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[[File:M97Ch4FG5.jpg|400px|thumb|{{figure number|5}}A map showing the relationship of the Appalachian shale-gas plays to basement structure and position of the Rome trough. Modified from Shumaker.<ref name=Shmkr1996 /> DC = District of Columbia; MA = Massachusetts; CT = Connecticut.]]

[[File:M97Ch4FG5.jpg|400px|thumb|{{figure number|5}}A map showing the relationship of the Appalachian shale-gas plays to basement structure and position of the Rome trough. Modified from Shumaker.<ref name=Shmkr1996 /> DC = District of Columbia; MA = Massachusetts; CT = Connecticut.]]

A key regional component of the emerging Marcellus Shale play is its relationship to basement faulting. [[:File:M97Ch4FG5.jpg|Figure 5]] depicts the basement structure of the Appalachian Basin, together with major interpreted faults, the projected position of the Rome trough, and key Devonian shale and Marcellus Shale production trends. The mapped basement faults fall into two classifications: (1) those faults that are strike parallel to the basin and related to the Rome trough and (2) those faults that trend perpendicular to the strike of the basin and are interpreted as transform faults or cross-strike structural discontinuities (CSDs).<ref name=H&L1987>Harper, J. A., and C. D. Laughrey, 1987, Geology of the oil and gas fields of southwestern Pennsylvania: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Mineral Resource Report 87, p. 91–97.</ref> These basement faults represent zones of weakness believed to have been reactivated several times during the Paleozoic (Negus-DeWyss, 1979; Lee, 1980; <ref name=Shmkr1993>Shumaker, R. C., 1993, Structural parameters that affect Devonian shale gas production in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, in J. B. Roen and R. C. Kepferle, eds., 1993, Petroleum geology of the Devonian and Mississippian black shale of eastern North America: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, v. 1909, p. K1–K38.</ref>). In addition, reactivation caused significant structural inversion in some areas. It is likely that movement along these faults has continued well into the Quaternary, as the surface expression of several of these major features are clearly apparent on both topographic maps and satellite images.

A key regional component of the emerging Marcellus Shale play is its relationship to basement faulting. [[:File:M97Ch4FG5.jpg|Figure 5]] depicts the basement structure of the Appalachian Basin, together with major interpreted faults, the projected position of the Rome trough, and key Devonian shale and Marcellus Shale production trends. The mapped basement faults fall into two classifications: (1) those faults that are strike parallel to the basin and related to the Rome trough and (2) those faults that trend perpendicular to the strike of the basin and are interpreted as transform faults or cross-strike structural discontinuities (CSDs).<ref name=H&L1987>Harper, J. A., and C. D. Laughrey, 1987, Geology of the oil and gas fields of southwestern Pennsylvania: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Mineral Resource Report 87, p. 91–97.</ref> These basement faults represent zones of weakness believed to have been reactivated several times during the Paleozoic.<ref>Negus-deWyss, J., 1979, The eastern Kentucky gas field: A geological study of the relationship of oil shale gas occurrence to structure, stratigraphy, lithology, and inorganic geochemical parameters: Ph.D. dissertation, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 199 p.</ref><ref>Lee, K. D., 1980, Subsurface structure of the eastern Kentucky gas field: Master's thesis, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 52 p.</ref><ref name=Shmkr1993>Shumaker, R. C., 1993, Structural parameters that affect Devonian shale gas production in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, in J. B. Roen and R. C. Kepferle, eds., 1993, Petroleum geology of the Devonian and Mississippian black shale of eastern North America: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, v. 1909, p. K1–K38.</ref> In addition, reactivation caused significant structural inversion in some areas. It is likely that movement along these faults has continued well into the Quaternary, as the surface expression of several of these major features are clearly apparent on both topographic maps and satellite images.

