14 The Old Fort Point Formation: Redefinition and formal subdivision of a distinctive stratigraphic marker in the Neoproterozoic Windermere Supergroup, southern Canadian Cordillera 24 Go Take A Hike

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OCTOBER 2015 – VOLUME 42, ISSUE 09 ARTICLES The Old Fort Point Formation: Redefinition and formal subdivision of a distinctive stratigraphic marker CSPG OFFICE in the Neoproterozoic Windermere Supergroup, southern Canadian Cordillera ..... 14

#110, 333 – 5th Avenue SW Go Take A Hike ...... 24 Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3B6 Tel: 403-264-5610 Honorary Member - Kathryn (Kathy) Scales...... 30 Web: www.cspg.org Please visit our website for all tickets sales and event/course registrations Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm The CSPG Office is Closed the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. DEPARTMENTS OFFICE CONTACTS Message from the Board ...... 5 Membership Inquiries Tel: 403-264-5610 Email: [email protected] Technical Luncheons ...... 8 Technical/Educational Events: Biljana Popovic Tel: 403-513-1225 Email: [email protected] Division Talks ...... 10 Advertising Inquiries: Kristy Casebeer Tel: 403-513-1233 Email: [email protected] Sponsorship Opportunities: Lis Bjeld Rock Shop ...... 29 Tel: 403-513-1235 Email: [email protected] Conference Inquiries: Candace Jones Correction from our September 2015 Tel: 403-513-1227 Email: [email protected] CSPG Foundation: Kasandra Amaro Issue. The September 29th Technical Tel: 403-513-1234 Email: [email protected] Luncheon speaker was Norka Marcano Accounting Inquiries: Eric Tang Tel: 403-513-1232 Email: [email protected] from Executive Director: Lis Bjeld Schlumberger Reservoir Laboratories. Tel: 403-513-1235, Email: [email protected] EDITORS/AUTHORS Please submit RESERVOIR articles to the CSPG office. Submission deadline is the 23rd day of the month, two months prior to issue date. (e.g., January 23 for the March issue). To publish an article, the CSPG requires digital copies of the document. Text should be in Microsoft Word format and illustrations should be in TIFF format at 300 dpi., at final size. CSPG COORDINATING EDITOR Kristy Casebeer, Programs Coordinator, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Tel: 403-513-1233, [email protected] The RESERVOIR is published 11 times per year by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. This includes a combined issue for the months of July and August. The purpose of the RESERVOIR is to publicize the Society’s many activities and to promote the geosciences. We look for both technical and non-technical material to publish. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in full without the consent of the publisher. Additional copies of the RESERVOIR are available at the CSPG office. No official endorsement or sponsorship by the CSPG is implied for any advertisement, insert, or article that appears in the Reservoir unless otherwise noted. All submitted materials are reviewed by the editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions, including letters to the Editor. Submissions must include your name, address, and membership number (if applicable).The material contained in this publication is intended for informational use only. While reasonable care has been taken, authors and the CSPG make no guarantees that any of the equations, schematics, or devices discussed will perform as expected or that they will give the desired results. Some information contained herein may be inaccurate or may vary from standard measurements. The CSPG expressly disclaims any and all liability for the acts, omissions, or conduct of any third-party user of information contained in this publication. Under no circumstances shall the CSPG and its officers, directors, employees, and agents be liable for any injury, loss, damage, or FRONT COVER expense arising in any manner whatsoever from the acts, omissions, or conduct of any third-party user. Schooner Gulch State Beach in Mendocino County. Spherical concretions form Printed by McAra Printing, Calgary, Alberta. rows of ‘bowling balls’ visible at low tide. Caused by mineral cementation around a nucleation site (typically a fragment of organic material), these hardened sandstone concretions are exposed as the softer sandstones of the Galloway Formation are eroded. As the cliffs are worn back by the waves, concretions are left behind on the wave cut platform. Photo by: Monika Silvia Enachescu

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 3 Knowledge has TO BE improved, CHALLENGED, AND INCREASED constantly, OR IT vanishes. Peter Drucker

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PRESIDENT Tony Cadrin [email protected] Tel: 403.303.3493 BYOE. PRESIDENT ELECT Bring your own Engineer Greg Lynch • Shell Canada Ltd [email protected] Tel: 403.384.7704 What is in a name? When I describe progress of the geologic evaluation, PAST PRESIDENT a rock as “vuggy, crackle-fractured and the concerns of the engineer Dale Leckie dolomudstone” my geoscience will ensure that the work you are [email protected] colleagues can immediately picture doing as a geologist will be used by that rock. They can imagine the the engineer to optimize reservoir FINANCE DIRECTOR Astrid Arts • Cenovus Energy warm tropical sea that deposited performance. The AAPG Annual [email protected] Tel: 403.766.5862 the lime mud and the diagenetic Convention and Exhibition (ACE) will and geomechanical processes that be hosted in Calgary June 19-22, 2016. FINANCE DIRECTOR ELECT altered the rock to create the vugs As a part of ACE there will be a day Scott Leroux • Long Run Exploration and the fractures. They can picture dedicated to integrated presentations [email protected] Tel: 403.802.3775 the 3-dimensional pore system and that are of interest to both geologists DIRECTOR could even estimate a porosity and and engineers including topics such as Mark Caplan permeability. A rock name means integrated case studies, completion something to us, but to everyone else design, geomechanical stimulation of it is foreign secret language that is tight reservoirs, and reserve estimation. DIRECTOR often a barrier to communication. Hearing the same presentation with Milovan Fustic • Statoil Canada Ltd. your engineering colleague will [email protected] Tel: 403.724.3307 How often does a play or an stimulate some interesting discussion opportunity get missed because the at the coffee break and may reveal new DIRECTOR geoscientist and the engineer struggle insights about your shared reservoir. Michael LaBerge • Channel Energy Inc. to communicate? We spend years [email protected] Tel: 403.301.3739 describing core and seismic volumes Teach your engineering DIRECTOR and present our geologic model to our colleagues the language and start Ryan Lemiski • Nexen Energy ULC team and often miss a critical step. We with the rocks. Some of the best [email protected] Tel: 403.699.4413 neglect to “translate” our work so it breakthroughs I have experienced in can be applied to solve the engineering communicating with my engineering DIRECTOR problems. This translation step is colleagues were when we both looked Robert Mummery • Almandine Resources Inc. [email protected] Tel: 403.651.4917 critical to the successful application at the rocks together; whether we of the geoscience model and the were looking at the core, walking the DIRECTOR CSPG has a few tricks to help you shorelines of a modern depositional Darren Roblin • Kelt Exploration and your engineering colleagues break environment, studying the outcrop [email protected] Tel: 587.233.0784 the language barrier and improve of an ancient analogue, or preferably communication. all three. Following the three-day DIRECTOR ACE the CSPG will host the CSPG Jen Russel-Houston • Osum Oil Sands Corp. Immersion. Just like learning a International Core Conference June [email protected] Tel: 403.270.4768 language in a foreign land, immersion 23-24, 2016 at the Alberta Energy can accelerate language development. DIRECTOR Regulator Core Research Centre. This Working closely with your engineering Eric Street • Jupiter Resources is a great opportunity to bring your colleagues on integrated teams with [email protected] Tel: 587.747.2631 engineering colleagues to look at the offices beside each other is a great way rocks that comprise some of the most EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to improve the communication. The spectacular reservoirs in the world. Lis Bjeld • CSPG daily discussion of the methods, the [email protected] Tel: 403.513.1235 (... Continued on page 7)

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 5 Save the Date The prestigious AAPG 2016 Annual Convention & Exhibition (ACE) returns to Calgary for the first time in a decade. Join the world's best and brightest geoscientists and energy leaders at this premier industry event.

Exhibition and Sponsorship Opportunities Available. ACE.AAPG.org (... Continued from page 5) and reservoir engineer can have. Through the iterations they develop a You can teach them the language of shared understanding of the reservoir the rocks and, in turn they can share and this allows them to be predictive their observations and interpretations about future reservoir performance. of the reservoir with you. This conversation is improved if Translate your facies models into there is a shared language of reservoir flow units. Ultimately, I find from days spent looking at reservoir the easiest way to communicate with rocks in the core shack or in the field my engineering colleagues is to speak together. It is a conversation that is CORPORATE their language – digits. Translating the repetitive and never-ending and can SPONSORS facies model into reservoir flow units be sparked anew by seeing a map on SAMARIUM with reservoir proprieties populated an office-mate’s wall or sharing notes geoLOGIC systems ltd. in 3-dimensions is the clearest way at the back of a lecture hall. Through of describing your understanding of conferences, short courses and field DIAMOND the geology to the engineers. History trips the CSPG is giving you a forum AGAT Laboratories matching a geomodel to production to host these conversations. So, bring CSPG Foundation data will inevitably lead to editing your engineer and see where the TITANIUM some of the reservoir properties and conversation will lead you. Tourmaline Oil Corp. perhaps to a new interpretation. I am APEGA always looking for ways to improve PLATINUM this process. GeoConvention in Cenovus Energy Calgary on March 7-11, 2016 is looking Imperial Oil Resources for presentations on geoscience workflows and new techniques to GOLD optimize resources. Consider sharing IHS Global Canada Limited your methods with others and submit Suncor Energy an abstract, or plan to attend and Nexen ULC find out how others approach the SILVER translation of geology into resource Loring Tacore Labs Ltd. optimization. Weatherford Canada Partnership The iterative process of building a Seitel Canada Ltd. history-matched geomodel is the most Devon Energy Corp significant “conversation” a geologist Enerplus Corporation Paradigm Canadian Natural Resources Ltd GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. CRAINʼS LOG ANALYSIS COURSES Husky Energy Inc. For Engineers, Geologists, Geophysicists, and Technologists BRONZE Chinook Consulting 35$&7,&$/48$17,7$7,9(/2*$1$/<6,6 Talisman Energy Every April and October in Calgary Long Run Exploration Details / Registration at www.spec2000.net/00-coursedates.htm Qatar Shell GTL Limited Osum Oil Sands Corp. 1$55$7('08/7,-0(',$6(/)678'<&2856(6 Halliburton Slide Shows, Reference Manuals, and Exercises Included Pro Geo Consultants AV-01 Practical Quantitative Log Analysis Pengrowth Corporation AV-02 Advanced Quantitative Log Analysis Exxonmobil Exploration Co. Ltd. AV-03 Analysis of Unconventional Reservoirs Crescent Point Energy Trust Details / Order Online at: www.spec2000.net/00-av-training.htm Belloy Petroleum Consulting Single-User, Corporate, and Academic Licenses Available Ikon Science Ltd. Individual Reference Manuals and Slide Shows Available Separately Geomodeling Technology Corp. Baker Hughes Calgary &5$,163(7523+<6,&$/+$1'%22.21/,1( MJ Systems Shareware Petrophysical Encyclopedia at www.spec2000.net Streamsim Technologies, Inc. 50+ Years Of Experience At Your Fingertips === As of Juky 31, 2015 E. R. (Ross) Crain. P.Eng. A Special Thanks to Geologic Systems Ltd., 1-403-845-2527 [email protected] CSPG’s Top Sponsor of the Month. ======

