The Ohio Geological Survey CO₂ No. 1 Well Provides Valuable Data for Both Sequestration and Exploration

Ronald A. Riley, Larry H. Wickstrom, and Douglas J. Mullett
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey, Columbus, OH 43229

In August 2007, drilling and testing of the Ohio Geological Survey CO₂ No. 1 well in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, was completed. The well reached a total depth of 8,695 feet in Precambrian crystalline rock. A stratigraphic test was conducted to evaluate CO₂ injectivity and storage capacity of deep saline reservoirs and the effectiveness of confining units. The well is located in an area of known Knox production; it provides additional data for exploration efforts. Funding for this cooperative project between the Ohio Geological Survey and Battelle Memorial Institute was provided by the state’s general revenue fund and the Ohio Coal Development Office’s clean coal research funds.

Primary reservoirs for evaluation of CO₂ sequestration are the basal Cambrian sandstone and the Rose Run sandstone. The basal Cambrian sandstone contains 56 feet of net sandstone (greater than 6 percent porosity) with an average porosity of 10 percent. Core analyses indicate low permeabilities with a maximum of 1.0 md. Permeabilities in the Rose Run sandstone are more promising with values reaching 26.6 md. The Rose Run has 24 feet of net sandstone with an average porosity of 9 percent.

Following completion of injection testing, control of the well was transferred to the operators who own the oil and gas rights to the site. Significant gas shows were encountered in the lower Black River and Beekmantown units. The upper Beekmantown dolomite was perforated, and after acidizing had an initial open flow of 12 barrels of oil and 1.2 million cubic feet of gas.

Presented AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2008 © AAPG Eastern Section