The state geological surveys of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky have signed an agreement to investigate the origin and dimensions of the pre-Mt. Simon basin of the tri-state area.
The effort is the outgrowth of elevated interest in the Cincinnati arch area as a result of the discovery of a greater than 4,000 ft thick sequence of sedimentary rock below the Cambrian Mt. Simon sandstone in an Ohio Geological Survey core hole drilled in Warren County, Ohio, in 1989 (OGJ, May 8, 1989, p. 24).
Meanwhile, the Ohio survey has released information circular No. 46, "Lithologic and geophysical description of a continuously cored hole in Warren County, Ohio, including description of the Middle Run formation (Precambrian?) and a seismic profile across the core site.
The 11 page report includes drilling information, description of seismic methods, and description of the new stratigraphic unit, the Middle Run formation. Appendices provide data on hydrocarbon shows and fluorescence and a lithologic description of the core.
Two large, folded plates provide geophysical logs and a lithologic column for the core and unmigrated, migrated, and migrated and interpreted seismic profiles of the seismic line run in the vicinity of the core.
The report is available from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey, 4383 Fountain Square Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43224-1362.
BASIN INVESTIGATION
The investigation is a joint industry-government sponsored cooperative effort known as the Cincinnati Arch Consortium (CAC).
Arkla Exploration Co., BP Exploration Inc., CNG Development Co., and Shell Western E&P Inc. have provided in-kind funding to the state surveys to support the study. Amoco Production Co. is providing detailed analyses from tests on the core hole.
The project, scheduled for completion July 31, 1991, involves examination of all existing seismic and drill hole data, preparation of maps of Precambrian through Ordovician strata, and reinterpretation of gravity and magnetic surveys for the tri-state area.
Once the results of the initial study are examined, additional funding may be pursued to acquire new exploration surveys and, possibly, drill more test holes.
Directors of the project are Lawrence Wickstrom, James Drahovzal, and Brian Keith from the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana surveys, respectively.
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