Blind thrusts and fault-related folds in the Upper Cretaceous Alberta Group, deep basin, west-central Alberta: implications for fractured reservoirs

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2007 Blind thrusts and fault-related folds in the Upper Cretaceous Alberta Group, deep basin, west-central Alberta: implications for fractured reservoirs Bruce S. Hart; Bruce S. Hart Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kurt J. Marfurt; Kurt J. Marfurt Allied Geophysics Laboratories, Geosciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5007 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bogdan L. Varban; Bogdan L. Varban Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Guy Plint A. Guy Plint Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Bruce S. Hart Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7 Kurt J. Marfurt Allied Geophysics Laboratories, Geosciences Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5007 Bogdan L. Varban Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7 A. Guy Plint Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7 Publisher: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Received: 20 Jun 2006 Accepted: 25 Apr 2007 First Online: 03 Oct 2017 Online ISSN: 2368-0261 Print ISSN: 0007-4802 © The Society of Canadian Petroleum Geologists Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2007) 55 (2): 125–137. https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.55.2.125 Article history Received: 20 Jun 2006 Accepted: 25 Apr 2007 First Online: 03 Oct 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Bruce S. Hart, Kurt J. Marfurt, Bogdan L. Varban, A. Guy Plint; Blind thrusts and fault-related folds in the Upper Cretaceous Alberta Group, deep basin, west-central Alberta: implications for fractured reservoirs. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 2007;; 55 (2): 125–137. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.55.2.125 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyBulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract 3-D seismic and log-based mapping of Upper Cretaceous units in the Deep Basin has revealed the presence of fault-related folds in the Cardium Formation and overlying units. The folds formed above low-angle thrust faults that cut clay-rich shales in the lower part of the Kaskapau Formation. Seismic data indicate a fold wavelength of approximately 5 to 8 km at the Cardium level, with fold axes trending NW-SE. Log-based stratigraphic analyses identified fault repeats of Kaskapau allomembers, whereas the 3-D seismic data show details of upward-branching fault splays and related folds. The faults also splay laterally, and transfer strain by overlapping. Post-stack processing of the original 3-D volume, including noise reduction, coherency processing, and volumetric dip analyses significantly improved our ability to image and map these structures.The Cardium Formation produces oil in the study area from fields with orientations that are approximately parallel to the fold axes. These production trends are thought to be related primarily to depositional trends that predate the structural deformation. Nevertheless, the structures we illustrate are fractured, and so they are good analogues for potential drilling targets in similarly-deformed tight-gas reservoirs. Previously published core and borehole breakout studies support these interpretations. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.