Hydrocarbon Potential of the Antrim Shale along the Southern Margin of the Michigan Basin

The Devonian Antrim Shale is a significant producer of natural gas in the Antrim Gas Field along the northern rim of the Michigan Basin. The Antrim Shale is a carbonaceous, marine-black shale which has extremely high total organic-carbon content. There are a series of unique geologic conditions that allow this shallow biogenic-gas system to produce gas. The objective of this study is to determine if the geologic setting, along with the required rock properties, exist along the southern rim of the Michigan Basin, as compared to those of the Antrim Gas Field. In order to directly compare the Antrim Gas Field with the study area, comparisons among geologic setting, log responses, geochemical data, petrophysical analyses, and rock properties were made between the two areas to determine the viability of the Antrim Shale in the study area along the southern rim of the Michigan Basin. The compilation and examination of these data show that a similar rock type and organic matter in a similar geologic setting exists along the southern rim of the Michigan Basin, as compared to the northern rim of the basin.