Origin and Evolution of Formation Waters, Alberta Basin, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. I. Chemistry
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Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 5, pp. 375-395, 1990 08832927/90 $3.00 + .00 Printed in Great Britain Pergamon Press pie Origin and evolution of formation waters, Alberta Basin, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. I. Chemistry CATHY A. CONNOLLY Department of Geology, The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada LYNN M. WALTER Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, M1 48109, U.S.A. H. BAADSGAARD Department of Geology, The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada and FRED J. LONGSTAFFE Department of Geology, The University of Western Ontario, Biological and Geological Sciences Building, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada (Received 13 July 1989; accepted in revised form 12 December 1989) Abstract--Inorganic chemical analyses and short-chain aliphatic acid content are used to interpret the origin and compositional evolution of formation waters in the Alberta portion of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Forty-three formation water samples were obtained covering a stratigraphic interval from Devonian to Cretaceous. The data show that: (1) there is a subaerially evaporated brine component that shows no apparent contribution of waters derived from evaporite dissolution; and (2) formation waters have maintained characteristics indicative of subaerially evaporated waters, despite subsequent flushing by gravity-driven meteoric waters in the basin. Formation waters are predominantly Na-CI brines that contain 4-235 g/1 total dissolved solids (TDS). Short-chain aliphatic acids (SCA) range up to 932 mg/l, with the following abundance: acetate >> propionate > butyrate. Their number varies randomly with subsurface temperature, depth, geological age and salinity. Instead, SCA distributions appear related to proximity to Jurassic and Mississippian source rocks and to zones of active bacterial SO4 reduction. Based on chemical composition, the formation waters can be divided into three groups. Group I waters arc from dominantly carbonate reservoirs and Group II from elastics. Groups 1 and II are differentiated from Group II1 in that they are composed of a brine end member, formed by evaporation of sea water beyond the point of halite saturation, that has been subsequently diluted 50-80% by a meteoric water end member. Group III waters are from elastic reservoirs and are dilute, meteoric waters that are decoupled from the more saline, stratigraphically lower, waters of Groups I and II. Group I waters have been influenced by clay mineral transformations in shales surrounding the carbonate reservoirs, ankeritization reactions of reservoir dolomites and calcites, and possible decarboxy- lation reactions. Group II waters indicate significant leaching reactions, particularly of feldspar and clay minerals. Group I and Group I1 waters both indicate ion exchange reactions were also possible. The waters are near equilibrium with respect to quartz, calcite, dolomite and barite, but are undcrsaturatcd with respect to evaporite minerals (halite, anhydrite). Occurrence of feldspar (predominantly albite) and kaolinite seems to control the population of the water cations. Post-Laramide invasion of meteoric waters provided an impetus for many of the diagenetic reactions in both carbonate, but especially in elastic reservoirs. Subsequent hydrochemical isolation of Group I and I1 waters from further meteoric influences occurred, resulting in pronounced mixing relations and eross-formational fluid flow replacing the once dominant lateral flow. INTRODUCTION mentary basins by gravity driven flow was stressed by hydrodynamic flow models (TOTH, 1980; GARVEN, THE ORIGIN of saline brines in sedimentary basins is a 1985; BETHKE, 1986). However, there is now controversial topic. Early investigators advocated a growing chemical and isotopic evidence that in some simple connate origin (WHITE, 1965). More recently, settings, waters may still be present that have been the concept of complete flushing of sedimentary hydrologically isolated since entrapment during basins by meteoric waters was introduced in an sedimentation (KNAUTH and BEEUNAS, 1986; KHAR- attempt to explain isotopic data (CLAYTON et al., AKA et al., 1987; KNAUTH, 1988). Amalgamation of 1966) and later, the importance of flushing of sedi- these two ideas has resulted in hypotheses that call AG 5:4-A 375 376 C.A. Connolly et al. for mixing of meteoric and modified connate waters to the central region of the Alberta Basin so lateral (HITCHON and FR]EDMAN, 1969) and suggestions that variations inherent in some basin-wide studies are a component of dense connate water may not be avoided. completely removed from an aquifer (DOMENICO and This paper is the first of