Evaluation of liquid waste-storage potential based on porosity distribution in the Paleozoic rocks in central and southern parts of the Appalachian Basin

The role of uplift and erosion in the persistence of saline groundwater in the shallow subsurface

“…Large Alleghenian-related detachment faults are largely restricted to Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian rocks deep in the subsurface under the Appalachian Plateaus and do not penetrate into the Mississippian rocks [Ryder et al, 2009]. Permian through Mississippian rocks occupy the upper 1 to 2 km (Figure 1b) and occur in repeating sequences (cyclothems) of sandstone, siltstone, shale, limestone, and coal [Martin, 1998;Edmunds et al, 1979;Lloyd and Reid, 1986].…”

Geologic cross section A–A′ through the Appalachian basin from the southern margin of the Ontario Lowlands province, Genesee County, western New York, to the Valley and Ridge province, Lycoming County, north-central Pennsylvania

“…Other aspects of petroleum systems (such as the timing of petroleum generation and petroleum migration pathways) may be evaluated by burial history, thermal history, and fluid flow models on the basis of what is shown on the cross section. In addition, cross section A-A′ may be used as a reconnaissance tool to identify plausible geologic structures and strata for the subsurface storage of liquid waste (for example, Colton, 1961;Lloyd and Reid, 1990;Clark and others, 2005) or for the sequestration of carbon dioxide (for example, Smith and others, 2002;Lucier and others, 2006).…”