Stratigraphy, depositional environments, and coal-bed natural gas resources, Cherokee and Marmaton groups (Atokan-Desmoinesian, Middle Pennsylvanian), northeastern Kansas

Mixed siliciclastic and carbonate deposits of the Cherokee and Marmaton Groups (Atokan-Desmoinesian, Middle Pennsylvanian Series), northeastern Kansas, contain thin coal beds of deltaic and coastal depositional environments. While the coal beds are not optimal for production of coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) due to their thinness and high-volatile rank, their lateral persistence across a ten-county area in northeastern Kansas make the Forest City Basin an intriguing play for CBNG exploration.; Well logs and continuous cores were used to create isopachous and structure maps of the coal beds as well as regional cross sections. Four intervals were defined to determine gas content and coal mass, the Riverton, V-shale, Excello, and Anna. Desorption data provide an understanding of lateral variability, coal quality, and resource potential of the Forest City basin. The study results will aid in CBNG exploration and development in the Forest City basin of northeastern Kansas.