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 7 Webcasts sponsored by TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS OCTOBER LUNCHEON

ABSTRACT of Atum Consulting Ltd., a private company providing Marlowe Steen River The Marlowe/ Steen River Muskeg “stack” light geoscience expertise (carbonate) at a variety of oil discovery is located on the north and west different technical levels, from prospect generation to Muskeg “Stack” Oil side of the Steen River astrobleme structure managing geo-modelling projects. Graeme has held in northern Alberta. OOIP for this discovery is a variety of geoscience/management positions with Discovery – And estimated at 2.5 - 4 billion barrels of oil, over Canada Capital Energy Ltd., West Energy Ltd., Devon a 300,000 acre area, net oil pay is up to 30 Canada, Anderson Oil & Gas, Ulster Petroleums and Now! For Something feet thick. This reservoir occurs approximately Startech Energy Ltd. Graeme has been the President 45 feet below the top of the Muskeg Fm., in a of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists distinctive 80 foot thick carbonate/evaporite (CSPG), Chair of the CSPG Trust, and is actively Completely Different package which is correlative over a 30 by 15 involved in privately funded charities. SPEAKERS mile area. The Muskeg “stack” oil production Graeme Bloy was recognized early in the Keg oil wells drilled Graeme is an Honours B.Sc. (Geology) and M.Sc Atum Consulting Ltd. on the outer rim the Steen River structure but (Geology) graduate from the University of Alberta. Gurpreet Sawhney performed poorly in vertical/directional well Gurpreet Sawhney is the President and CEO of Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd.. completions. Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd. Gurpreet’s areas of expertise 11:30 am To date 19 horizontal wells have been drilled in include integrated reservoir characterization, Tuesday, October 20th, 2015 the “stack”, and are multi-stage frac’d, currently compositional and thermal stimulation, enhanced Calgary, TELUS Convention Centre producing at approximately 1750 boepd. Decline oil recovery and horizontal well modelling as well as Exhibition Hall D, North Building analysis on per well basis shows the expected CO2 sequestration. From 1993 to 1996, Gurpreet Calgary, Alberta EUR is 274 Mboe with an IP30 of 291 boepd. worked with PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd., as a reservoir simulation specialist, before leaving to Please note: The cut-off date for ticket sales There are at least 800 more locations to drill on this play. Discussion of the development plan found and manage ResModMan Inc., a consultancy is 1:00 pm, five business days group providing dynamic reservoir flow simulation before event. [Tuesday, Oct. 13th, 2015]. CSPG shows the significant capital outlay to bring this project on full production. solutions and reservoir management services to Member Ticket Price: $45.00 + GST. Non- numerous (Canadian) domestic and international Member Ticket Price: $47.50 + GST. This discovery demonstrates the potential of clients on over 100 projects. low permeability Devonian carbonate reservoirs Each CSPG Technical Luncheon is 1 APEGA PDH in the WSCB. Gurpreet is a Bachelor of Engineering graduate credit. Tickets may be purchased online at www. in Chemical Engineering from Panjab University, cspg.org BIOGRAPHIES India. He obtained a Master of Science in Chemical Graeme Bloy is a geoscience advisor (consultant) Engineering and an MBA both from the University at Strategic Oil & Gas. He is currently the President of Calgary.

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8 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 Webcasts sponsored by TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS NOVEMBER LUNCHEON

At the turn of the 21st century, we BIOGRAPHY The “New” switched our focus to finding and Brad Hayes - Brad Hayes is President of understanding “tight” reservoirs, many Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd., a consulting Hydrogeology: in hydrocarbon-saturated, basin-centred firm engaged by clients including industry, Renewed (Deep Basin) settings. A decade into this government agencies, and legal and financial new game, our success at exploiting tight organizations, to address conventional and Importance of reservoirs using horizontal wells and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration and multi-zone frac completions depends on development. our ability to access large water volumes Water to the Much of Brad’s work on unconventionals and secure disposal zones to support field during the past few years has focused on Petroleum operations, particularly for high-volume characterization of subsurface aquifers as slickwater fracs. Industry in the potential water source and disposal zones. He At the same time, changing climate patterns has led PRCL in regional subsurface aquifer 21st Century and increasing demands for water for projects in Horn River Basin, the BC Montney agricultural and domestic uses has focused fairway, Central Mackenzie Valley and Deh SPEAKERS societal concerns on water availability Cho areas of NWT, and several projects in Brad Hayes and quality over the long term. It is thus Alberta. Much of this work has been done with Petrel Robertson Consulting Ltd increasingly complex for the petroleum members of the Integrated Water Resources Jamie Wills industry to secure long-term water team, including Waterline Resources, Foundry Waterline Resources Inc. supplies, and to safely and economically Spatial, and Kerr Wood Leidal. dispose of produced and flowback waters. 11:30 am Brad received a PhD from the University of Other considerations, such as the risks Wednesday, November 4th, 2015 Alberta, and a B.Sc. from the University of posed by aging infrastructure to useable Calgary, TELUS Convention Centre Toronto, and has been with PRCL since 1996. water resources, the environment, and Macleod Hall C/D Calgary, Alberta Brad is an active member of the CSPG, and to other key receptors, place additional served as its President in 2001. He is also Please note: The cut-off date for ticket pressure on industry to manage the a member of AAPG, GAC, and APEGBC, and sales is 1:00 pm, three business days collective liability. currently sits on APEGA Council. He is also before event. [Friday, October 30, 2015]. It is often stated “no water, no project”. on the Board of Directors for the Canadian CSPG Member Ticket Price: $45.00 + GST. Thus, as an industry we must develop a Society for Unconventional Resources. Non-Member Ticket Price: $47.50 + GST. much more comprehensive understanding Jamie Wills - Mr. Wills is president and of water resources – the “New” Each CSPG Technical Luncheon is 1 APEGA co-founder of Waterline Resources Inc., an Hydrogeology of the 21st century. Saline PDH credit. Tickets may be purchased online Alberta and BC-based hydrogeology and waters in deep aquifers, non-saline at https://www.cspg.org/eSeries/source/Events/ environmental consulting firm providing groundwater, and surface waters are index.cfm. services to the industrial, commercial and all in play. Our renewed discipline must government sectors in western Canada. incorporate the knowledge of petroleum ABSTRACT and physical hydrogeologists, contaminant Jamie has almost 30 years of experience Our presentation focus is twofold: to hydrogeologists, and surface water on groundwater exploration, development launch the new Hydrogeology Division of hydrologists. Those whom embrace the and management, including water resource the CSPG, and to highlight the fundamental new water paradigm will maximize their and contaminant hydrogeology projects in importance of water to current and future individual and corporate success. Western Canada and internationally. He has oil and gas development. It is applicable extensive experience on regional assessments, The first steps are being taken to address to a wide audience, including company including preparing baseline and EIAs for these issues, including the completion directors, senior financial and technical in-situ projects in Alberta’s oil sands regions. of integrated regional water resource managers, project-based geoscience and He is increasingly being asked by clients to assessments as a framework to understand, engineering staff, and operations staff assist them with strategic water management plan, finance, manage, and execute asset- including risk-based decision makers and plans for unconventional plays, as well as lifetime water management from the environmental specialists. risk management associated with aging O&G boardroom to the field. In our presentation infrastructure. Water has always been an essential we’ll review some of these efforts, tools component of petroleum exploration and and drivers. We will also suggest how the Jamie received a B.Sc. in honours geology, and development. In exploring for conventional renewed CSPG Hydrogeology Division can a M.Sc. in hydrogeology, from the University oil and gas pools in the mid- to late 20th play a lead role in successfully addressing of Waterloo. He is a past-President of the century, we needed to understand regional 21st century water issues in the WCSB Canadian Chapter of the International aquifers as drivers for the migration and and around the world. Association of Hydrogeologists. He has chaired trapping of oil and gas deposits. Produced and presented at numerous conferences waters had to be managed, and waterflood over the last several decades, most recently schemes put into place. As heavy oil and hydrogeology sessions at GeoConvention 2015. oil sands projects emerged, large water volumes were required for thermal recovery and bitumen processing.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 9 Webcasts sponsored by DIVISION TALKS STRUCTURAL DIVISION

ABSTRACT resource development in North America Hydraulic Hydraulic fracturing is a technique for and globally; thus, the urgency to address Fracturing and stimulating oil and gas production from the challenge of induced seismicity will impermeable reservoir rocks, involving continue to grow. Induced Seismicity subsurface injection of fluids under high pressure. Microseismic methods have BIOGRAPHY SPEAKER been in commercial use for over a decade Professor David Eaton received his B.Sc. David W. Eaton to monitor fracture growth during from Queen’s University in 1984 and 12:00 pm treatment operations in order to optimize M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Thursday, October 1st, 2015 drainage and to assure containment Calgary in 1988 and 1992. He rejoined the Schlumberger Palliser One Building, of fractures within the reservoir. Yet, a University of Calgary in 2007 after an 11- Second Floor Conference Rooms, quantitative understanding of physical year academic career at the University of 200, 125 – 9 Avenue S.E. processes that link seismically detectable Western Ontario. His postdoctoral research brittle deformation with the development experience included work at Arco’s Research of discrete fractures has remained and Technical Services (Plano, Texas) and the elusive. In rare instances, moderate Geological Survey of Canada (Ottawa). He earthquakes have been triggered during is presently co-director of the Microseismic or shortly after stimulation, caused by Industry Consortium, a novel, applied- slip on critically stressed faults located research geophysical initiative dedicated to within a few km of the treatment zone. the advancement of research, education and These events have drawn considerable technological innovations in microseismic attention by the public and have led to methods and their practical applications the introduction of new monitoring for resource development. In addition regulations, including a requirement to microseismic monitoring, his current in some areas for seismic traffic light research is also focused on the lithosphere- systems during hydraulic fracturing asthenosphere boundary beneath continents. completions. In the foreseeable future, He has over 115 peer-reviewed publications. hydraulic fracturing will continue to be an important enabling technology for

Registration Opens: February 2016

10 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015

Registration Opens: February 2016 Webcasts sponsored by DIVISION TALKS BASS DIVISION

Lognormal distribution is a sensible candidate BIOGRAPHY Reflections on to adopt for the size distribution of oil fields in Gordon is the Morris A. Adelman Professor of a petroleum play. Management Emeritus at the Sloan School of Fifty Years in a I will discuss how these ideas fused and Management, MIT. His interest in oil and gas evolved over time into a suite of probabilistic exploration began in the early 1960s. Gordon Small Corner of models and methods designed to project the wrote his doctoral thesis at Harvard (Statistical distribution of sizes of accumulations remaining Decision and Related Techniques in Oil and Geostatistics to be discovered in an oil and gas play as a Gas Exploration, Prentice Hall Inc. 1963) and continues! He is a Fellow of the American SPEAKER function of the discovery record, along with computational and modeling challenges faced Association for the Advancement of Science, Professor Gordon Kaufman by users and modern versions of discovery The American Statistical Association and the (Sloan School of management, MIT) process modeling such as those deployed by International Society for Bayesian Analysis. Gordon is the International Association of Mathematical Tuesday 6th October, 2015 the Canadian Geological Survey and the U.S. Geologists Distinguished Lecturer. Conoco Phillips Auditorium, Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean and Gulf Canada Square, Energy Management and Resource Evaluation. INFORMATION 401 - 9th Ave. S.W. Calgary, AB Use of probabilistic models of discovery to BASS Division talks are free. Please note that lunch project remaining undiscovered oil and gas in will be provided for this talk. For further information In 1958 Jan Arps and T.G. Roberts published petroleum plays stands in contrast to subjective about the division, joining our mailing list, a list of a pioneering APPG article describing how probability approaches like those used by the upcoming talks, or if you wish to present a talk oil field discovery sizes evolve as function of U.S. Geological Survey in1975 to appraise or lead a field trip, please contact either Steve exploratory drilling over time. Their study of undiscovered oil and gas in U.S. petroleum Donaldson at 403-808-8641, or Mark Caplan at drilling and discovery in the Lower Cretaceous provinces, an approach still employed by 403-975-7701, email: [email protected] or visit on the East Flank of the Denver-Julesberg Basin the USGS. My introduction to this approach our web page on the CSPG website at http://www. gave birth to a new approach to measuring came in 1961 from an exploration manager at cspg.org. returns to discovery effort we now call CONOCO who likened it to “…weighing hogs discovery process modeling. in Arkansas!”…. I will explain. At roughly the same time Ferdinand Blondel, In conclusion we outline some future modeling a French geologist and the French economist initiatives that may improve our ability to Supported by Maurice Allais (later to become a Nobel compute probabilistic projections for guiding Laureate) published studies suggesting that the exploration strategy at the play level. GeoConvention 2016

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: GeoConvention 2016 is March 7 – 11! GeoConvention News GeoConvention is a geoscience- focused annual convention With low commodity prices and an ever changing economic with over 4000 delegates, 110 exhibitors, 300 technical talks, and business environment, it is imperative that the industry networking events, poster sessions optimize the way in which it operates. Whether enhancing and courses. The theme this year is “Optimizing Resources.” Please recovery methods or finding the optimal path for a horizontal join us as an exhibitor, sponsor well; maximizing the return of capital employed or simply, or attendee to learn from, and network with a premier Optimizing Resources, the theme for GeoConvention 2016, community of geoscientists. is key to success. Please join us and contribute as speaker, Sponsorship, Advertising and Exhibit exhibitor or sponsor. opportunities are available! Call for Abstracts closes November 6th

www.geoconvention.com

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 11 Webcasts sponsored by DIVISION TALKS PALENTOLOGY DIVISION

professors have greatly contributed to the BIOGRAPHY Soldiers, Scientists, knowledge of the paleontology of western Lisa Budney is the current Collections and Museums and northern Canada. They have trained Administrator for the Department of Earth & and Specimens: generations of earth scientists to identify Atmospheric Sciences collections at the University of 95 years of fossils to assist in dating rocks and interpreting Alberta, Edmonton. She received her B.Sc. in Honors depositional environments. With over one Paleontology in 2001 and M.Sc. Biological Sciences in Invertebrate million specimens, the teaching, research, Systematics and Evolution in 2004 at the University of and permanent collections rank among the Alberta. After spending time working on the evolution Paleontology finest in Canada. University of Alberta alumni of fish fins at Dalhousie University, Halifax, she have gone on to become highly respected returned home to work for the City of Edmonton as the Research at the geologists and paleontologists in the oil educational program coordinator for the Valley Zoo, John and gas sector, government, academia, and Janzen Nature Centre, and Muttart Conservatory. From University of museums. 2008 to May, 2015, she was the lab coordinator for the invertebrate paleontology and soft rock EAS courses, In this historical presentation you’ll travel Alberta and a collections assistant, at the University of Alberta. through time. Starting in the 1920s we’ll SPEAKER meet Dr. Percival S. Warren and Dr. Ralph L. Lisa Budney Rutherford, and in the 1940s, we’ll meet Dr. INFORMATION Collections and Museums Administrator Charles R. Stelck, arguably three of the most This event is presented jointly by the Alberta for the Department of Earth and significant contributors to the understanding Palaeontological Society, the Earth Science Department Atmospheric Sciences collections at of Alberta’s geology, and that of the north. at Mount Royal University, and the Palaeontology the University of Alberta, Edmonton We’ll learn of the more recent research by Division of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. 7:30 PM Drs. Brian Jones, Brian Chatterton, George For details or to present a talk in the future, please Friday, October 16, 2015 Pemberton, and Lindsey Leighton as they contact CSPG Palaeontology Division Chair Jon Noad Mount Royal University, Room B108 follow in their predecessors’ footsteps. at [email protected] or APS Coordinator Harold Brachiopods, microorganisms, corals, bivalves, Whittaker at 403-286-0349 or contact programs1@ forams, echinoids, trilobites, and ammonoids, albertapaleo.org. Visit the APS website for confirmation ABSTRACT large and small- they’ve studied them all. of event times and upcoming speakers: http://www. For nearly 100 years, University of Alberta albertapaleo.org/

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Formation. We also present simulations he further developed geological modelling Using Our of these realistic models to examine and simulation techniques, managed drilling the intricacies and ramifications of the programs, co-authored a SAGD application to Understanding complex steam flow and oil drainage paths the AER, presented at the Geoconvention and of Sedimentary within the reservoir. By building in our CHOA, and handled the day to day geoscience knowledge of the depositional environment duties required in a small start-up. Following Processes to and removing unnecessary stochasticity his time at Grizzly, Duncan started Applied from our geomodels, we can improve Realistic Geoscience, focused on integrating all Build Realistic our understanding of the subsurface and available data to build realistic geomodels of ultimately optimise recovery in these complex stratigraphic environments. Geological Models challenging reservoirs. of the McMurray INFORMATION BIOGRAPHY BASS Division talks are free. Please bring your Formation: Steam Duncan Findlay attained a BSc from the lunch. For further information about the division, University of Aberdeen in petroleum geology joining our mailing list, a list of upcoming talks, Cares, and so before moving to Canada to gain an MSc in or if you wish to present a talk or lead a field micropalaeontology from Brock University trip, please contact either Steve Donaldson at Should You and a PhD in stable isotope geochemistry 403-808-8641, or Mark Caplan at 403-975- from McMaster University. At McMaster, 7701, email: [email protected] or visit our SPEAKER Duncan also lectured introductory geoscience web page on the CSPG website at http://www. Duncan Findlay and structural geology, a course he would cspg.org.. (Head Geoscientist, later teach at Mount Royal University in Applied Realistic Geoscience) Calgary. After graduation, Duncan moved to Calgary to take a geology position at Imperial 12:00 Noon Oil where he built models and developed Tuesday 27th October, 2015 modelling techniques for several depositional Supported by ConocoPhillips Auditorium, environments. After three years at Imperial, Gulf Canada Square, Duncan moved to Grizzly Oil Sands where 401 - 9th Ave. S.W. Calgary, AB

ABSTRACT It is common practice to build geological models of the subsurface for purposes of visualisation, volumetrics, well planning and simulation. However, all too often our complete understanding of the reservoir from a depositional standpoint is not incorporated into their construction. This omission leads to the kind of “statistical fuzz” models we are familiar with, which do not look like either an outcrop or modern analogue of our reservoir`s depositional system. This is of particular importance for steam based thermal recovery methods, where the distribution of permeability is of primary importance to reservoir performance. If we are not honouring all of our data (seismic, outcrop, stratigraphic framework, dipmeter, analogue, core etc), how can we expect our simulations, visualisations and well planning to be reliable? They simply cannot be when they are based on an incomplete representation of these often stratigraphically complex reservoirs. Presented here are a few new techniques, combined with some examples of what not to do, which can be employed to build realistic models of the McMurray

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 13 THE OLD FORT POINT FORMATION: Redefinition and formal subdivision of a distinctive stratigraphic marker in the Neoproterozoic Windermere Supergroup, southern Canadian Cordillera

| By M.D. Smith & R.W.C. Arnott, Department of Earth Sciences | University of Ottawa and G.M. Ross, Kupa’a Farm Abstract marker horizon within the Neoproterozoic rocks. The WSG is generally interpreted to The southern Canadian Cordillera strata Windermere Supergroup (WSG), a thick have accumulated in two stages: the first of the Neoproterozoic Windermere succession of sedimentary rocks of stage was relatively synchronous with rifting Supergroup form an areally extensive predominantly deep-water character that during the break-up of the supercontinent outcrop belt of deep-marine sedimentary crops out over an area of approximately Rodinia; and the second stage during thermal rocks. Within this generally monotonous 35 000 km2 in parts of Alberta and British relaxation with related subsidence (Stewart, pile of siliciclastic and minor carbonate Columbia, Western Canada (Ross and 1972; Ross, 1991; Ross et al., 1995; Dalrymple rocks, the Old Fort Point Formation Murphy, 1988; Smith, 2009; Smith et al., this and Narbonne, 1996). A key element of the forms a lithologically and geochemically issue). Strata of the OFP exhibit a number of post-rift phase was the deposition of the distinctive unit that serves as a key regional distinctive lithological and/or geochemical deep-water Windermere turbidite system stratigraphic marker. New sedimentologic characteristics that help differentiate them – a feature that is comparable in areal and stratigraphic work demonstrates that from other fine- or coarse-grained strata extent to many moderate-sized modern it is lithologically distinctive, mappable that make up the rest of the WSG in the submarine fans (e.g. Barnes and Normark, and correlatable on a regional scale and southern Canadian Cordillera. 1985a,b; Ross and Arnott, 2007). Within the lithological monotony of the Windermere deserves formal recognition. Accordingly, this marker is arguably the turbidite system is the distinctive OFP, the most important stratigraphic unit in the The Old Fort Point Formation comprises lowest and areally most widespread of three WSG of the southern Canadian Cordillera three lithostratigraphic members that have a regional markers that have aided regional and we propose that this lithostratigraphic consistent stratigraphic relationship across correlations across the southern Canadian unit be formally termed the Old Fort Point the basin and can easily be distinguished Cordillera (e.g. Ross and Murphy 1988; Ross Formation and that use of other informal from lithofacies in the enveloping strata and Arnott, 2007). The OFP is recognized by names be discontinued. We also propose of the Windermere Supergroup. The basal its distinctive colours and lithologies, and three new lithostratigraphic members for Temple Lake Member is composed primarily is sandwiched within a thick succession of the OFP: Temple Lake Member (lower), of siltstone to mudstone that grades WSG coarse- and fine-grained turbidites. Geikie Siding Member (middle) and upward into rhythmically interstratified More thorough reviews of the WSG Whitehorn Mountain Member (upper). The limestone-siltstone. The middle Geikie geological background, including tectonic formal recognition of the OFP and its three Siding Member is a thin, organic-rich models and the stratigraphic framework constituent members in accordance with mudstone-pelite. The Whitehorn Mountain have been published elsewhere, and the the North American Stratigraphic Code Member is the uppermost unit and varies reader is directed to these publications for (NACSN, 2005) will begin the process locally and regionally in thickness and details (e.g. Ross et al., 1989a, 1995; Ross, of clarifying the complex stratigraphic lithology, including diamictite, breccia to 1991; Colpron et al., 2002; Ross and Arnott, nomenclature currently found in the conglomerate, mudstone to siltstone, 2007; Smith, 2009). subarkose, quartzarenite, calcareous arenite, literature. It is appropriate to introduce arenaceous limestone, and limestone. this nomenclature now, as a century of Stratigraphic Correlations fragmented research on this unit has been Regional and local stratigraphic correlations This unique lithostratigraphic unit is conducted since it was first described by within the WSG have proven a challenge here formally named the Old Fort Point C.D. Walcott in 1910. because of: the lack of biostratigraphic Formation and other site-specific names control in these Precambrian sedimentary should be discontinued. The use of the Regional Geological Setting rocks; the deep-marine depositional name Old Fort Point Formation is an In the southern Canadian Cordillera, environment producing lithologically similar, attempt to simplify part of a complicated the Neoproterozoic WSG forms a thick regionally extensive coarse- and fine- and informally defined stratigraphic (approximately 9 km) continental-margin grained siliciclastic facies; general absence nomenclature currently in use for rocks sedimentary succession exposed in a of chemical sedimentary markers; structural in the Neoproterozoic Windermere series of thrust panels in the Main Ranges complexity related to the Cordilleran Supergroup, southern Canadian Cordillera. of the western fold-and-thrust belt and orogen; and the overall paucity of suitable the Omineca belt (Fig. 1). In this region, Introduction material for conventional radiometric it consists primarily of deep-marine isotopic dating (Ross et al., 1989b, 1995). In the southern Canadian Cordillera, the siliciclastic sandstone and mudstone with Old Fort Point Formation (OFP) is a key subordinate carbonate and mafic volcanic These uncertainties have resulted in a

14 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 of these two formations over the study area was made possible by a distinctive purple/ green slate, limestone and limestone- bearing conglomerate unit that marked the base of the Hector Formation (Walcott, 1910). These distinctive lithofacies were recognized at a number of locations in the Lake Louise area, but were not recognized as a separate formation. He also interpreted the Precambrian-Cambrian contact to be an angular unconformity, but incorrectly placed it at the base of a deeply incised succession of immature conglomerates, shown later to be part of the WSG (Arnott, 1984; Arnott and Hein, 1986). Gussow (1956, 1957) was the next to conduct work on Precambrian rocks in the Lake Louise area. He simplified the stratigraphy to the Hector Formation (Gussow, 1957), but then subdivided it into four informal members: 1) basal Corral Creek Member (coarse-grained Corral Creek Formation of Walcott, 1910); 2) Taylor Lake Member (purple argillites or shales); 3) Member (rhythmic bedded limestones); and 4) an unnamed upper member. He was the first to recognize (or at least document) the significance of the Mount Temple member as a marker horizon in the Lake Louise area and assign stratigraphic names to OFP lithologies (Taylor Lake and Mount Temple members), but these were not properly defined, being published in a conference fieldtrip guidebook (Gussow, 1957). During the first half of the 20th century, Figure 1 - Simplified geological map of the WSG, southern Canadian Cordillera showing prominent outcrop localities of additional reconnaissance mapping was the OFP and correlatives (modified from Ross and Murphy, 1988). Localities: A – Lake Louise; B – ; C – Provincial Park; D – McKale River; E – Frances Creek; F – Dogtooth Range; G – Selkirk Mountains; carried out in a number of other regions H – Monashee Mountains; I – Cariboo Mountains. in the southern Canadian Cordillera of complex and often confusing stratigraphic nomenclature for not only strata of the OFP, but the entire WSG (Fig. 2 and references in caption). Many early authors proposed regional or local correlations (e.g. Walker, 1926; Gussow, 1957; Reesor, 1957; Aitken, 1969), but because of the lack of detailed sedimentologic work or regional stratigraphic control, site-specific names were maintained in most cases (e.g. Evans, 1933; Mountjoy, 1962) until more robust correlations could be made. Historical Background The first report of lithologies consistent with the OFP was by Walcott (1910) in the Lake Louise area (Fig. 1: A). Walcott identified two Precambrian units, the Corral Creek (lower conglomerate-sandstone) Figure 2. Stratigraphic nomenclature of the WSG in the southern Canadian Cordillera. Sources of information include: 1) Campbell et al. (1973), Ferguson (1994), Ross and Ferguson (2003a, 2003b); 2) Grasby and Brown (1993); 3) and Hector (upper slate) formations that Kubli (1990), Kubli and Simony (1992, 1994), Warren (1996, 1997); 4) McDonough and Murphy (1989, 1994), were unlike the overlying, cliff-forming Hein and McMechan (1994); 5) Charlesworth and Remington (1960), Charlesworth et al. (1967); 6) Walcott (1910), quartzarenites of the Cambrian. The division Gussow (1956, 1957), Aitken (1969). (... Continued on page 16)

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 15 (... Continued from page 15) of the unit are located (Fig. 3B). Evans (1961) mapped the OFP at the Old Fort Point landmark and divided it into four informal members, each with a type section at this location. Based on lithological similarities, it was recognized that the Miette Formation (later changed to Miette Group) was correlative with the Corral Creek and Hector formations, and that the basal part of the Hector Formation (Walcott, 1910) was potentially correlative with the OFP (Evans, 1961; Charlesworth et al., 1961). Weiner (1966) followed-up on this work with a more regional structural study in the Jasper area, which included mapping and correlating the OFP using the previously defined units of Evans (1961). Compilation and formal definition of the OFP, including roposed regional correlations between Jasper, Lake Louise and southern British Columbia, were first published in Charlesworth et al. (1967). Aitken (1969) was the first to unequivocally correlate the OFP of the Jasper area (Charlesworth et al., 1967) with Walcott’s distinctive basal unit of the Hector Formation in the Lake Louise area. He also repositioned the location of the Precambrian-Cambrian contact stratigraphically higher than that of Walcott (1910) and showed that it represented a Figure 3. A) Location map of key stratigraphic sections. B) OFP Type section, Old Fort Point Landmark, Jasper National major (angular) unconformity. Furthermore, Park. C) OFP principal reference section and GSM unit stratotype, Geikie Siding outcrop, Jasper National Park. D) work by Arnott (1984) and Arnott and TLM unit stratotype, near Temple Lake, Lake Louise. Note WMM is thinly (<0.5 m) developed here and difficult to Hein (1986) showed that the prominent distinguish from underlying GSM or overlying fine-grained Miette Group. E) WMM unit stratotype, “Upper Boomerang (#64) Ski Run, . Arrows in photos indicate stratigraphic up. “angular” unconformity at the base of the Cambrian as reported by Walcott (1913) Alberta and British Columbia. Walcott the Horsethief Creek Formation within was the base of a more than 100m deep (1913) extended his work further north the Purcell Mountains with the Hector WSG submarine canyon. into the Mount Robson area of British and Corral Creek formations in the Lake Columbia and defined the Precambrian Louise area. Later work by Reesor (1957) Subsequent regional mapping in the Miette Formation (now Miette Group) from took another step by correlating strata of Cariboo Mountains (Campbell et al., 1973), that area. Later, Allan et al. (1932) studied the Horsethief Creek series (later renamed Purcell Mountains (Reesor, 1973) and Rocky rocks in the Jasper area and described the Horsethief Creek Group), Hector and Mountains (Mountjoy, 1962, 1971; Mountjoy units lithologically similar to the OFP, but Corral Creek formations with those of the and Price, 1985; Price et al., 1980a, 1980b) incorrectly placed them in the overlying Miette Formation in the Mount Robson area. focused on the general stratigraphic and Jasper series according to Charlesworth et structural geology in these areas rather Henry Charlesworth and graduate students al. (1961). than any one specific formation. No detailed from the University of Alberta carried out documentation of the OFP was recorded, Further south, in the Purcell Mountains, the first detailed structural and stratigraphic but similar to the early reconnaissance Walker (1926) defined the Windermere mapping of the Precambrian Miette Group mapping, lithologies consistent with the Series, now Windermere Supergroup, and in the area around Jasper, Alberta (Fig. 1: B; OFP were noted in the Purcell Mountains subdivided it into the Toby Formation, Charlesworth et al., 1967). The name Old Fort (Reesor, 1973, p. 29, 31–32) and the comprising coarse conglomerate and Point Formation was first informally defined Rocky Mountains (Mountjoy, 1962, p. 5). A diamictite, and the Horsethief Formation, in a fieldtrip guidebook (Charlesworth geological map (1:50 000 scale) of the Lake made up of sandstone and fine-grained and Remington, 1960) to describe a unit Louise area (Price et al., 1980a) also shows a slate (subsequently changed by Evans, 1933 consisting of phyllite, limestone, limestone “position of change in facies (approximate)” to the Horsethief Creek Formation). Both breccia and conglomerate that were easily between the Corral Creek and Hector authors mention purple slates lithologically distinguished from other Miette Formation formations of the Miette Group based on consistent with the OFP (Walker, 1926, p. strata as defined by Walcott (1913). the work of Walcott (1910) and Aitken 14; Evans, 1933, p. 117), but no specific sub- The name “Old Fort Point” comes from (1969), and represents the stratigraphic divisions or discussion of its stratigraphic a prominent local landmark south of the position of the OFP. A consistent, probably significance were noted. Both Walker (1926) Jasper townsite where accessible exposures correlative, fine-grained triad of lithologies and Evans (1933) suggested correlation of (siltstone, limestone-siltstone, organic-rich

16 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 mudstone) that cropped out across the more importantly its use as a stratigraphic stacking pattern that permits basin-wide southern Canadian Cordillera was noted by marker to correlate with other regions in correlation are not exposed. a number of workers in the early 1980s: the southern Canadian Cordillera (Ross Despite these two issues, we propose that and Murphy, 1988). Although the name 1. P.S. Simony and graduate students the name “Old Fort Point Formation” be “Old Fort Point Formation” was utilized from the University of Calgary retained and simply undergo a revision in in subsequent maps and publications (Calgary, Alberta): Monashee and definition to receive proper designation from the Selwyn Range (McDonough and Cariboo Mountains (Pell, 1984; Pell as outlined by the North American Murphy, 1994), Cariboo Mountains (Ross and Simony, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987) Commission on Stratigrahic Nomenclature et al., 1995; Ross, 2000; Ross and Ferguson, (Fig. 1: H); Cushing Creek and McKale (NACSN, 2005). The name “Old Fort Point 2003a, 2003b) and Jasper National Park River areas, Rocky Mountains (Carey, Formation” is well established and has (Kendall et al., 2004), alternative names can 1984; Carey and Simony, 1985 (Fig. already been used by a number of authors in still be found in the literature (e.g. Kubli 1: D), Mount Robson Provincial mapping and publications (e.g. McDonough and Simony, 1992, 1994; Grasby and Brown, Park area and Selwyn Range, Rocky and Murphy, 1994; Ross et al., 1995; Ross 1993; Warren, 1996, 1997). Mountains (McDonough and Simony, and Ferguson, 2003a; Ross and Arnott, 2007; 1988; McDonough, 1989) (Fig. 1: Formal Definition of the Old Smith et al., 2005, 2007a, 2007b, 2011, this C), and Dogtooth Range, Purcell Fort Point Formation and its issue). Formal abandonment and renaming Mountains (Kubli, 1986, 1990; Kubli Three Members the formation would run contrary to and Simony, 1992, 1994) (Fig. 1: F). the aim of this paper, which is to simplify Justification for Name: Old Fort the stratigraphy and avoid confusion for 2. E.W. Mountjoy and graduate students Point Formation new researchers and readers. The name from McGill University (Montréal, The OFP is a unique lithostratigraphic “Old Fort Point Formation” is preferred Québec): Park and Selwyn Ranges, unit in the WSG and has been recognized because it has historical priority and is Rocky Mountains (Klein and Mountjoy, by many authors in many different areas the most widely used. Based on previous 1988; Deschesne, 1990a; Deschesne of the southern Canadian Cordillera. It studies and more recent detailed work, and Mountjoy, 1990; Mountjoy and comprises three distinctive members that especially Smith (2009), we also propose Grasby, 1990; Grasby, 1991) (Fig. 1: have a consistent stratal relationship, are three new lithostratigraphic members for C), and Jasper National Park, Rocky correlatable and mappable on a regional the OFP, which stratigraphically upward are: Mountains (Deschesne, 1989, 1990b) scale, and can be easily distinguished from Temple Lake Member (TLM), Geikie Siding (Fig. 1: B). encompassing WSG strata. Despite these Member (GSM) and Whitehorn Mountain 3. Others projects include D.C. Murphy characteristics, no previous attempt has Member (WMM). These names are based from Carleton University (Ottawa, been made to formalize the nomenclature on geographical locations where well- Ontario), Cariboo Mountains for this important basinwide unit beyond exposed representative sections can be (Murphy and Rees, 1983; Murphy, the boundaries of a local study (e.g. Gussow, easily observed and for the most part do 1986, 1987) (Fig. 1: H), S.E. Grasby, 1957; Charlesworth et al., 1967; Kubli, not duplicate names already in the literature Selkirk Mountains (Grasby and Brown, 1990; Grasby and Brown, 1993). Given (Table 1; Figs. 2 and 3A). 1993) (Fig. 1: G) and M.J. Warren the significance of the unit, it is important Designation of Category and from Queen’s University (Kingston, to properly formalize the stratigraphic Rank of Units, Selection and Ontario), Purcell Mountains (Warren, nomenclature of OFP across the southern Derivation of Name, Specification 1996, 1997) (Fig. 1: E). Canadian Cordillera. of Principal Reference Section These projects focused mainly on unraveling Although Walcott (1910) was the and Stratotypes first to describe lithologies within the the structural complexity in their respective Old Fort Point Formation areas, which resulted in a number of OFP, they were included in the basal location-specific, informal names for the portion of the Hector Formation and The name Old Fort Point Formation is OFP including: Old Fort Point Formation, not specified as a separate unit. Gussow proposed for the three-fold lithological Jasper National Park (e.g. Deschesne, 1989; (1957) was the first to assign names to unit that is unique to the stratigraphic 1990a) and Selwyn Range (McDonough, OFP lithologies (Taylor Lake and Mount succession in the Neoproterozoic WSG 1989; Deschesne, 1990b); Kaza Group Temple members), but these were not of the southern Canadian Cordillera. The “Marker”, Cariboo Mountains (Murphy, properly defined and were published in OFP possesses distinctive lithological 1987; Ross and Thomson, 1990); Baird Brook a conference fieldtrip guidebook. The characteristics, is sufficiently thick to be Division, Dogtooth Range (Kubli, 1990; Kubli name “Old Fort Point Formation” was mapped on a regional scale, and represents and Simony, 1992, 1994); Comedy Creek the first informal (Charlesworth and an identifiable stratigraphic horizon within unit, Selkirk Mountains (Grasby and Brown, Remington, 1960; Evans, 1961; Weiner, Windermere strata (e.g. Price et al., 1980a, 1993); and upper and lower Markers, Purcell 1966) and then formal (Charlesworth et 1980b; McDonough and Murphy, 1994; Mountains (Warren, 1996, 1997). al., 1967) designation for this recognizable Kubli, 1990; Ross and Ferguson, 2003a, geological unit. Unfortunately, the type 2003b, 2003c). The combination of these At the same time, G.M. Ross from the section specified by Charlesworth et al. features warrants its formal definition as Geological Survey of Canada examined (1967) is not representative of the full a formation in the WSG. The type section the Windermere succession from a OFP succession (see below). Only strata for the OFP is a prominent landmark (Fig. sedimentological perspective in the Cariboo of the upper member are present, and 3B) located <1 km southeast of Jasper, Mountains. Here he recognized not only the more regionally extensive lower two the occurence of the lithological triad, but members and their recognizable stratal (... Continued on page 18)

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 17 (... Continued from page 17) of Lake Louise, Alberta. The outcrop is accessed from Moraine Lake Road where 5 km from its junction with the road to Lake Louise is the head of a little-used trail that leads to Temple Lake approximately 1.5 km to the west. Geikie Siding Member The Geikie Siding Member (GSM) is introduced to describe the light to dark grey, fine-grained mudstone (shale and pelite) unit with rare beds of dark-grey limestone and fine-grained sandstone of the middle OFP. The name of the member comes from the railway marker Geikie Siding, located along Highway 16, approximately 15 km west Jasper, located near the roadcut where the unit stratotype crops out (Table 1; Fig. 3C). The type section for the GSM is specified as: UTM, NAD27: 412974E 5858644N; located along Highway 16, between Clairvaux and Meadow creeks, approximately 15 km west from the townsite of Jasper, Alberta. The roadcut is on the south side of the highway, Table 1. Section locations of the Old Fort Point Formation and its three constituent members. which also is the proposed new principal Alberta where strata of the OFP crop WMM, that are fully representive of those reference section for the OFP. out (Charlesworth and Remington, 1960; in other parts of the basin (see below). To Whitehorn Mountain Member Charlesworth et al., 1967). illustrate this lithological variability, which is most pronounced in the WMM, a number The Whitehorn Mountain Member (WMM) The new principal reference section of of supplementary reference sections is introduced to describe lithologically the OFP, however, is proposed to be the representing deposition in different parts of diverse strata in the upper part of the Geikie Siding roadcut outcrop located along the Windermere basin are also designated OFP. It is composed of diamictite, breccia Highway 16, approximately 15 km west of (Table 1). Simplified descriptions and a to conglomerate, sandstone, quartzarenite, Jasper, Alberta (UTM NAD27: 412974E composite OFP stratigraphic section are calcareous arenite, arenaceous limestone, 5858644N) (Table 1; Fig. 3C). The selection presented in Figure 4 with more detailed limestone and mudstone to siltstone. of this site as the principal reference sedimentologic and stratigraphic description The name of the member comes from section is based on a number of factors: it and interpretation in Smith et al. (this issue). Whitehorn Mountain in the Lake Louise Ski is well exposed, easily accessible and close Similar to the OFP, type sections of the Resort. Approximately 0.5 km downslope to the previously defined type section three constituent members were selected from the peak on the “Upper Boomerang” (Charlesworth and Remington, 1960; based on the criteria of good exposure, Ski Run (#64), the type section is located Charlesworth et al., 1967); a Re-Os isochron representative lithological sections and ease and specified as: UTM, NAD27: 559666E age (607.8 ± 4.7 Ma) is from this locality of access. Also, their assigned names, for the 5702403N (Table 1; Fig. 3E). The narrow, (Kendall et al., 2004); and representative most part, do not duplicate pre-existing cliff-face outcrop can be accessed in two strata of all three members crop out. names in the literature. ways from the base of the Lake Louise Ski Despite its suitability as a principal Resort. The first is by taking the gondola Temple Lake Member reference section, there are two important part way up the front face (south slope) shortcomings. Firstly, the roadcut is in the The Temple Lake Member (TLM) is to the Whitehorn Day Lodge followed core of the Meadow Creek Anticlinorium introduced to describe the variably coloured by a strenuous 4 km hike to the top of and neither the base nor top contacts of the (purple, green, red-brown, grey) fine-grained, Whitehorn Mountain. OFP are exposed. The base of the OFP, herein siltstone to mudstone, rare sandstone and The second is an approximately 4 km taken to be the base of the TLM (see next), rhythmic limestone-siltstone couplets of hike along the Temple Fire Road to the is exposed nearby in the same structure and the lower OFP. The name of the member Temple Day Lodge and then an additional was described previously by Charlesworth et comes from an exceptional exposure near approximately 3.5 km through the back al. (1961, 1967) and Weiner (1966). The top Temple Lake on the northeastern slope bowl area. To demonstrate the lithological of the OFP, which is taken to occur at the of Mount Temple, Lake Louise area where heterogeneity in the WMM, a composite top of the WMM (see below), is not exposed the unit stratotype is designated (Table stratotype consisting of a type section and at Geike Siding, but is commonly observed 1; Fig. 3D). The type section for the TLM a suite of supplementary reference sections elsewhere, for example Lake Louise, Mt. is specified as: UTM, NAD27: 557379E is proposed. Supplementary references Robson, and the Cariboo Mountains. 5690015N; approximately 0.5 km east of sections for the WMM include: McKale Temple Lake, on the northeastern slope of The second issue is that the outcrop River area, approximately 20 km north of Mount Temple, 6 km south from the village does not contain facies, especially in the the town of McBride, British Columbia;

18 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 Eagle Valley, approximately 24 km southwest of McBride, British Columbia; and Frances Creek area, approximately 30 km west of Brisco, British Columbia. Specific UTM locations are presented in Table 1. Boundaries and Description of Lithologic Units Temple Lake Member The base of the TLM is marked by a dramatic change from generally grey-coloured mudstones and tan-coloured sandstones of the WSG to distinctively purple, green, red-brown strata of the TLM. In most places the change is sharp but can be gradational over an interval up to about 0.5 m thick. The TLM is fairly consistent in thickness (usually 50 to 125 m) and consists primarily of fine-grained siltstone to mudstone with isolated, carbonate-cemented sandstone beds that then grade upward into rhythmic limestone-siltstone couplets (see Smith et al., this issue, their fig. 4). Sedimentary structures include: planar lamination, lenticular starved-ripple lamination, ripple cross-lamination, minor scours and normally graded beds. Bed thickness typically ranges from <1 cm to 10 cm, and depending on grain size, are interpreted as either T0 to T7 (Stow and Shanmugam, 1980) or Tcde, Tbd or Tbcd (Bouma, 1962) turbidites. Subordinate lithofacies in the TLM include uncommon limestone-clast breccia horizons interpreted as slump, slide or debris flow deposits (e.g. Lake Louise area) and at one locality (Frances Creek, Fig. 1: E), fine- to medium-grained thick-bedded massive sandstone interpreted to be Ta turbidites (Smith et al., this issue). Sedimentologic and stratigraphic features of this member are fairly consistent despite its widespread basin-slope to basin-floor deposition. The primary regional difference is a change in Figure 4. Generalized stratigraphic section of the OFP and its three constituent members with their principal lithofacies colour along a slope to basin-floor transect, and stratal characteristics. Gamma-ray profile measured in counts per second (cps). including: purple to green, green to red- by an upward fining, a dramatic decrease ripple cross-stratified (Tc) sandstone are brown, and green to grey. Other minor in the frequency of limestone interbeds observed (see Smith et al., this issue, their differences include thinner, less frequent and measureable changes in geochemical fig. 5). Regionally, the GSM is lithologically limestone beds in the strata of the Cariboo characteristics, including an increase in total uniform across the Windermere basin, Mountains (Fig. 1: H) and thicker, more organic carbon and molybdenum content and is usually considered the fine-grained frequent sandstone beds at some localities (Ross et al., 1995; Smith, 2009; Smith et al., mudstone-pelite cap in the lithologic triad (e.g. Purcell Mountains, Fig. 1: E). this issue). of the OFP (Ross and Murphy, 1988; Kendall et al., 2004). Although the fine-grained and Geikie Siding Member Where discernible, strata of the GSM are fissile character of this unit typically results interstratified with alternating siltstone and The GSM is a light to dark grey coloured, in poor or covered exposures, notable mudstone layers that are subtly normally organic-rich mudstone-pelite that usually is exceptions are the type section roadcut graded implying traction and suspension 2 to 15 m thick. The GSM gradationally, over near Jasper, Alberta and fresh periglacial deposition from dilute sediment-gravity an interval about 0.5–2 m thick, overlies exposures in the Cariboo Mountains, flows (T6 to T8 or Tde). Rare isolated, the distinctively rhythmically interstratified British Columbia. limestone-siltstone couplets at the top thin-bedded, dark-grey, massive or parallel planar laminated limestone and very fine of the TLM. The contact is also marked (... Continued on page 20)

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 19 (... Continued from page 19) of diamictite, breccia to conglomerate or WMM as a member of the OFP. In addition, Whitehorn Mountain Member sandstone (Figs. 3E, 4). the common limestones and mineralogical composition of sandstones in the WMM are Sandstone shows a variety of textures (fine The base of the WMM is sharp and locally more similar to local strata of the TLM and to very coarse-grained, poor- to well-sorted) deeply scoured (see Smith et al., this issue). GSM as opposed to the locally enveloping and maturity (immature to supermature). In In sections where the GSM and TLM are “grits” of the WSG (Smith et al., this issue). eroded completely, or where the WMM is the upper part of the WMM well-sorted, thin (<0.5 m) and fine-grained and underlain mature quartzarenites interbedded with Geological Age and overlain directly by mudstones of the dark, organic-rich limestone beds crop out Unlike most strata from the ca. 750 to 569 GSM and WSG, respectively, the bounding (Fig. 4). These two end-member lithologies Ma WSG, the minimum timing of deposition surfaces of the WMM are difficult to commonly exhibit a range of compositions for the OFP is constrained by a precise Re- recognize in outcrop and require the use (e.g. calcareous arenites or arenaceous Os isochron age of 607.8 ± 4.7 Ma (MSWD of other techniques (e.g. gamma ray or limestones). Soft-sediment deformation = 1.2) from organic-rich mudstone from geochemistry) to identify their location features are common in both fine- and the GSM type section along Highway 16, (Smith, 2009, Smith et al., 2011, this issue). coarse-grained facies, including load approximately 15 km from Jasper, Alberta structures, convolute or contorted bedding (Kendall et al., 2004; Fig. 3C). From the same Lithologically, the WMM is the most complex and ductile folding. samples a similar but less less precise date of the members of the OFP (Fig. 4; see also of 634 ± 57 Ma (MSWD = 65) was also Smith et al., this issue, their fig. 6). Unlike Dimensions and Regional obtained (Kendall et al., 2004). This latter the TLM and GSM, it consists of a diverse Correlations date was obtained from samples prepared assemblage of lithofacies, which commonly The OFP is a recognizable, widespread using the conventional inverse aqua regia are location-specific. Moreover, sections unit that is locally exposed over an area of digestion preparation method compared interpreted to have been deposited in the approximately 35 000 km2 in the southern with a CrO3-H2SO4 dissolution technique proximal part of the basin (see below) tend Canadian Cordillera (Fig. 1). Thickness for the younger age. to be variable in their thickness (<0.5 to ranges from approximately 50 to 450 m, 165 m) even over relatively short distances, with most sections between 60 and 125 m. Notwithstanding, both ages are consistent which is a consequence of (erosional) relief Moreover, thickness of both the TLM (50 within the poorly constrained WSG where along the basal contact (Smith et al., this to 125 m) and GSM (2 to 15 m) are fairly only maximum and minimum limits on issue, their fig. 7B, 8). In contrast, more consistent across the Windermere basin, deposition have been obtained. A local distal deposits of the WMM are more except for the anomalously thick section maximum depositional age of 736 +23/- sheetlike with little change in thickness at Frances Creek (see discussion in Smith 17 Ma (U-Pb zircon) was obtained from laterally (Smith et al., this issue, their et al., this issue). In contrast, the WMM orthogneisses of the Malton Gneiss Complex figure 10). Nevertheless, notwithstanding thickness is highly variable and ranges from (McDonough et al., 1991) and corresponds paleogeographic location, lithofacies of the <0.5 to 165 m and relates directly to depth well with the range of approximately 740 WMM are diverse and include, diamictite, of incision along its basal contact, which Ma to 728 Ma from other basement rocks breccia to conglomerate, mudstone in turn is controlled by paleogeographic beneath the unconformity at the base of to siltstone, sandstone, quartzarenite, position (see below). the WSG (Ross et al., 1995; Colpron et al., calcareous arenite, arenaceous limestone 2002). Rift-related mafic metavolcanic rocks Although early correlations of the OFP and limestone. Diamictite and breccia to in northeastern Washington, interpreted were based primarily on its distinctive conglomerate most commonly occur in the to be Toby Formation correlatives were purple and green colours (Gussow, 1957; lower part of the WMM and are interpreted imprecisely dated at 762 ± 44 Ma from a Charlesworth et al., 1967; Aitken, 1969), to be debris flow deposits consisting of Sm-Nd isochron (Devlin et al., 1988). the recognition of the lithological triad erosionally based, massive beds with a matrix of the siltstones, limestone-siltstone More recent work on similar rift-related of mudstone to siltstone or well-sorted, rhythmites (TLM) and mudstone-pelite volcanic rocks in northern British Columbia, coarse-grained quartz sandstone (Fig. 4). (GSM) and their consistent stratigraphic Idaho and Utah has produced more precise Bed thickness (<0.5 to >10 m) and clast- position sandwiched between two thick U-Pb zircon ages that range from ca. 709 size (cm to m) are variable with clasts coarse-grained WSG units, facilitated its to 667 Ma (Ferri et al., 1999; Lund et al., composed of material eroded locally from widespread correlation throughout parts 2003; Fanning and Link, 2004; Balgord et al., older OFP strata, or carbonates eroded of Alberta and British Columbia (e.g. Pell 2013), but they are much younger than local from a shallow-marine platform and and Simony, 1987; Ross and Murphy, 1988; WSG estimates and differ from each other remobilized into deep-water (Smith et al., McDonough, 1989; Kubli, 1990; Ross et al., by about 40 my. The minimum timing of this issue). Mudstone–siltstone consists 1995; Ross and Ferguson, 2003a). However deposition is constrained by a U-Pb zircon of medium-laminated turbidites (T0 to as noted earlier, this lithological triad does age of 569.6 ± 5.3 Ma from synrift felsic T8 or Tcde) with structures that include not include strata that crop out at the type volcanic rocks of the Hamill Group that parallel-planar lamination, micro-scours, section of the OFP as defined originally by unconformably overlie the WSG (Colpron subtle normal grading, single chlorite Charlesworth et al. (1967). et al., 2002). flakes and rare scours. These strata, like These strata, like similar lithologies at many fine-grained strata in the TLM, commonly Depositional Model other localities in the southern Canadian exhibit a variety of colours (purple, green, In the southern Canadian Cordillera, Cordillera, are considered here to be part grey), are up to approximately 100 m thick sedimentary rocks of the WSG, including the of the WMM, specifically its lower part, and and comprise a monotonous fine-grained OFP, were deposited in deep water along the accordingly justifies the inclusion of the succession interrupted rarely by interbeds continental margin of Laurentia, or ancestral

20 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 North America (see Ross and Arnott, 2007 OFP and its three constituent members can and Related Turbidite Systems. A.H. for general discussion). Fine-grained, mostly be found in Smith et al. (this issue). Bouma, W.R. Normark and N.E. Barnes turbiditic strata of the lower (TLM) and (eds.). New York, Springer-Verlag, Conclusions middle (GSM) members are regionally p. 13–14. uniform in thickness and lithofacies, have Stratigraphic nomenclature for deep- • ______and ______1985b. gradational contacts and imply synchronous marine sedimentary rocks of the WSG Diagnostic parameters for comparing deposition across much of the deep-marine in the southern Canadian Cordillera is modern submarine fans and ancient part of the Windermere basin (see Smith et complex. The OFP is a lithologically unique turbidite systems. In: Submarine Fans al., this issue, their fig. 9). The TLM followed unit that forms an important stratigraphic and Related Turbidite Systems. A.H. by the GSM is interpreted to be related to marker horizon in the WSG, and is Bouma, W.R. Normark and N.E. Barnes a major eustatic rise that caused an overall mappable and correlatable on a regional (eds.). New York, Springer-Verlag, wall shutdown of coarse, immature siliciclastic scale in the southern Canadian Cordillera. map [modified]. sediment supply to the basin (Ross and The formalization of the stratigraphic Murphy, 1988; Smith et al., this issue). nomenclature of the OFP and its three • Bouma, A.H. 1962. Sedimentology constituent members provides a simple of some flysch deposits; A graphic The eustatic rise and related transgression and consistent stratigraphic framework for approach to facies interpretation. are attributed to continental deglaciation, part of the WSG in the southern Canadian Amsterdam, Elsevier, 168 p. in addition to an increase in nutrient supply Cordillera. Proper formalization of the that led to increased organic productivity name Old Fort Point Formation provides • Campbell, R.B., Mountjoy, E.W. and possible seawater stratification that a vital stratigraphic aid in unraveling and Young, F.G. 1973. Geology of facilitated the development of episodic the stratigraphic complexities of the McBride map-area, British Columbia. bottom-water anoxia (Ross and Murphy, Neoproterozoic in western North America GeologicalSurvey of Canada Paper 72- 1988; Smith et al., this issue). The upper 35, 104 p. member (WMM), on the other hand, is References • Carey, J.A. 1984. Geology of late much more lithologically diverse and • Aitken, J.D. 1969. Documentation Proterozoic Miette Group, southern variable in thickness, even locally. This of the sub-Cambrian unconformity, Main Ranges, Cushing Creek area, B.C. variability is interpreted to be controlled Rocky Mountains main ranges, Alberta. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, University of by paleogeographical location. Successions Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 6, Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, 119 p. that show dramatic changes in thickness and p. 193–200. lithological diversity are interpreted to have • ______and Simony, P.S. 1985. been deposited on the continental slope. • Allan, J.A., Warren, P.S. and Rutherford, Stratigraphy, sedimentology and R.L. 1932. A preliminary study of the structure of late Proterozoic Miette Here, the deeply incised basal contacts, and eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains Group, Cushing Creek area, B.C. hence thick stratal successions of the WMM, in Jasper Park, Alberta. Transactions of Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum represent the base and fill of locally deeply- the Royal Society of Canada, v. 26, p. Geology, v. 33, p. 184–203. incised (slope) submarine canyons (see 225–249. Smith et al., this issue, their fig 9). Sediment • Charlesworth, H.A.K. and Remington, that accumulated in the canyons represents • Arnott, R.W.C. 1984. Proximal channel D.B. 1960. Precambrian rocks in the a mixture of locally derived detritus (e.g. deposits of the Precambrian Hadrynian vicinity of Jasper, Alberta. Edmonton canyon-wall collapse) and that transported Hector Formation, Lake Louis, Alberta. Geological Society, v. Second Annual from the shelf sediment-staging area. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, University of Field Trip Guide Book, p. 11–18. Further basinward, which in the southern Alberta, 149 p. • ______, Evans, C.R. and Stauffer Canadian Cordillera is generally toward the • ______and Hein, F. J. 1986. west-northwest (Ross and Arnott, 2007) M.R. 1961. Precambrian geology in Submarine canyon fills of the Hector the Jasper-Geikie area. Edmonton , the more sheetlike geometry of WMM Formation, Lake Louise, Alberta: late strata represents deposition in basin-floor Geological Society, v. Third Annual Field Precambrian syn-rift deposits of the Trip Guide Book, p. 3–13. lobes (e.g. Terlaky, 2014). Additionally, the proto-Pacific Miogeocline. Bulletin of more uniform lithological composition of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 34, p. • ______, Weiner, J.L., Akehurst, A.J., these strata is a consequence of the limited 395–407. Bielenstein, H.U., Evans, C.R., Griffiths, mobility of slope-derived debris flows and R.E., Remington, D.B., Stauffer, M.R. and slumps, in addition to upflow sediment • Balgord, E.A., Yonkee, W.A., Link, P.K. Steiner, J. 1967. Precambrian Geology sorting within more mobile, basinward- and Fanning, C.M. 2013. Stratigraphic, of the Jasper Region, Alberta, v. 23, 74 p flowing sediment-gravity flows (i.e. turbidity geochronologic, and geochemicalrecord currents). Incision of the WMM submarine of the Cryogenian Perry Canyon • . canyons, which further basinward fed the Formation, northern Utah: Implications For a Full List of References please basin-floor lobe systems, is interpreted to for Rodinia rifting and snowball Earth visit ww.CSPG.org/cspg/Reservoir have coincided with an abrupt fall of relative glaciation. Geological Society of sea-level caused, at least in part, by uplift America Bulletin, v. 125, p. 1442–1467. that temporarily interrupted the eustatic • Barnes, N.E. and Normark, W.R. 1985a. rise related to the melting of continental Diagnostic parameters for comparing ice sheets (Smith et al., this issue). A more modern submarine fans and ancient complete description of the lithological turbidite systems. In: Submarine Fans make up and geological evolution of the

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 21 “This pioneer and explorer in geology, engineering and natural gas technology bequeathed a fundamental knowledge, years ahead of his time and was considered by many a virtual Leonardo da Vinci of the Petroleum Industry. Slipper, our First President, deserved the honour (unbeknownst to him) of our highest award in the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists” (Aubrey Kerr).

The Stanley Slipper Medal is the CSPG’s highest honour.

The gold medal is presented annually for outstanding contributions to oil and gas exploration in Canada. The contributions of the winner of this award should encompass a number of activities related to aspects of petroleum exploration. Such activities include: initiating and/or leading exploration programs, significant discoveries on new or existing exploration trends, teaching and/or training of explorationists, and involvement in and leadership within geological societies and professional organizations.

The committee is currently calling on the CSPG membership to provide additional nominations for this prestigious award. The award winner must be a 2014 Stanley Slipper Recipient CSPG member and should be able to attend the awards presentation to be held in Wanye Foo the spring of 2016.

Please include an updated bibliography and letters in support of your nominee.

Nominations should be mailed, faxed or emailed before October 15 to:

CSPG Stanley Slipper Committee – Clint Tippett 110, 333 – 5 Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 3B6 Email: [email protected] Phone: 403-264-5610 Fax: 403-264-5898 Stanley Slipper Medal

22 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 23 GO TAKE A HIKE Second White Specks Formation, Highwood River, S.W. Alberta | By Nick Zajacand Per Kent Pedersen 100m Trailhead: (50°33.174’N 114°21.244’W). Drive south from Calgary 100m on Hwy22 towards Longview and then west along Hwy 541/40. Proceed 11.5 km from junction and park on south side of road. There is P a second parking spot about 250 metres further west. The two possible P trail routes are mark in blue and yellow. Distance: Thetrails lead through overgrowth to the banks of the P Highwood River. Take care descending to the outcrops. P Below: Panoramic view from SW to NE of the Second White Specks Formation (2WS), taken across the river from the outcrop. Strata dips toward the Southwest. The Cenomanian Belle Fourche is the oldest formation exposed and is overlain by the Turonian aged Vimymember, the basal part of the Second White Specks Formation (2WS) and the Jumping Pound sandstone (the upper 2WS). The final unit exposed is the upper Turonian aged CarlileFormation.

P Wapta Mountain 2 km P Wapta Mountain 2 km

Within the southwestern Alberta foothills, most notably along Highwood river downstream to the east leads to a 10 m thick outcrop of black, River, outcrop exposures display immaculate examples of Lower to fissile, calcareous organic rich mudstone. The base of the black mudstone Upper Cretaceous strata, correlative with producing reservoir intervals marks the base of the 2WS, overlying the interbedded mudstone and very within the subsurface of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). fine grained sandstone deposits of the Belle Fourche Formation. Bivalve The foothills region is comprised of a series of imbricated/stacked thrust casts are found with abundance in this unit in addition tosmall and large sheets (Newson et al., 2001) that contain supreme examples of the Upper ammonite casts that are more rarely found. This shale interval is highly Cretaceous Second White Specks Formation (such as this location) fissile and organic rich, forming a resistive bench with respect tothe and encompass strata from the Bow Island Formation to the Cardium surrounding strata. The general lack of traction current bedformsindicates Formation with only minor internal deformation. The Second White deposition below storm wave base in a low-relief shelf setting, during the Specks Formation (2WS) is notable for its deposition at a time when the peak of the Greenhorn transgression (Schroder-Adams et al., 1996). Western Interior Seaway reached its maximum extent but it then infilled The organic rich mudstone becomes gradually interbedded with thin, very with sediment so that by the time the CarlileFormation was deposited fine grained sandstone beds, with the succession formingseveral sanding- the seaway was only a few hundred kilometres wide (Nielson et al, 2008). upwards parasequences. The sandstone beds contain discontinuous The 2WS is an important source rock for the WCSB, having sourced lenticular current ripples (>1 cm thick) and graded beds with the the majority of the oil in the overlying prolific Cardium sandstones tops often wave rippled, reflecting deposition above storm wave base. (Creaneyet al. 1994), and it is considered a prospective unconventional Bentonite beds are persistent throughout, and often act as detachment shale oil resource play across western Alberta. The outcrop at this planes for internal structural deformation. The upper sandy portion forms location provides a rare window into the depositional processes, the Jumping Pound sandstone, a unit only present within the westernmost sedimentologicalvariability and potential reservoir characteristics of a part of the WCSB. Sandstone dominated strata of the Jumping Pound mudstone dominated succession that may not be evident in core and sandstone are characterized by relative continuous sandstone beds with inwell logs. well exposed combined-flow structures and uni-directional current From the parking area in the ditch along Hwy 40, a fishing gate provides ripples. access through the barbed wire fence. A faint trail through the pasture The outcrop offers a great example of vertical variability within a fields approximately extends ~250m towards the west, eventually leading mudstone dominated succession expressed by changes in composition and onto a trail through the trees towards the Highwood River Canyon. bedformsthat relate to depositional processes and environments. From a At the edge of the river canyon, a steep trail provides access onto the reservoir standpoint, such observed lithological heterogeneityacts as a bedding plane, demarcating the top of the Jumping Pound Sandstone of strong control on storage, flow parameters and fracture characteristics the uppermost 2WS, backing onto the Highwood River. Following the that are key to unlocking a potential resource play within the 2WS.

24 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 Above: Note the well-developed, relatively tall fracture sets within this organic rich, calcareous facies.

Above: Example of the gradational transition between the organic rich mudstone of the VimyMember to the interbedded mudstone, siltyand very fine grained sandstone beds of the middle part of the 2WS. The organic rich mudstone forms a resistive bench, due to the increased amount of calcareous cement within this mudstone facies.

Above: Various sizes of bivalve casts can be found preserved within this organic rich mudstone facies.

Predominantly discontinuous sand beds (Bottom Left) with starved current ripples (Bottom Right) interbedded in mudstone that is commonly found within middle parts of the 2WS.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 25 Kcrl Kcrl

Kjp (2ws)

Above: PartiallyKjp (2ws) deformed light grey bentonite ash bed. Volcanic ash layers occur Above: Bedding plane view of uniand bi-directional ripples within the upper part of the frequently throughout the 2WS section. Jumping Pound sandstone,deposited in a shallow water, marine shelf setting.

Kcrl Kcrl

Kjp (2ws) Kjp (2ws)

Above: Interbedded sand and mud displaying sandstone beds with combined flow structures, convoluted beds and lenticular uni-directional current ripples within the Jumping Pound sandstone.

Left: The top of the Jumping Pound sandstone is found at the base of the trail heading down from the top of the river valley. This unit forms an extensive ridge adjacent to the Highwood River and displays well developed conjugate fracture sets, highlighting the regional stress regime.

REFERENCES Creaney, S., Allan, J., Cole, K.S., Fowler, M.G., Brooks, P.W., Osadetz, K.G., Macqueen, R.W., Snowdon, L.R., and Riediger, C.L. 1994. Petroleum generation and migration in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (p. 455-468), in G.D. Mossopand I. Shetsen, comps., Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and Alberta Research Council, Calgary, 510p. Newson, A. C. 2001. The future of natural gas exploration in the foothills of the western Canadian Rocky Mountains. The Leading Edge, v. 20 no. 1, p. 74-79. Nielson, K S; Schröder-Adams, C J; Leckie, D A; Haggart, J W; Elberdak, K. 2008. Turonian to Santonian paleoenvironmentalchanges in the Cretaceous Western Interior Sea: The Carlileand Niobrara formations in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecologyvol. 270, 2008; p. 64-91. Schroder-Adams, C.J., Leckie, D.A., Bloch, J., Craig, J., McIntyre, D.J., and Adams, P.J. 1996. Paleoenvironmentalchanges in the Cretaceous (Albianto Turonian) Colorado Group of western Canada: microfossil, sedimentologicaland geochemical evidence. Cretaceous Research, v. 17, p. 861-882.

