 B/A 600 13 8,000 10,000 80
*Assumed the same as the 0–5,000 resource contour of the East Shrewsbury Area.
Table 8. Western Kentucky in-place tar-sand resource. From IOCC (1984). Reprinted, by permission,
from the IOGCC.
Major Deposits Measured Resource (MMbbl) Speculative Resource (MMbbl)
Big Clifty Sandstone 1,180 910
Hardinsburg Sandstone 250 180
Tar Springs Sandstone – 340
Caseyville Sandstone 300 250
Totals 1,730 1,680
Total in-place resource: 3,420,000,000 MMbbl
26 Recommendations