Petrographic and Geochemical Examination of Pennsylvania Marine Shale Beds as a Potential Petroleum (Gas Oil) Resource in the Appalachian and Illinois Basins

This is a new cooperative agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Kentucky Research Foundation. Determining the potential and quantity of available U.S. energy resources serves a public purpose and provides information that benefits the State and the general populace. The scientific research proposed to be conducted supports efficient and environmentally sound energy usage in the United States (US). The National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS) is a USGS database historically comprised of all information relating to the stratigraphic and geographic occurrence of coal, its chemical characterization and amount of resources within the US. Basic geologic information on coal bed gas [i.e. CBG, coal bed natural gas (CBNG), coal bed methane (CBM)] and other solid-fuel energy resources such as gas or oil shale must be obtained to use in resource estimation at both State and Federal levels. This cooperative agreement creates the opportunity for mutual research efforts to address domestic and international issues regarding geologically based energy resources. Funding helps States continue their own energy research and gives the USGS access to local expertise and knowledge.