Hydrocarbon potential of Cambrian-Ordovician Knox Group in south-central Kentucky
In the eastern US, the carbonate rocks of the Cambrian-Ordovician Knox Group were deposited on a broad, gently sloping continental shelf in shallow hypersaline waters. A major unconformity occurs at the top of the Knox Group. This regional unconformity developed when the Sauk Sea retreated at the close of the Early Ordovician. In south-central Kentucky, the paleotopographic surface is characterized by extensive paleokarst developed on the upper Knox surface. The study area is located on the crest of the Cincinnati arch, a major structural feature that separates the Appalachian basin to the east from the Illinois basin on the west. Oil and gas are being produced from Cambrian-Ordovician rocks throughout the US, and south-central Kentucky is no exception. In south-central Kentucky, the Knox is of considerable economic importance. Hydrocarbon entrapment occurs at or near the unconformity at the top of the Knox. Approximately 3500 oil and gas wells and mineral exploration holes have penetrated the upper Knox Group in south-central Kentucky. Over 32 million bbl of oil have been recovered from 11 relatively shallow stratigraphic zones in 120 oil pools. These stratigraphic zones are generally encountered at depths of less than 2000 ft. A substantial amount of oil has been recovered from pools that produce exclusively from the Knox. Brecciated and fractured zones at the top of the Knox have also served as the host rock for sulfide mineralization, and these deposits may contain significant amounts of lead, zinc, and barium resources for future exploitation.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
- OSTI ID:
- 5783999
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8710197-
- Journal Information:
- AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Vol. 71:9; ISSN AABUD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Natural gas plays of the Knox Group in the Appalachian basin: A significant element of the U. S. Department of Energy atlas of major Appalachian gas plays
Related Subjects
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CAMBRIAN PERIOD
CARBONATE ROCKS
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
KENTUCKY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
ORDOVICIAN PERIOD
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA