Antrim Shale

Geological formation in Midwestern United States

Antrim Shale

Stratigraphic range: Late Devonian

Antrim Shale outcrop and productive gas area, from Ryder (1996) US Geological Survey.

Type| Formation
Sub-units| Upper Member, Lachine Member, Paxton Member, and Norwood Member
Underlies| Bedford Shale, Ellsworth Shale, and Sunbury Shale
Overlies| Squaw Bay Limestone, Traverse Formation and Milwaukee Formation
Location
Region| Midwestern United States
Country| United States
Extent| Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin
Type section
Named for| Antrim County, Michigan

The Antrim Shale is a formation of Upper Devonian age in the Michigan Basin, in the US state of Michigan, and extending into Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. It is a major source of natural gas in the northern part of the basin.

The Antrim Shale was defined by A. C. Lane in 1901, and named for type-section exposures in Antrim County, Michigan. The formation was previously known as the St. Cleric Shale in Michigan, and the Genesee Shale in Indiana.[1]

## Stratigraphy

[edit]

Stratigraphic relationships of the Antrim Shale, from Ryder (1996) US Geological Survey.

The Antrim is a brown to black, pyritic, highly laminated and organic-rich shale, from 60 to 220 feet thick. Total organic content varies from 1% to 20%. In some places the unit includes a gray calcareous shale or limestone, and in places a fine-grained sandstone at the base.

The formation is called the Kettle Point Formation in Ontario, and is the stratigraphic equivalent of the New Albany Shale in the Illinois Basin. It is overlain by the Bedford Shale, and underlain in some areas by the Jordan River Formation, and elsewhere by the Thunder Bay Limestone.

## Natural gas

[edit]

The Antrim Shale, is a major source of shale gas, and produces natural gas along a swath across the northern part of the state.[2] Most natural gas production is in Antrim, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda and Otsego counties.[3]

Although the Antrim Shale has produced gas since the 1940s, the play was not active until the late 1980s. During the 1990s, the Antrim became the most actively drilled shale gas play in the US, with thousands of wells drilled. To date, the shale has produced more than 2.5 TCF from more than 9 thousand wells. Antrim Shale wells produced almost 140×10 ~~^~~ 9 cu ft (4.0×109 m3) in 2006.

The shale appears to be most economic at depths of 600–2,200 feet. Original gas content ranges from 40 to 100 standard cubic feet per ton. Wells are developed on units of from 40-acre (160,000 m2) to 160-acre (650,000 m2).[4] Horizontal drilling is not widely used. Antrim Shale wells often have to pump much initial water before gas production becomes significant, a behavior also seen in many coalbed methane wells.

Unlike most other shale gas plays, the natural gas from the Antrim appears to be biogenic gas generated by the action of bacteria on the organic-rich rock.[5] Also unlike most other shale plays, the Antrim Shale is thermally immature in the gas-productive trend.[6]

In 2007, the Antrim gas field produced 136 billion cubic feet of gas, making it the 13th-largest source of natural gas in the United States.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Indiana Geological Survey, Antrim Shale, accessed 4 November 2009.
2. ^ Michigan DEQ map: Antrim, PDF file, downloaded 12 February 2009.
3. ^ Michigan State University, Oil and Gas, accessed 3 November 2009.
4. ^ US Department of Energy, Modern Shale gas Development in the United States, April 2009, p.17.
5. ^ Sally Pobojewski, "Antrim shale could hold bacterial answer to natural gas supply," The University Record (University of Michigan), 17 September 1996, accessed 3 November 2009.
6. ^ Jeff Salacup, Anaerobic biodegradation of organic matter in the Devonian Antrim Shale, PDF file, retrieved 4 November 2009.
7. ^ US Energy Information Administration, Top 100 oil and gas fields Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine, PDF file, retrieved 18 February 2009.

* Robert T. Ryder, Fracture Patterns and Their Origin in the Upper Devonian Antrim Shale Gas Reservoir of the Michigan Basin: A Review, US Geological Survey, Open-File Report 96–23, 1996, accessed 3 November 2009.

