Devonian hydrocarbon source rocks and their derived oils in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2001 Devonian hydrocarbon source rocks and their derived oils in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin* Martin G. Fowler; Martin G. Fowler Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 - 33 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lavern D. Stasiuk; Lavern D. Stasiuk Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 - 33 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark Hearn; Mark Hearn Shell Canada Ltd., 400 - 4 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 2H5 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark Obermajer Mark Obermajer Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 - 33 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Martin G. Fowler Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 - 33 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7 Lavern D. Stasiuk Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 - 33 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7 Mark Hearn Shell Canada Ltd., 400 - 4 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 2H5 Mark Obermajer Geological Survey of Canada, 3303 - 33 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7 Publisher: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Received: 12 Sep 2000 Accepted: 16 Nov 2000 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 2368-0261 Print ISSN: 0007-4802 © The Society of Canadian Petroleum Geologists Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2001) 49 (1): 117–148. https://doi.org/10.2113/49.1.117 Article history Received: 12 Sep 2000 Accepted: 16 Nov 2000 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Martin G. Fowler, Lavern D. Stasiuk, Mark Hearn, Mark Obermajer; Devonian hydrocarbon source rocks and their derived oils in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 2001;; 49 (1): 117–148. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/49.1.117 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 Devonian strata within the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin contain large reserves of oil and gas. These vast hydrocarbon reserves can be largely attributed to the occurrence of abundant mature, excellent to good quality Devonian source rocks. The Middle Devonian Elk Point Group contains several units with hydrocarbon potential including the Evie Formation in British Columbia, the Keg River Formation in northern Alberta, and the Winnipegosis Formation in east-central Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. Many of these are proven source rocks of oils occurring in Middle Devonian reservoirs. Elk Point Group potential source rocks contain a wide variety of organic matter types reflecting the diversity of their depositional environments. No hydrocarbons have been definitively linked to a Beaverhill Lake Group source rock but it is possible that such a unit is the source of Slave Point Formation reservoired oils in northwest Alberta. The Late Devonian Woodbend Group contains the Duvernay Formation, the most prolific Devonian source rock in the Alberta Basin. It is characterized by marine Type II/I organic matter with TOC contents up to 15% in immature samples and is the source of most oils in the Bashaw Reef Complex, the Rimbey-Meadowbrook Reef Trend, and in the Swan Hills Formation in Alberta. The stratigraphically equivalent Muskwa Formation in northern Alberta has a much lower hydrocarbon potential than the Duvernay Formation. Oils have been correlated to Winterburn Group source rocks within the Nisku Formation of east-central Alberta, Camrose Member/Nisku Formation of southern Alberta, and the time-equivalent Birdbear Formation of southeast Saskatchewan. Winterburn Group potential source rocks in central to southern Alberta can have high TOC contents (up to 15%) and contain Type I and Type II organic matter deposited in open marine to lagoonal palaeoenvironments. The Cynthia Member shale of the Nisku Formation in west-central Alberta, previously thought by some workers to be a source rock, is actually organic-lean. The underlying Bigoray Member is more organic-rich and may be a minor contributor to hydrocarbons in the West Pembina area. The Wabamun Group contains no regionally extensive potential source rocks. Almost all the oil generated from Devonian source rocks appears to have remained within Devonian-aged reservoirs and very little is biodegraded. In contrast, where Exshaw Formation sourced oil is found in Devonian reservoirs, such as in the Grosmont and Nisku formations in the vicinity of the Athabasca Mannville Group bitumen deposit (i.e. “Carbonate Trend”), it tends to be biodegraded. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.