The Rome trough is a prominent structural feature of the Appalachian Basin, representing a failed rift system formed in the Middle Cambrian. The Rome trough has been extensively studied in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, and it extends into Pennsylvania and New York.<ref name=H&L1987 /><ref name=Shmkr1996 /><ref>Scanlin, M. A., and T. Engelder, 2003, The basement versus the no-basement hypothesis for folding within the Appalachian Plateau Detachment Sheet: American Journal of Science, v. 303, 519–563 p.</ref>; Kulander and Ryder, 2005) Shumaker<ref name=Shmkr1993 /> showed several areas where the Rome trough affected sedimentation of key Devonian organic shale members and also where reactivation of basement faults provided for enhanced areas of natural fracturing in the Cottageville and Midway Extra Shale fields in West Virginia. These basement faults are well documented to have been active during the Late Devonian, affecting deposition of reservoir sands along Rome trough-bounding faults in West Virginia and Pennsylvania (Boswell, 1985; <ref name=H&L1987 />; Murin, 1988; Flaherty, 1994). Closer to the emerging Marcellus Shale play, Kulander and Ryder (2005) defined the boundaries of the Rome trough in southwestern Pennsylvania through a series of regional cross sections and regional seismic profiles. The Rome trough appears to delineate areas of maximum deposition of key organic shale beds in the Marcellus Shale as well as overlying beds such as the Tully Limestone. In addition, it is a critical feature related to both the burial and thermal maturity history of the Marcellus Shale.

The Rome trough is a prominent structural feature of the Appalachian Basin, representing a failed rift system formed in the Middle Cambrian. The Rome trough has been extensively studied in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, and it extends into Pennsylvania and New York.<ref name=H&L1987 /><ref name=Shmkr1996 /><ref>Scanlin, M. A., and T. Engelder, 2003, The basement versus the no-basement hypothesis for folding within the Appalachian Plateau Detachment Sheet: American Journal of Science, v. 303, 519–563 p.</ref><ref name=K&R>Kulander, C. S., and R. T. Ryder, 2005, Regional seismic lines across the Rome Trough and Allegheny Plateau of northern West Virginia, western Maryland, and southwestern Pennsylvania: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Investigations Series Map I-2791.</ref> Shumaker<ref name=Shmkr1993 /> showed several areas where the Rome trough affected sedimentation of key Devonian organic shale members and also where reactivation of basement faults provided for enhanced areas of natural fracturing in the Cottageville and Midway Extra Shale fields in West Virginia. These basement faults are well documented to have been active during the Late Devonian, affecting deposition of reservoir sands along Rome trough-bounding faults in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.<ref>Boswell, R., 1985, Stratigraphy and sedimentation of the Acadian clastic wedge in northern West Virginia: Master's thesis, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 179 p.</ref><ref name=H&L1987 /><ref>Murin, T. M., 1988, Sedimentology and structure of the First Bradford Sandstone in the Pennsylvania plateau province: Master's thesis, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 95 p.</ref><ref>Flaherty III, T., 1994, Stratigraphy of the Upper Devonian Bradford Group in southwestern Pennsylvania: A hierarchical classification of cyclic transgressive-regressive units: Master's thesis, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 96 p.</ref> Closer to the emerging Marcellus Shale play, Kulander and Ryder<ref name=K&R /> defined the boundaries of the Rome trough in southwestern Pennsylvania through a series of regional cross sections and regional seismic profiles. The Rome trough appears to delineate areas of maximum deposition of key organic shale beds in the Marcellus Shale as well as overlying beds such as the Tully Limestone. In addition, it is a critical feature related to both the burial and thermal maturity history of the Marcellus Shale.

Offsetting the Rome trough strike-parallel basement faults are a series of cross-striking basement faults, which are likely transform faults created during rifting episodes in the Cambrian and Ordovician.<ref name=H&L1987 /> These faults experienced several subsequent episodes of reactivation. The faults have been identified based on lineament studies, remote-sensing analysis, surface drainage patterns, and structural mapping. The surface expressions of these strike-normal faults were termed cross-strike structural discontinuities by Wheeler (1980). The two most significant are the Tyrone-Mt. Union lineament (Canich and Gold, 1977; Rodgers and Anderson, 1984) and the Pittsburgh-Washington lineament (Lavin et al., 1982). Rodgers and Anderson (1984) reported that an increase in natural fracturing and also enhanced hydrocarbon and fluid migration occurred along the Tyrone-Mt. Union lineament.

