Deep Lucrative Utica Shale Formation Extends Play To Southern Tier

Star Gazette

BY TOM WILBER

Marcellus Shale development may be just the beginning.

The massive gas-bearing shale formation that extends from West Virginia through the Southern Tier of New York, lies above another formation of equal or greater size, called the Utica Shale.

The Utica formation runs from the heart of Pennsylvania through Quebec, and its potential is enormous.

Until now, most of the attention has been focused on the Marcellus, by many estimates the largest reserve in the country. But as more exploration brings more data, new riches are coming to light.

There are more than a half-dozen gas-bearing formations under New York state, varying in size and location, with the Marcellus and the Utica being by far the largest. Smaller formations include the Oriskany, the Herkimer, the Medina — all sandstone formations — and the Trenton Black River, a limestone formation. Read more