A presentation from Jared VanMeter from Range Resources showing maps and background information on the emerging Upper Devonian Shale formation--a layer of shale that sits a few hundred feet above the Marcellus Shale in the northeastern U.S. Range and several other drillers are now targeting the Upper Devonian, part of a "stacked play" strategy that includes drilling three layers in the same well: Upper Devonian, Marcellus and Utica.

1. Regional Mapping and Reservoir Analysis of the Upper Devonian Shale in Pennsylvania*
Jared M. VanMeter1
Search and Discovery Article #50738 (2012)**
Posted October 17, 2012
*Adapted from oral presentation given at AAPG Eastern Section meeting, Cleveland, Ohio, 22-26 September 2012
**AAPG©2012 Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.
1
Range Resources - Appalachia, LLC, Canonsburg, PA (jvanmeter@rangeresources.com)
Abstract
Although the Devonian Shale of the Appalachian Basin has been producing gas since the early 1800s, only recently has it become a giant
play. In 2004, Range Resources, using analogues with geology and completion techniques in the Barnett Shale, began producing gas from a
Marcellus Shale well in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Since then other organic shale packages both above and below the Marcellus have
attracted industry interest considerably. The Upper Devonian Shale in Pennsylvania is one of these viable plays and is the centerfold for this
research.
The main purpose of this investigation is to define the distribution of the organic-rich facies of various Upper Devonian Shale intervals above
the Tully Limestone within Pennsylvania. The analysis is based on well log data, primarily gamma-ray logs, which are the most common and
well calibrated, and bulk density logs, where available. Extensive stratigraphic correlations have been conducted to trace key formation tops
across the study area. Detailed log analysis has been performed to normalize the logs and define key reservoir quality indicators.
The following maps were generated over the study area.
 Gross Thickness Isopachs of the Rhinestreet Shale, Cashaqua Shale, Middlesex Shale, Genesee Shale, and Burkett Shale
 200 API Gamma-ray Net Pay maps of the Rhinestreet Shale, Cashaqua Shale, Middlesex Shale, Genesee Shale, and the Burkett Shale
 160 API Gamma-ray Net Pay maps of the Rhinestreet Shale, Cashaqua Shale, Middlesex Shale, Genesee Shale, and the Burkett Shale
These observations and others portrayed on this new series of maps provide a better understanding of the development of the Upper Devonian
Shale in the Appalachian Basin. Refining our knowledge of the geology with this series of geologic maps will allow the flexibility of
relatively easy revisions and rapid dissemination of continuously evolving geologic knowledge, while further advancing industry exploration
of the Upper Devonian Shale within Pennsylvania.

2. INFLECTION POINT
Regional Mapping and Reservoir Analysis of the
Upper Devonian Shale in Pennsylvania
“An event that results in a significant
change in the progress of a company.”
-Investopedia

3. Introduction
The Upper Devonian Shale has produced gas since 1980s in West Virginia
 Vertical wells targeting fractures were hit and miss in low pressure area.
 Since then organic packages, above and below the Marcellus attracted industry
interest
 Advances in drilling and multistage fracture technology in Marcellus and
Barnett Shale have made this possible
 Upper Devonian Shale is a viable economic play
 Stacked potential reservoir over a widespread area
 Currently being tested by industry
 2009 Range produced from the first horizontal Upper Devonian Shale well in
Pennsylvania
 The main purpose of this investigation is to define and map distribution of
organic-rich facies in various Upper Devonian Shale intervals above Tully
Limestone

4. Stratigraphy of Pennsylvania
0
Southwestern PA – Central PA
Cashaqua Shale
Penn Yan Shale
Burket Shale
Middlesex Shale
Rhinestreet
Shale
Tully Limestone
Mahantango Shale
Marcellus
Shale
Onondaga
Limestone
Cashaqua Shale
Northwestern PA
Rhinestreet
Shale
Tully Limestone
Mahantango Shale
Marcellus
Shale
Onondaga
Limestone
Central PA - Northeast PA
Cashaqua Shale
Penn Yan Shale
Burket /Geneseo
Shale
Tully Limestone
Mahantango Shale
Marcellus
Shale
Onondaga
Limestone

5. 4
Regional Log Signatures of Upper Devonian Shale
Rhinestreet Shale
Cashaqua Shale
Northwestern PA
0 300
Cashaqua Shale
Penn Yan Shale
Burket Shale
Middlesex Shale
Rhinestreet Shale
Southwestern PA – Central PA
0 300
Cashaqua Shale
Penn Yan Shale
Burket / Geneseo
Shale
Central PA - Northeast PA
0 300
2
1 1

6. 5
Burkett Driller’s Depth Structure Map

7. 6
Type Section A-A’
Log GR scale = 0-200 API
BURKETBURKETBURKETBURKETBURKET

8. Burket Shale Gross Thickness
C.I.= 10ft
2200 120
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
Burket Shale

9. Burket Net Thickness greater than 160 API
C.I.= 10ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
1600 80
Burket Shale

10. Burket Net Thickness greater than 200 API
C.I.= 5ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
600 30
Burket Shale

11. Penn Yan Shale Gross Thickness
C.I.= 20ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burkett
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
5000 250

12. Genesee Group Gross Thickness
C.I.= 20ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
6000 300

13. Middlesex Gross Thickness
C.I.= 10ft
Westward shift
of depocenter
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
1200 60

14. Middlesex Net Thickness greater than 160 API
C.I.= 5ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
350 20

15. Middlesex Net Thickness greater than 200 API
1
2
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
300 15

16. Cashaqua Gross Thickness
C.I.= 20ft
Two Clastic Influx
Sources
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
5600 280

17. Rhinestreet Gross Thickness
C.I.= 20ft
Westward shift
of depocenter
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
4000 200

18. Rhinestreet Net Thickness greater than 160 API
C.I.= 10ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
2000 100

19. Rhinestreet Net Thickness greater than 200 API
C.I.= 5ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
700 35

20. Total Upper Devonian Shale Gross Thickness
1
2
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
20000 1000

21. Total Upper Devonian Shale Net Thickness greater than 160 API
C.I.= 10ft
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
2800 140

22. Total Upper Devonian Shale Net Thickness greater than 200 API
Cashaqua
Penn Yan
Burket
Middlesex
Rhinestreet
Tully
Strat Column
700 35

23. 22
Upper Devonian Shale Activity Map
1 2
The first reservoir fairway has a
stacked potential of 2 main
reservoir packages: 1) Burket and
Middlesex, and 2) Rhinestreet
The second reservoir has a
thickened Burket, but is separated
from the Middlesex by non
reservoir rocks

24. 23
Conclusions
Gross Thickness mapping shows the following:
•Mapping indicates that basin dynamics caused gross thickness of
organic members to shift westward over time.
•Mapping indicates two clastic sources fed the basin in Upper Devonian
time
•Regional basement faults and lineaments had an effect on the
deposition of the formations and different cross strikes activated at
different times
• Foreland bulge paleostructural high caused lack of deposition and/or
erosion of Burket, Penn Yan, and Middlesex in NW PA
 Reservoir mapping indicated two reservoir “fairways” in Pennsylvania.
 In southern PA there are two reservoir packages, whereas in
northeastern PA the Burkett is the main reservoir.
 Upper Devonian Shale is being explored by multiple companies for
potential oil and gas reserves and is a viable play with many successful test
wells already drilled