Central Appalachian Basin Natural Gas Database: 

Distribution, Composition, and Origin of Natural Gases

By Yomayra A. Román-Colón and Leslie F. Ruppert

Open-File Report 2014–1207

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
ii

U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014 

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This database, identified as “Central Appalachian basin natural gas database,” has been approved for release and 

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

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Suggested citation:

Colón-Román, Y.A., and Ruppert, L.F., 2014, Central Appalachian basin natural gas database—Distribution, 

composition, and origin of natural gases: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1207, 13 p., 1 app., 

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141207. 

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)
iii

Contents 

Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Natural Gas Database ................................................................................................................................................ 1

Data Fields.............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Identification Number .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Location of Gas Samples ........................................................................................................................................ 3

Geologic Information............................................................................................................................................... 3

Potential Uses of the Database .................................................................................................................................. 3

Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................................................... 10

References Cited...................................................................................................................................................... 10

Appendix 1. Natural_Gas_Geochemical_Database_2013........................................................................................ 13

Figures

Figure 1. Map of the distribution of methane content in Cambrian to Pennsylvanian natural-gas-producing 

formations in the central Appalachian basin from the natural gas database.............................................................. 5

Figure 2. Map of the distribution of methane content in Devonian natural-gas-producing formations in the 

central Appalachian basin from the natural gas database ......................................................................................... 6

Figure 3. Map of the distribution of methane content in Silurian natual-gas-producing formations in the 

central Appalachian basin from the natural gas database ......................................................................................... 7

Figure 4. Map of the distribution of carbon dioxide in Cambrian to Pennsylvanian natural-gas-producing 

formations in the central Appalachian basin from the natural gas database.............................................................. 8

Figure 5. Map of the distribution of isotopic measurements contained in the database ........................................ 9

Table

Table 1. Ranges of natural gas compositions, in percent, for the 1,280 analyses from the “Molecular 

Compositions” worksheet........................................................................................................................................... 2
iv

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

Volume

cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3) 

Pressure

pound per square inch gauge (lb/in2) 6.895 kilopascal (kPa) 

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Stable isotope ratios are given in per mil (‰).
1

Central Appalachian Basin Natural Gas Database: 

Distribution, Composition, and Origin of Natural Gases

By Yomayra A. Román-Colón and Leslie F. Ruppert 

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has compiled a database consisting of three worksheets of 

central Appalachian basin natural gas analyses and isotopic compositions from published and 

unpublished sources of 1,282 gas samples from Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 

Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The database includes field and reservoir names, well and State 

identification number, selected geologic reservoir properties, and the composition of natural gases 

(methane; ethane; propane; butane, iso-butane [i-butane]; normal butane [n-butane]; iso-pentane [ipentane]; normal pentane [n-pentane]; cyclohexane, and hexanes). In the first worksheet, location and 

American Petroleum Institute (API) numbers from public or published sources are provided for 1,231 of 

the 1,282 gas samples. A second worksheet of 186 gas samples was compiled from published sources 

and augmented with public location information and contains carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen isotopic 

measurements of natural gas. The third worksheet is a key for all abbreviations in the database. The 

database can be used to better constrain the stratigraphic distribution, composition, and origin of natural 

gas in the central Appalachian basin.

Natural Gas Database 

This report describes and makes available a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) database, which 

contains data on molecular and isotopic composition of natural gas in the central Appalachian basin of 

the United States. Published and unpublished sources were used to compile data for 1,282 gas samples 

from Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The 

database can be used to better constrain the stratigraphic distribution, composition, and origin of natural 

gas in the central Appalachian basin.

Data Fields

The central Appalachian basin natural gas geochemistry database is a spreadsheet consisting of 

three worksheets in Microsoft® Excel 2010 format (appendix 1). The first worksheet, titled “Molecular 

Compositions,” contains 72 fields describing 1,280 gas samples with their well names, well information, 

and geologic information including producing strata and stratigraphy. The content and composition of 

natural gas in mole percent (%) for all of the samples are provided in the worksheet (appendix 1). 
2

A total of 1,231 sample locations and American Petroleum Institute (API) identification numbers are 

provided for the gas samples. Location and API numbers were obtained from published sources and 

augmented by public information from a variety of sources, including Charles Threlkeld (data included 

in U.S. Geological Survey, 2009), Kentucky Geological Survey (2012), Ohio Department of Natural 

Resources (2012), Tennessee Division of Geology’s Electronic oil and gas database (2008), U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (2012), USGS National Geologic Map Database (2012), Virginia

Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (2012), West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey

(2012), New York Department of Environmental Conservation (2011), Pennsylvania Department of 

Natural Resources (2011), and R.T. Ryder (U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 2011).

The natural gas database contains analytical data on eight hydrocarbons: methane (CH4, C1);

ethane (C2H6, C2); propane (C3H8, C3); normal butane (or n-butane; nC4H10, nC4); iso-butane (or ibutane; iC4H10, iC4) or butane (iC4H10), if the class was not specified in the original report; normal 

pentane (or n-pentane; nC5H12, nC5); iso-pentane (or i-pentane; iC5H12, iC5); hexane (C6H14, C6);

cyclopentane (C5H10); and one compound class of hexanes (C6+H14, C6, C6+). See table 1 for the number 

of samples of each hydrocarbon that are included in the database. The natural gas database also contains 

analytical information on the non-hydrocarbon gases nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), argon (Ar) carbon 

dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2), helium (He), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). See table 1 for the number of 

samples of each non-hydrocarbon gas included in the database.

Table 1. Ranges of natural gas compositions, in percent, for the 1,280 analyses from the 

“Molecular Compositions” worksheet. 

[There was no attempt to remove results that were reported as zero in the original reports. However, the user should 

consider using the zero values with caution because it is not known whether the gas was analyzed and the component 

was not detected or whether no attempt was made to analyze the component.]

Gas No. of 

analyses

Range

(in percent)

No. of analyses 

with “0” gas

No. of analyses 

labeled “trace”

Methane 1,267 1.2–99.4 3 0

Ethane 1,262 0.01–64.7 4 0

Propane 1,120 0.001–16.2 19 23

n-butane 993 0.0010–5.6 205 25

i-butane 854 0.0012–3.1 221 57

n-pentane 987 0.0019–2.0000 285 100

i-pentane 602 0.0049–1.4 254 113

Cyclohexane 791 0.1–0.7 213 401

Hexane and Hexane plus 794 0.0011–1.5 245 44

Nitrogen 1,218 0.1–78.1 22 3

Oxygen 435 0.0056–21.35 407 212

Argon 59 0.003–1.9 270 502

Hydrogen 300 0.0021–2.27 451 94

Hydrogen sulfide 2 0.0260–0.51 957 1

Carbon dioxide 830 0.001–83.53 188 209

Helium 1,236 0.0099–1.080 4 0
3

The second worksheet, titled “Isotopic Compositions,” contains 50 fields describing 186 natural

gas samples with accompanying carbon and deuterium isotopic data for methane (δ13C1), deuterium in 

methane (δ2

HC1), ethane (δ13C2), deuterium in ethane (δ2HC2,), propane (δ13C3), deuterium in propane 

(δ2HC3,), i-butane (δ13C i-C4), n-butane (δ13C n-C4), n-pentane (δ13C n-C5), butane (δ13C4), and carbon 

dioxide (δ13CO2) reported in mole percent and percent (appendix 1, worksheet 2). Included are five 

nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic analyses. Isotopic data were obtained from Burruss and Ryder (2003), Burruss 

and Laughrey (2010), G.E. Claypool and C.N. Threlkeld (USGS, unpublished data, 1977), Dennen and 

others (in press), Jenden and others (1993), Laughrey and Baldassare (1998), Laughrey and others 

(2004), U.S. Geological Survey (2009), and Osborn and McIntosh (2010). This worksheet also contains 

information from published sources augmented with API numbers and location information from the 

public sources referenced above. 

The third worksheet, titled “Abbreviations,” is a key for all abbreviations in the database.

Identification Number

Several identification numbers were included in the data to identify each gas well sample. The 

field “Unique ID” represents the number assigned by the USGS, whereas the identification numbers 

under the fields “Sample ID,” “U.S. Bureau of Mines ID,” “U.S. Bureau of Mines Index No. 1,” and 

“U.S. Bureau of Mines Index No. 2” are identification names and numbers given by published sources. 

Location of Gas Samples

Two sets of latitude and longitude in decimal degrees are provided in North American Datum of 

1983 (NAD 83). Samples in which latitude and longitude were reported in a different coordinate system 

were converted to NAD 83 for consistency. Because location information was not reported for some of 

the samples included in the database, two sets of latitude and longitude columns, labeled “Latitude from 

public source,” “Longitude from public source,” “Latitude from published source,” and “Longitude 

from published source,” are provided. A third set, “LATITUDE” and “LONGITUDE” was created to 

combine the coordinates from public and published sources for GIS and plotting use. All but 49 of the 

1,280 analyses have longitude and latitude information; the 49 analyses lacking coordinates are 

provided for users because they include well names for future geographic referencing.

Geologic Information

The database also includes available geologic information such as the producing formation, 

geologic age, and stratigraphic units. Stratigraphic names were checked against the USGS National 

Geologic Map GEOLEX (2012) database.

Potential Uses of the Database

As stated previously, the databases can be used to better constrain the areal extent, stratigraphic 

distribution, composition, and origin of natural gas in the central Appalachian basin. We have used the 

database to create a series of maps to determine the spatial distribution of the natural gas samples. 
4

Figure 1 shows the methane content of all of the producing formations (Cambrian to 

Pennsylvanian) and illustrates the areal extent of the distribution of the samples in the central 

Appalachian basin natural gas database (appendix 1, “Molecular Compositions” worksheet). The map 

shows an increase in methane content and a general decrease in higher weight hydrocarbons from west 

to east as the basin thickens (fig. 1). Separate maps of methane content in Devonian and Silurian strata

(figs. 2–3) show a similar pattern but with different areal extents. Figure 4 shows the areal extent and 

content of carbon dioxide in natural gas samples from all strata. Because stratigraphic information and 

depth are included in the database, users can create maps of the ranges in natural gas content with 

producing formation or stratigraphic horizon and depth. 

The areal extent of the analyses within the isotopic database (appendix 1, “Isotopic 

Compositions” worksheet) is shown in figure 5. A cursory examination of the isotopic data shows that 

δ13C1 and δ2D measurements on CH4 for the 186 samples within the database, which vary in age from 

Cambrian to Carboniferous, range from −55.1 to −26.02‰ and −315.0 to −133.1‰, respectively. Most 

of the lower δ13C1 and δ13D values are from the New Albany Shale. Devonian gases have δ13C1 and 

δ13D CH4 values ranging from −54.2 to −31.5‰ and −315.0 to −159.0‰, respectively, indicating that 

most of the Devonian gas is thermogenic in origin.
5

Figure 1. Map of the distribution of methane content in Cambrian to Pennsylvanian natural-gas-producing 

formations in the central Appalachian basin from the natural gas database. A total of 1,229 methane analyses 

were used to create the map. 
6

Figure 2. Map of the distribution of methane content in Devonian natural-gas-producing formations in the central 

Appalachian basin from the natural gas database. A total of 498 methane analyses were used to create the map. In 

general, methane content increases from west to east where sediments are buried more deeply. 
7

Figure 3. Map of the distribution of methane content in Silurian natual-gas-producing formations in the central 

Appalachian basin from the natural gas database. A total of 299 methane analyses were used to create the map. 
8

Figure 4. Map of the distribution of carbon dioxide in Cambrian to Pennsylvanian natural-gas-producing 

formations in the central Appalachian basin from the natural gas database. A total of 991 carbon dioxide analyses 

were used to create the map. Carbon dioxide contents ranged from 0 to 83.53 mole percent. 
9

Figure 5. Map of the distribution of isotopic measurements contained in the database. A total of 151 analyses 

from the database were used to create the map 
10

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to give special thanks to Linda Bragg and Robert Ryder (USGS, 

Emeritus), and Michael Trippi and Christopher Garrity (USGS), for their help and constructive 

feedback. 

References Cited

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Evidence for limits to the stability of hydrocarbons: Organic Geochemistry, v. 41, p. 1285–1296. 

Burruss, R.C., and Ryder, R.T., 2003, Composition of crude oil and natural gas produced from 14 wells

in the Lower Silurian “Clinton” sandstone and Medina Group, northeastern Ohio and northwestern 

Pennsylvania: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2003–409, p. 64. 

Dennen, K.O., Deering, M., and Burruss, R.C., in press, The geochemistry of oils and gases from the 

Cumberland Overthrust Sheet in Virginia and Tennessee, in Ruppert, L.F., and Ryder, R.T., eds., Coal 

and petroleum resources in the Appalachian basin—Distribution, geologic framework, and 

geochemical character: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1708. 

Hamak, J.E., and Gage, B.D., 1992, Analyses of natural gases, 1991: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information 

Circular 9318, 97 p. 

Hamak, J.E., and Sigler, S., 1991, Analyses of natural gases, 1986–1990: U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Information Circular 9301, 315 p. 

Hamak, J.E., and Sigler, S., 1993, Analyses of natural gases, 1992: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information 

Circular 9356, 62 p. 

Hertweck, F.R., Jr., and Fox, D.D., 1984, Analyses of natural gases, 1983: U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Information Circular 8993, 127 p. 

Hugman, R.H., Vidas, E.H., and Springer, P.S., 2000, Development of the DOE Gas Information 

System (GASIS): Final report, Contract Number DE-AC21-93MC28139-23, CD-ROM.

Jenden, P.D., Drazan, D.J., and Kaplan, I.R., 1993, Mixing of thermogenic natural gases in northern 

Appalachian basin: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 77, p. 980–998. 

Kentucky Geological Survey, 2012, Kentucky Geological Survey Oil and Gas Well Record System: 

Available at http://kgs.uky.edu/kgsweb/DataSearching/OilGas/OGSearch.asp.

Laughrey, C.D., and Baldassare, F.J., 1998, Geochemistry and origin of some natural gases in the 

Plateau province, central Appalachian basin, Pennsylvania and Ohio: American Association of 

Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 82, p. 317–335. 

Laughrey, C.D., Billman, D.A., and Canich, M.R., 2004, Petroleum geology and geochemistry of the 

Council Run gas field, north central Pennsylvania: American Association of Petroleum Geologists 

Bulletin, v. 88, p. 213–239. 
11

Miller, R.D., and Hertweck, F.R., Jr., 1982, Analyses of natural gases, 1981: U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Information Circular 8890, 84 p. 

Miller, R.D., and Hertweck, F.R., Jr., 1983, Analyses of natural gases, 1982: U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Information Circular 8942, 100 p. 

Moore, B.J., 1982, Analyses of natural gases, 1917–80: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 

8870, 1,055 p. 

Moore, B.J., and Hamak, J.E., 1985, Analyses of natural gases, 1984: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information 

Circular 9046, 102 p. 

Moore, B.J., and Sigler, S., 1986, Analyses of natural gases, 1985: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information 

Circular 9096, 182 p. 

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Information Circular 9129, 1,197 p. 

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Circular 9167, 101 p. 

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http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/. 

National Oil and Gas Assessment, 1996, 1995 National Oil and Gas Assessment—One-quarter mile cell 

data. Available at http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/oilgas/noga/data.html. 

New York Department of Environmental Conservation, 2011, New York State DEC Oil and Gas 

database: Available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/GasOil/search/wells/index.cfm. 

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Available at http://www2.ohiodnr.com/mineral/OHRbdmsOnline/WebReportAccordion.aspx. 

Osborn, S.G., and McIntosh, J.C., 2010, Chemical and isotopic tracers of the contribution of microbial 

gas in Devonian organic-rich shales and reservoir sandstones, northern Appalachian Basin: Applied 

Geochemistry, v. 25, p. 456–471. 

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 2011, The Pennsylvania Internet 

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well information data: Available at http://www.pairis.state.pa.us/Citrix/MetaFrame/auth/login.aspx. 

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of coal bed methane drilling, Mylan Park, Monongalia County, West Virginia: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2004–1402, 44 p. 
12

Ruppert, L.F.; Trippi, M.H.; Fedorko, Nick; Grady, W.C.; Eble, C.F.; and Schuller, W.A., in press, 

Results of coalbed methane drilling, Meadowfill Landfill, Harrison County, West Virginia, chap. G.4 

of Ruppert, L.F., and Ryder, R.T., eds., Coal and petroleum resources in the Appalachian basin—

Distribution, geologic framework, and geochemical character: U.S. Geological Survey Professional 

Paper 1708, 30 p. 

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13

Appendix 1. Natural_Gas_Geochemical_Database_2013

[Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1207/.] 

The database, in .xls format, consists of three worksheets titled “Molecular Composition,” 

“Isotopic Composition,” and “Abbreviations.” The Molecular Composition worksheet contains 

molecular analyses of 1,280 samples of natural gas, characterized in 70 fields. The Isotopic

Composition worksheet contains stable isotopic data for 186 samples, described in 48 fields. 

The Abbreviations worksheet includes the following, in order, for the Molecular Compositions 

database: ID = identification number; No. = number; API = American Petroleum Institute number; 

USGS = U.S. Geological Survey; ft = feet; psig = pounds per square inch guage; mcfd = thousands of 

cubic feet per day; % = percent; n-butane = normal butane; i-butane = iso-butane; n-pentane = normal 

pentane; i-pentane = iso-pentane; C1 = methane; C2+ = ethane plus higher molecular weight 

hydrocarbons; C4+ = iso-butane plus higher molecular weight hydrocarbons; C6+ = hexane plus higher 

molecular weight hydrocarbons; N2 = nitrogen; O2 = oxygen; Ar = argon; H2S = hydrogen sulfide; CO2

= carbon dioxide; BTU = British thermal units. 

Abbreviations, in order, for the Isotopic Compositions database are the following: ID = 

identification number; No. = number; API = American Petroleum Institute number; USGS = U.S. 

Geological Survey; ft = feet; m = meters; BTU = British thermal units; ft3 = cubic feet; δ13C1 = δ13C of 

methane; ‰ = permil; δ2HC1 = δ2H of methane; δ13C2 = δ13C of ethane; δ2HC2 = δ2H of ethane; δ13C3 = 

δ13C of propane; δ2

HC3 = δ2H of propane; δ13C i-C4 = δ13C of i-butane; δ13C n-C4 = δ13C of n-butane; 

δ13C n-C5 = δ13C of n-pentane; δ13C4 = δ13C of butane; δ13CO2 = δ13C of carbon dioxide; δ15N = δ15N of 

N2; δ2

H i-C4 = δ2H of i-butane; δ2H n-C4 = δ2H of n-butane; δ2H n-C5 = δ2H of n-pentane. 
ISSN 2331-1258 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr2014-1207