Offsetting the Rome trough strike-parallel basement faults are a series of cross-striking basement faults, which are likely transform faults created during rifting episodes in the Cambrian and Ordovician.<ref name=H&L1987 /> These faults experienced several subsequent episodes of reactivation. The faults have been identified based on lineament studies, remote-sensing analysis, surface drainage patterns, and structural mapping. The surface expressions of these strike-normal faults were termed cross-strike structural discontinuities by Wheeler.<ref>Wheeler, R. L., 1980, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1980-81/data/pg/0064/0012/2150/2166.htm Cross-strike structural discontinuities: Possible exploration tool for natural gas in Appalachian overthrust belt]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, no. 12, p. 2166–2178.</ref> The two most significant are the Tyrone-Mt. Union lineament<ref>Canich, M. R., and D. P. Gold, 1977, A study of the Tyrone-Mt. Union lineament by remote sensing techniques and field methods: State College, Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania State University Office of Remote Sensing and Earth Resources (ORSER) Technical Report 120-137, 59 p.</ref><ref name=R&A>Rodgers, M. R., and T. H. Anderson, 1984, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1984-85/data/pg/0068/0001/0050/0092.htm Tyrone-Mt. Union cross-strike lineament of Pennsylvania: A major Paleozoic basement fracture and uplift boundary]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 68, p. 92–105.</ref> and the Pittsburgh-Washington lineament.<ref>Lavin, P. M., D. L. Chaffin, and W. F. Davis, 1982, Major lineaments and the Lake Erie–Maryland crustal block: Tectonics, v. 1, p. 431–440, doi:10.1029/TC001i005p00431.</ref> Rodgers and Anderson<ref name=R&A /> reported that an increase in natural fracturing and also enhanced hydrocarbon and fluid migration occurred along the Tyrone-Mt. Union lineament.

Within the Appalachian Basin, these features have a significant and typically detrimental effect on oil and gas production from many reservoirs, including the Lower Devonian Oriskany/Chert, Upper Devonian sands, Silurian Medina reservoirs, and the Ordovician Rose Run Sandstone reservoirs, with field terminations occurring at or near the cross-strike features. The effects that CSDs may have on Marcellus Shale production is not fully known at this time. However, it should be noted that one of the major Marcellus development projects to date is the Range Resource Washington County project, which straddles the Pittsburgh-Washington lineament.

Within the Appalachian Basin, these features have a significant and typically detrimental effect on oil and gas production from many reservoirs, including the Lower Devonian Oriskany/Chert, Upper Devonian sands, Silurian Medina reservoirs, and the Ordovician Rose Run Sandstone reservoirs, with field terminations occurring at or near the cross-strike features. The effects that CSDs may have on Marcellus Shale production is not fully known at this time. However, it should be noted that one of the major Marcellus development projects to date is the Range Resource Washington County project, which straddles the Pittsburgh-Washington lineament.

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# Canich, M. R., and D. P. Gold, 1977, A study of the Tyrone-Mt. Union lineament by remote sensing techniques and field methods: State College, Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania State University Office of Remote Sensing and Earth Resources (ORSER) Technical Report 120-137, 59 p.

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# Faill, R. T., 1985, The Acadian orogeny and the Catskill delta, in D. W. Woodrow and W. D. Sevon eds., The Catskill delta: Geological Society of America Special Paper 201, p. 15–37.

# Faill, R. T., 1985, The Acadian orogeny and the Catskill delta, in D. W. Woodrow and W. D. Sevon eds., The Catskill delta: Geological Society of America Special Paper 201, p. 15–37.

# Flaherty III, T., 1994, Stratigraphy of the Upper Devonian Bradford Group in southwestern Pennsylvania: A hierarchical classification of cyclic transgressive-regressive units: Master's thesis, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 96 p.

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# Gwinn, V. E., 1964, Thin-skinned tectonics in the Plateau and northwestern Valley and Ridge provinces of the central Appalachians: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 75, no. 9, p. 863–900, doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1964)75[863:TTITPA]2.0.CO;2.

# Gwinn, V. E., 1964, Thin-skinned tectonics in the Plateau and northwestern Valley and Ridge provinces of the central Appalachians: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 75, no. 9, p. 863–900, doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1964)75[863:TTITPA]2.0.CO;2.

# Heidbach, O., M. Tingay, A. Barth, J. Reinecker, D. Kurfebeta, and B. Muller, 2008, The world stress map based on the database release 2008, equitorial scale 1:46,000,000: Paris, Commission for the Geological Map of the World, doi:10.1594/GFZ.WSM.Map2009, 2009.

# Heidbach, O., M. Tingay, A. Barth, J. Reinecker, D. Kurfebeta, and B. Muller, 2008, The world stress map based on the database release 2008, equitorial scale 1:46,000,000: Paris, Commission for the Geological Map of the World, doi:10.1594/GFZ.WSM.Map2009, 2009.

# Jarvie, D. M., R. J. Hill, and R. M. Pollastro, 2005, Assessment of the gas potential and yields from shales: The Barnett Shale model, in Unconventional energy resources in the southern midcontinent, 2004 symposium: Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 110, p. 37–50.

