60 2YC and 4YCU Geoscience Student Research Poster Showcase

This session is designed for two-year college (2YC) and four-year college and university (4YCU) students presenting research posters in any sub-discipline of geoscience.

Sunday, 19 October 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, Hall 1

Characterization of Potential Confining Units in the Michigan Basin Devonian Carbon System.

Paper number: 60-54
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

The Michigan Basin has vast potential for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) with deep reservoirs and a diversity of emitters. Previous investigations have focused primarily on estimating storage capacity and efficacy of reservoirs in the basin, neglecting the detailed characterization of confining units. The purpose of this work is to investigate the potential confining units for the major reservoirs across Michigan to fill in critical gaps in knowledge and reduce risks for CCUS sites. The Devonian units in Michigan offer opportunities for both storage and efficient confining units. To explore this, the Skaryd 1-23 well was selected for characterization as it covered important Devonian units, including the Antrim Shale and Bird Song Bay (previously known as the Squaw Bay) Formations.

To understand the confining efficacy, lithological, mineralogical, geochemical, and petrophysical properties were thoroughly characterized. This included hand sample descriptions, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and thin section petrography. Hand sample descriptions were used to provide an initial overview of textural variability and create a stratigraphic column using EasyCore. Following this, XRF data was collected at 0.1 ft intervals (n=846) to provide high-resolution elemental curves to inform facies boundaries. Once lithofacies were defined, thin section locations were selected to highlight key characteristics and lithologic variability in each facies (n=9). After thin section locations were selected, XRD samples were collected to integrate mineralogical data with thin section observations.

The results were integrated, with 9 facies identified, ranging from dolomitic and calcitic wackestones to shales. Generally, the formations vary lithologically, mineralogically, elementally, and petrographically. Rare microporosity was observed, estimated at 15%, and occasional intercrystalline visual porosity at an estimated 25%. Preliminary results suggest the Antrim Shale could be an efficient seal, and the Bird Song Bay could be a local seal with occasional intercrystalline visual porosity. The findings presented here, paired with wireline logs, could further refine the regional characteristics of the Antrim Shale and Bird Song Bay formations. This research is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under DE-FE0032368.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-413631

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