Silurian reefs in southwestern Indiana and their relation to petroleum accumulation

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Occas. Pap., Indiana Geol. Surv.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6583039

Becker, L E; Keller, S J

Additional petroleum exploration is merited in a large area of SW. Indiana where petroleum accumulations probably will be found in association with Silurian pinnacle reefs. The strata in which accumulations may be found are Mississippian--the Ste. Genevieve Limstone, the Aux Vases Formation, and the Salem Limestone--and the Middle Devonian carbonate section. Not to be overlooked are the Silurian reef bodies themselves. The most promising area for future exploration is a large part of the particularly thick Silurian section that extends from Spencer County northwestward through Dubois, Daviess, Greene, and Sullivan counties. But reefal complexes may be found basinward from the principal Silurian bank and therefore within the area where Lower Devonian rocks are present. All of these Silurian pinnacle reefs are reflected in shallow strata by structural closure, and a good method of exploration is shallow test drilling. (11 refs.)

• OSTI ID: 6583039
• Journal Information: Occas. Pap., Indiana Geol. Surv.; (United States), Journal Name: Occas. Pap., Indiana Geol. Surv.; (United States) Vol. 19; ISSN OPGSD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200 -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CARBONATE ROCKS
DEVONIAN PERIOD
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLORATION
FEDERAL REGION V
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
INDIANA
LIMESTONE
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
REEFS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILURIAN PERIOD
STRATIGRAPHY
USA