## See also

[edit]

* Shale gas in the United States

* v
* t
* e

Shale gas

Geological formations|

* Antrim
* Barnett
* Conasauga
* Duvernay
* Eagle Ford
* Fayetteville
* Haynesville
* Horn River
* Marcellus
* Montney
* Muskwa
* New Albany
* Utica

By country|

* Canada
* China
* Romania
* United Kingdom
* United States
* List of countries by recoverable shale gas

Protests|

* Frack Off
* Balcombe drilling protest
* 2012–14 Romanian protests against shale gas

* v
* t
* e

Chronostratigraphy of Indiana

Ph|

| Pz|

| C|

| ⁋|

| Kasimovian|

McLeansboro Group
Bond Formation, Mattoon Formation, Patoka Formation

|

Moscovian|

McLeansboro Group
Shelburn Formation

Carbondale Group
Dugger Formation, Petersburg Formation, Linton Formation
Raccoon Creek Group
Staunton Formation

Bashkirian|

Raccoon Creek Group
Brazil Formation, Mansfield Formation

| Tournaisian|

* New Albany Shale

|

* Beaver Bend Limestone
* Beech Creek Limestone
* Bethel Formation
* Big Clifty Formation
* Branchville Formation
* Clore Formation
* Coldwater Shale
* Cypress Formation
* Degonia Formation
* Edwardsville Formation
* Elwren Formation
* Glen Dean Limestone
* Grove Church Shale
* Haney Limestone
* Hardinsburg Formation
* Harrodsburg Limestone
* Kinkaid Limestone
* Menard Limestone
* Muldraugh Formation
* New Providence Shale
* Palestine Formation
* Paoli Formation
* Ramp Creek Formation
* Reelsville Limestone
* Rockford Limestone
* Salem Limestone
* Sample Formation
* Spickert Knob Formation
* St. Louis Limestone
* St. Genevieve Limestone
* Sunbury Formation
* Tar Springs Formation
* Tobinsport Formation
* Vienna Limestone
* Waltersburg Formation

| Upper|

| Famennian|

* New Albany Shale

|

* Antrim Shale
* Backbone Limestone
* Clear Creek Chert
* Detroit River Formation
* Ellsworth Shale
* Grassy Knob Chert
* Jeffersonville Limestone
* North Vernon Limestone
* Traverse Formation

* Bailey Limestone
* Brassfield Limestone
* Cataract Formation
* Louisville Limestone
* Moccasin Springs Formation
* Pleasant Mills Formation
* Salamonie Dolomite
* Sexton Creek Limestone
* St. Clair Limestone
* Wabash Formation
* Waldron Shale

* Brainard Shale
* Dillsboro Formation
* Dutchtown Formation
* Everton Dolomite
* Fort Atkinson Limestone
* Joachim Formation
* Kope Formation
* Lexington Limestone
* Oneota Dolomite
* Pecatonica Formation
* Plattin Formation
* Scales Shale
* Shakopee Dolomite
* St. Peter Sandstone
* Trenton Limestone
* Whitewater Formation

* Davis Formation
* Eau Claire Formation
* Franconia Formation
* Galesville Sandstone
* Ironton Sandstone
* Mt. Simon Sandstone
* Potosi Dolomite

pЄ|

* Middle Run Formation

* v
* t
* e

Chronostratigraphy  of Michigan

Ph|

| Cz|

| Q|

| Pleistocene|

| indet.|

Glacial till

|

Pz|

| C|

| ⁋|

* Pewamo Formation
* Grand River Formation
* Saginaw Formation

|

indet.|

* Parma Sandstone

* Bayport Limestone
* Coldwater Shale
* Marshall Sandstone
* Sunbury Shale

| Upper|

| indet.|

* Antrim Shale
* Bedford Shale
* Berea Sandstone
* Ellsworth Shale

|

Frasnian|

* Squaw Bay Limestone

Middle|

| Givetian|

* Squaw Bay Limestone

|

* Alpena Limestone
* Amherstburg Formation
* Anderdon Limestone
* Bell Shale
* Bois Blanc Formation
* Dundee Limestone
* Ferron Point Formation
* Long Lake Limestone
* Lucas Formation
* Rockport Quarry Limestone
* Rogers City Limestone
* Sylvania Sandstone
* Thunder Bay Limestone

Lower|

* Garden Island Formation

| indet.|

* Bertie Formation
* Byron Formation
* Bush Bay Formation
* Cordell Formation
* Hendricks Formation
* Lime Island Formation
* Pointe aux Chenes Formation
* Put-in-Bay Dolomite
* Raisin River Dolomite
* Rapson Creek Formation
* Rockview Formation
* Salina Group
* Schoolcraft Formation
* St. Ignace Dolomite

|

Llandovery|

* Cabot Head Shale
* Manitoulin Dolomite

| Upper|

| Sandbian|

* Bill's Creek Shale

|

* Big Hill Formation
* Stonington Formation

Middle|

| Darriwilian|

* Bill's Creek Shale

|

* Black River Formation
* Collingwood Shale
* Trenton Formation

Lower|

* Au Train Formation

* Munising Formation

pЄ|

| ♇|

* Copper Harbor Conglomerate
* Freda Sandstone
* Jacobsville Sandstone
* Nonesuch Shale

|

* v
* t
* e

Chronostratigraphy of Ohio

Ph|

| Pz|

| P|

| Cisuralian|

Dunkard Group
Greene Formation
Washington Formation

|

| ⁋|

| Gzhelian|

Dunkard Group
Waynesburg Formation

Monongahela Group
Uniontown Formation
Pittsburgh Formation

|

Kasimovian|

Conemaugh Group
Casselman Formation
Glenshaw Formation

Moscovian|

Allegheny Group
Pottsville Group

| Viséan|

* Maxville Limestone

|

Tournaisian|

Cuyahoga Formation

Logan Formation

* Sunbury Shale

* Coldwater Shale
* Rushville Shale

| Upper|

| Famennian|

* Bedford Shale
* Berea Sandstone
* Cussewago Sandstone

Ohio Shale
Cleveland Shale
Chagrin Shale
Huron Shale

|

Frasnian|

* Burket Shale
* Olentangy Shale (upper)

* Antrim Shale
* Java Formation

West Falls Group
Angola Shale
Rhinestreet Shale

Middle|

| Givetian|

* Tully Formation
* Mahantango Formation
* Olentangy Shale (lower)
* Plum Brook Shale
* Prout Limestone
* Silica Formation

|

Eifelian|

* Marcellus Shale

* Amherstburg Dolomite
* Columbus Limestone/Onondaga Limestone
* Delaware Limestone
* Detroit River Group
* Hillsboro Sandstone

* Dundee Formation
* Lucas Dolomite
* Tenmile Creek Dolomite

Lower|

| Emsian|

* Amherstburg Dolomite
* Detroit River Group
* Hillsboro Sandstone

|

Lochkovian|

* Holland Quarry Shale

* Bass Islands Dolomite
* Bois Blanc Formation
* Helderberg Group
* Oriskany Sandstone
* Sylvania Sandstone

| Pridoli|

* Bertie Formation

|

Ludlow|

| Ludfordian|

* Salina Group

|

Gorstian|

* Salina Group
* Guelph Dolomite

* Salina Group
* Greenfield Dolomite
* Tymochtee Dolomite

Wenlock|

| Homerian|

Lockport Group
Gasport Dolomite
Guelph Dolomite
Goat Island Dolomite

|

* Bisher Formation
* Cedarville Dolomite
* Dayton Formation
* Estill Shale
* Euphemia Dolomite
* Laurel Limestone
* Lilley Formation
* Massie Shale
* Osgood Shale
* Peebles Dolomite
* Rochester Shale
* Springfield Dolomite

Llandovery|

* Brassfield Formation
* Cabot Head Shale
* Clinton Formation
* Drowning Creek Formation
* Manitoulin Dolomite

| Upper|

* Arnheim Formation
* Cincinnati Group
* Drakes Formation
* Fairview Formation
* Grant Lake Formation
* Kope Formation
* Liberty Formation
* Miamitown Shale
* Queenston Shale
* Saluda Formation
* Trenton Limestone
* Waynesville Formation
* Whitewater Formation

|

Middle|

* Black River Group
* Lexington Limestone
* Point Pleasant Formation
* Trenton Limestone
* Wells Creek Formation

| Furongian|

* Conasauga Formation
* Eau Claire Formation
* Kerbel Formation
* Knox Dolomite
* Rome Formation

|

* Mt. Simon Sandstone

pЄ|

| ♇|

| Z|

* Swift Run Formation

|

* Middle Run Formation

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