two (CONNOLLY et al., ROBmNS, 1985). As a result, a wide variety of in- 1990) and concentrates on the chemistry, origin and terpretations for the provenance of basinal waters evolution of Alberta formation waters. Forty-three has been offered, with most discussions focusing on water samples from Devonian through Cretaceous three mechanisms for the production of the basinal strata, were analyzed for alkalinity, major, minor and brines: shale membrane filtration, infiltration of trace cation compositions, anion compositions, I42 S subaerially evaporated sea water, and dissolution of content and S isotopes, and short-chain aliphatic evaporite deposits (GRAF et al., 1966; CARPENTER, acids (SCA). Other than the studies of KHARAKAet al. 1978; HANOR, 1979). Regardless of which model is (1985) and KHARAKAand CAROTHERS (1986) no infor- favored, it is known that water undergoes chemical mation has been hitherto reported on the distribution and isotopic changes through movement and mixing, of SCAs in oil field waters from reservoirs older than mineral dissolution and precipitation, diffusion from Mesozoic. Furthermore, no SCA data exist for the adjacent shales, and organic maturation reactions, all Alberta Basin formation waters. Present water of which are reflected in the present chemical compo- chemistries and late diagenetic events are discussed sitions of the formation waters. in terms of water mixing and water-rock interactions. The Western Canada Sedimentary Basin is con- Radiogenic and stable isotope data are discussed in sidered to be a classic example of a gravity driven the second paper (CONNOLLY et al., 1990). Both flow basin and many studies have been made on the papers exhibit three distinct water groups in the basin basinal fluids. BILLINGS et al. (1969) examined the and discuss the degree of inter-relationship among water chemistry and concluded that membrane fil- them. tration was the dominant control on salinity. In a more detailed investigation, HITCHON et al. (1971) used statistical analyses to arrive at a chemical model GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF THE ALBERTA BASIN whereby original sea water evolved in composition and was influenced by recharged meteoric water, The Alberta Basin is part of the Western Canada exchange with carbonates, membrane filtration, sol- Sedimentary Basin, bordered to the west by the ution of evaporites, formation of new minerals and Rocky Mountain Thrust Belt, to the northeast by the exchange with clays and organic matter. Recently, Precambrian Shield, and to the southwest by the SPENCER (1987) speculated that residual evaporite Sweetgrass Arch (Fig. 1). The Alberta Basin is a brines played a major role in the evolution of Devo- simple monocline comprised of essentially unde- nian brines in the basin and were modified by reac- formed, northwesterly trending Mesozoic and Paleo- tion with the Precambrian basement and sub- zoic sedimentary rocks which rest unconformably on sequently diluted by meteoric waters. The study Precambrian rocks of the Canadian Shield (Fig. 2). presented here examines formation waters from res- Adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Foothills, the sedi- ervoirs comprising the whole stratigraphic column in mentary package exceeds 5700 m, but thins to the the Alberta Basin and focuses on interdependence east owing both to depositional thinning and erosion. and water-rock interactions in the Devonian- Mesozoic strata include Cretaceous sedimentary Cretaceous section. The study is spatially restricted rocks composed of thick shale and silt units interbed- "~ / ~ Precambrlan LEGEND '.i- / \ S.,e,d [ ~1 'NI o ," K., ",? k ^ / I,X, 1, ,,.o,,o. I ~'~"~ ~ i/ U.S.A. Fro. 1. Map of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, showing location of the study area. Origin and evolution of formation waters, Alberta Basin. 1. Chemistry 377 SW NE ..~ -: - . ~_ EDMONTON 1000 J' Paskapoo _ _J- _~? ~--~ - - - ___ 1 ~ :~--4 ~ I.IS--~ Colorado . y_~ ' Edmonton Group --C~()' - -- ~ "~',-- ........ ' WO~ C ~ Vlkln-- ~: ~ ~"f~. 0~ ~'~ I' L- Sea Level ~'Y .,op~..~ I'l%JV "¢l~.'~J~,'.~'~\ ~ ~3 ~" , - - ,,-, -¢. Y // :/'/',"~ " - H ..... tal Scale / .... I F~G. 2. Geological cross section from SW to NE through the Alberta Basin showing the major stratigraphic units and unconformities. ded with thin sandstones (Table 1). A major regional carbonate rocks channel flow from most of the unconformity separates these rocks from eroded Jur- Alberta Basin toward the northeast in the role of low assic and Paleozoic carbonates, shales and evapor- fluid potential drain for the basin (HITCHON, 1969b, ires. A more subtle unconformity separates Missis- 1984). However, GARVEN (1989) suggests that the sippian from Jurassic rocks. Upper Mississippian, regional flow system has undergone dissipation and Pennsylvanian, Permian, Triassic and most of the partitioning, at least since the Pliocene, with Jurassic