# Jarvie, D. M., R. J. Hill, and R. M. Pollastro, 2005, Assessment of the gas potential and yields from shales: The Barnett Shale model, in Unconventional energy resources in the southern midcontinent, 2004 symposium: Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 110, p. 37–50.

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# Negus-deWyss, J., 1979, The eastern Kentucky gas field: A geological study of the relationship of oil shale gas occurrence to structure, stratigraphy, lithology, and inorganic geochemical parameters: Ph.D. dissertation, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 199 p.

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# Nyahay, R., J. Leone, L. B. Smith, J. P. Martin, D. J. Jarvie, 2007, Update on regional assessment of gas potential in the Devonian Marcellus and Ordovician Utica shales of New York: Search and Discovery Article 10136: http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/2007/07101nyahay/*05 (accessed October 9, 2009).

# Nyahay, R., J. Leone, L. B. Smith, J. P. Martin, D. J. Jarvie, 2007, Update on regional assessment of gas potential in the Devonian Marcellus and Ordovician Utica shales of New York: Search and Discovery Article 10136: http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/2007/07101nyahay/*05 (accessed October 9, 2009).

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# Repetski, J. E., R. T. Ryder, K. L. Avary, and M. H. Trippi, 2005, Thermal maturity patterns (CAI and % Ro) in the Ordovician and Devonian rocks of the Appalachian Basin in West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1078, 72 p.

# Repetski, J. E., R. T. Ryder, K. L. Avary, and M. H. Trippi, 2005, Thermal maturity patterns (CAI and % Ro) in the Ordovician and Devonian rocks of the Appalachian Basin in West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1078, 72 p.

# Repetski, J. E., R. T. Ryder, D. J. Weary, A. G. Harris, and M. H. Trippi, 2008, Thermal maturity patterns (CAI and % Ro) in the Ordovician and Devonian rocks of the Appalachian Basin: A major revision of U.S. Geological Survey Map I-917 using new subsurface collections: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3006.

# Repetski, J. E., R. T. Ryder, D. J. Weary, A. G. Harris, and M. H. Trippi, 2008, Thermal maturity patterns (CAI and % Ro) in the Ordovician and Devonian rocks of the Appalachian Basin: A major revision of U.S. Geological Survey Map I-917 using new subsurface collections: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3006.

# Rodgers, M. R., and T. H. Anderson, 1984, Tyrone-Mt. Union cross-strike lineament of Pennsylvania: A major Paleozoic basement fracture and uplift boundary: AAPG Bulletin, v. 68, p. 92–105.

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# Rowan, E. L., 2006, Burial and thermal history of the central Appalachian Basin, based on three 2-D models of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2006-1019, 35 p.

# Rowan, E. L., 2006, Burial and thermal history of the central Appalachian Basin, based on three 2-D models of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2006-1019, 35 p.

# Rowan, E. L., R. T. Ryder, J. L. Repetski, M. H. Trippi, and L. F. Ruppert, 2004, Initial results of a 2-D burial/thermal history model, central Appalachian Basin, Ohio and West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2004-1445, 37 p.

# Rowan, E. L., R. T. Ryder, J. L. Repetski, M. H. Trippi, and L. F. Ruppert, 2004, Initial results of a 2-D burial/thermal history model, central Appalachian Basin, Ohio and West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2004-1445, 37 p.

# Weary, D. J., R. T. Ryder, and R. Nyahay, 2000, Thermal maturity patterns (CAI and % Ro) in the Ordovician and Devonian rocks of the Appalachian Basin in New York state: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2000-496, 39 p.

# Weary, D. J., R. T. Ryder, and R. Nyahay, 2000, Thermal maturity patterns (CAI and % Ro) in the Ordovician and Devonian rocks of the Appalachian Basin in New York state: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2000-496, 39 p.

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# Wheeler, R. L., 1980, Cross-strike structural discontinuities: Possible exploration tool for natural gas in Appalachian overthrust belt: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, no. 12, p. 2166–2178.

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# Zielinski, R. E., and R. D. McIver, 1982, Resources and exploration assessment of the oil and gas potential in the Devonian gas shales of the Appalachian Basin: U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown Energy Technology Center, DOE/DP/0053-1125, p. 326.

# Zielinski, R. E., and R. D. McIver, 1982, Resources and exploration assessment of the oil and gas potential in the Devonian gas shales of the Appalachian Basin: U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown Energy Technology Center, DOE/DP/0053-1125, p. 326.