Integration of remotely-sensed geobotanical and structural methods for hydrocarbon exploration in west-central West Virginia. Quarterly report, February 1--April 30, 1997

As mentioned in previous quarterly reports, reconnaissance soil gas geochemical surveys were undertaken at the Volcano site on 5/21/96 and 6/17/96, and at the Lewis County (Stonewall Jackson Lake) test site on 10/2/96. The Volcano geochemical data showed a strong correlation between ethane concentration and distance to cross-strike lineaments. The results of the Lewis County geochemical survey are more ambiguous than the Volcano site. The gas in the reservoir is dominantly methane. There is no clear association of methane magnitude with either the spectral anomalies or lineaments. In addition, the highest value (3,478 ppb) is found outside the dry-hole perimeter of the reservoir, in an area that does not show evidence of the anomaly. As an alternative to an examination of the absolute values, the ratios of methane to ethane were examined. The aim with this analysis was to highlight areas where the soil gas was characterized by an anomalous amount of methane compared to the other soil gases. The attached map shows the geochemical data, plotted over the spectral anomalies. The lineaments and the boundaries of the two gas reservoirs are also shown