Most of the stratigraphic section of New York, ranging from Cambrian to Lower Pennsylvanian, forms a southward-thickening wedge into the Appalachian geosyncline.

Oil and gas production is primarily from the Devonian and Silurian Systems. Oil production is obtained from the Upper Devonian in the southern tier of counties adjacent to Pennsylvania. Gas production is primarily from the Oriskany and Medina sandstones in central and western New York. The Trenton Limestone (Ordovician) has produced minor amounts of gas.

Future prospects, listed by geologic age, are (1) the Oriskany in southwestern and central New York, (2) possible Middle Silurian reefs along the northern edge of the Silurian salt basin, and (3) the Cambrian-Ordovician of central and western New York. Three geographic areas are prospective: (1) offshore Lake Erie for objectives from the basal Onondaga to the basement, (2) the central part of the state for Lower Silurian end Upper Ordovician objectives, and (3) the folded Allegheny synclinorium adjacent to Vermont.