26 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 CONTINUING EDUCATION Upcoming CSPG Short Course

SAGD‐Reservoir Engineering for Geo‐ START LENGTH INSTRUCTORS PDH DATE Credits scien�sts & Non Reservoir Engineers 28‐Oct‐15 2 days Dr. Hussain Sheikha 16 Hours

Course Descrip�on

This course is designed to provide basic understanding of thermal recovery of bitumen. The unique physical proper�es of bitumen. Basic understanding of thermal recovery methods like Cyclic Steam S�mula�on (CSS), Steam Flood, and Toe‐to‐Heel Air Injec�on (THAI). It covers the prac�cal aspects of commercial development of SAGD pads, pads layout, drilling, comple�on, and produc�on. All phases of SAGD produc�on like start up and wind‐down are covered in this course. SAGD’s wellpair produc�on rate using Butler’s equa�on and steam requirement to produce bitumen. Reservoir simula�on of SAGD process and the key components of geological and simula�on models. How simula�on model results guide pad development. Special a�en�on is paid to SAGD enhancement processes, new technologies, steam proper�es, steam trap, different well comple�on congura�on and smart wells, sand control, SAGD side‐track, reservoir surveillance and management, and surface components of pads and central process facility. SAGD geo‐mechanics, role, effects, …. deni�on of cap rock and how it is tested are also examined in this course. What are the key performance indictors of SAGD. The success and challenge of SAGD will be demonstrated by two SAGD eld cases.

Who Should A�end

This course is designed to provide basic understanding of subsurface bitumen recovery methods and also the fundamental concepts of thermal recovery. This course is indented for professional with no formal petroleum training. This course is ideal for G&G personal, Engineers in Training, Facility Engineers, coop students, non‐reservoir engineering disciplines, non‐technical personnel and those who new to oil and gas industry, or business units who may want a basic understanding of the SAGD process. Note: A�endees will receive a comprehensive manual

Instructor Informa�on

Dr. Hussain Sheikha is currently a Senior Reservoir Engineer with Denbury Resources, reservoir management of EOR CO2 oods. Prior to joining Denbury he worked with Suncor Energy from 2010‐2015, Firebag and MacKay River Asset Teams as a development and op�miza�on Engineer. His work has been very diversied covering conven�onal and heavy oil reservoirs proper�es, primary, secondary and ter�ary opera�ons, and reservoir development of brown and green projects. He worked for Penn West Explora�on with EOR team from 2007 to 2010 in development of hydrocarbon miscible ood, waterood, polymer and CO2 injec�on. He was a faculty member of Petroleum Engineering Department at the Bright Star University of Technology from 1994 to 2000 where he taught different petroleum engineering courses. He also taught several industry training courses in thermal and enhanced oil recovery. He graduated with a Ph.D. in petroleum engineering from the University of Calgary. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Alberta, a member of Canadian Heavy Oil Associa�on, SPE, and associate member of Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists.

RegisterRegister online online today at www.cspg.orgat www.cspg.org

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 27 Rock Shop

CONTINUING EDUCATION Upcoming CSPG Short Course

Prac�cal Risk, Resource and START LENGTH INSTRUCTORS PDH DATE Dave Russum & Credits Reserves for Geoscien�sts 18‐Nov‐15 1 day Andrew Bo�erill 8 Hours

Course Descrip�on

Resources and reserves are largely misunderstood by all but a small por�on of the engineering community and yet they are a vital scorecard for oil and gas companies. Understanding the principles, the �ming of reports, as well as ensuring the best informa�on is provided are cri�cal to appropriate evalua�ons. All disciplines need to be involved in this process. This short course is designed to provide geoscien�sts with the informa�on they need to provide effec�ve input to these evalua�ons. This 1 day course will cover the regulatory requirements of evalua�ons, resource and reserve categoriza�on, risk, produc�on forecas�ng and the impact of pricing. Prac�cal examples from conven�onal and unconven�onal reservoirs in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin will be used as learning tools.

Instructor Informa�on

Dave Russum has spent his career nding and developing oil and gas for E&P companies (Amoco and Crestar Energy) and providing independent evalua�ons and advice (Geo‐Help Inc., AJM Petroleum Consultants and Deloi�e). His background provides a very broad view of the industry and the expansion of unconven�onal ac�vity. He is a former Technical Director of the CSPG and a member of the CSPG, AAPG and APEGA. He is currently Director of Geoscience for Deloi�e Resource Evalua�on and Advisory where he and his team provide geoscience services in North America and on a global basis. Andrew Bo�erill is a graduate of the University of Calgary with nearly 15 years of experience in reservoir engineering with AJM Petroleum Consultants and Deloi�e. He is a former partner in AJM Petroleum Consultants and is currently a Senior Manager in Deloi�e’s Resource Evalua�on and Advisory prac�ce. He has evaluated oil and gas assets for more than 160 interna�onal and domes�c clients. He is an expert in probabilis�c resource evalua�on and provides advisory services for many clients par�cularly in the area of mergers and acquisi�ons. Andrew also leads the team that prepares Deloi�e’s quarterly oil and gas price forecasts. Register online today at www.cspg.org

28 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 TECHNICAL LUNCHEONS FEBRUARY LUNCHEON Webcasts sponsored by

Abstract Geomechanical Fracture and fault observations at different scales reveal dramatic changes in density Controls on Fault and orientation over small relative distances. This variation has previously been explained and Fracture by variable rock properties or variation in the applied stress. The poroelastic strain Distribution with relationship describes the coupling of the elastic properties with the way stresses are Application to distributed and when this is combined with an understanding of the material strength Structural we can also better predict failure which manifests itself as the creation of structural Permeability and elements (faults and fractures). Hydraulic When considering permeability of fractures Stimulation or placement of hydraulic fractures to BIOGRAPHY stimulate production, we are effectively Scott is a geoscientist with 15 years of consulting evaluating failure of the medium. This experience in petroleum geomechanics and SPEAKER presentation looks at the relationship image log services. On completion of his PhD he Scott Mildren between elastic properties, rock strength spent time with Z&S (Asia) Ltd performing stress, Ikon GeoMechanics and stress distribution with the aid of real structural and sedimentological interpretation of world examples, and demonstrates the image log data. Subsequently, he was among 11: 30 am parameters that we need to consider to the academic staff at the Australian School of Thursday, February 5, 2015 better understand geomechanical failure. This Petroleum researching various geomechanical TELUS Convention Centre approach is then considered in the context of issues such as fault and cap rock seal integrity, Exhibition Hall D, North Building various petroleum related applications that fractured reservoirs, wellbore stability and trap Calgary, Alberta include: risk before founding his own geomechanics and image log service company, JRS Petroleum Please note: The cut-off date for ticket sales • predicting permeable fractures; Research. JRS was merged with Ikon Science in is 1:00 pm, three business days before event. 2012 and Scott is now a Senior Vice President (Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2015). CSPG Member Ticket • discriminating natural fractures from of Ikon Geomechanics at Ikon Science based in Price: $45.00 + GST. Non-Member Ticket Price: drilling induced fractures; London. $47.50 + GST. • hydraulic fracture placement and Each CSPG Technical Luncheon is 1 APEGA containment, and; PDH credit. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.cspg.org/eSeries/source/Events/ • explaining variable fracture gradients. index.cfm. Rock Shop ROCK SHOP

Wellsite Geologists Inc. the maps . technical illustrationsRock Solid Choice presentations Wellsite posters Supervision graphics .Project Management. Graphic Well Profiles Verticals / Horizontals EUB Sample / Core Studies • Domestic and International wellsite supervision elizabeth Conventionalmacey, B.A.,/ Un-conventional cartographer • Conventional and Unconventional wells 403.993.00551350, 734 - 7th Ave SW • Extensive Hz experience [email protected], AB T2P 3P8 • Customized corporate solutions available B 403.234.7625, www.WellsiteGeologists.com www3.telus.net/elizabethmaceyC 403.660.9883, [email protected] (403) 250-3982 [email protected] www.clconsultants.ca

RESERVOIR ISSUE 02 • FEBRUARY 2015 9

1602 – 5th St N.E. Domestic and International Shale Gas/Oil Shales T.I.H. Consulting Ltd. Calgary, AB. T2E 7W3 Conventional Vertical and Horizontal Wells Coal Bed Methane Oil Sands - SAGD/Coring Programs Project Supervision Geologic Well-Site Phone: 403-233-7729 Supervision www.tihconsulting.com

Email: [email protected] Tel: (403) 262-9229 Fax: (403) 265-0377 e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.progeoconsultants.com HONORARY MEMBER Kathryn (Kathy) Scales

Olympics, she was an information host at Athlete’s Village and an escort runner for the Torch Relay. Ms. Scales also has volunteered her time with the Calgary Science Fair as a CORPORATE judge (1986 – 1987), Junior Achievement SUPPORTERS (1998), community soccer (2002 – 2004) and RIGSAT Communications the Bearspaw Golf Club (2013 – 2014). Pason System Kathy started her career at Petro-Canada Big Guns Energy Services in 1978 and stayed there, advancing through Earth Signal Processing Ltd. the ranks. She started as a Geologist, and in Golder Associates 1992 was promoted to Project Coordinator Birchcliff Energy Ltd. of Asset Rationalization, where she was Canada Brokerlink Inc. responsible for the evaluation of oil and gas properties in Western Canada. Two years Little Rock Printing later, Ms. Scales started a six year term as a Nalcor Energy Senior Geologist, generating new prospects in Paramount Resources Alberta as well as overseeing the evaluation Pulse Seismic Inc of the Hibernia field. In 2000 Kathy moved in Compass Directional Services to a new phase of her career, focusing on the EV Cam Canada Inc. environment. She worked as an Environmental Lee Energy Systems Advisor for three years, providing technical Kathryn Scales earned an Honours B.Sc. in support for climate change and air emissions Roke Technologies Ltd. Geological Sciences in 1978 from Queen’s issues, working with internal clients and Explor University, and joined the CSPG the same year. regulatory authorities. Next, she became the Japan Canada Oil Sands Ltd. Kathy joined her first committee in 1980, the Team Lead of Environment, Regulatory Affairs RPS Energy Canada Ltd. Technical Luncheon Committee, and served and Stakeholder Relations, working on issues Sproule Associates Limited on it for six years. She was the Youth Science with oil sands projects. Ms. Scales became Waterline Resources Foundation Liaison from 1983 through 1990, Petro-Canada’s Climate Change Strategies and the Public Affairs Committee Chairman Serpa Petroleum Consulting Ltd. Advisor in 2005, ensuring that the company from 1986 to 1991. Kathy served as the Liaison Cabra Consulting Ltd. had appropriate strategies in place to respond to the Petroleum Communication Foundation McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. to pending Canadian and international for a decade starting in 1986, and during that National Oilwell Varco regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, time also served on the Core Conference Signature Seismic Processing Inc. managed the internal Climate Change Committee in 1988 and the Golf Tournament Committee, worked closely with industry Geovariances Committee in 1991. Ms. Scales’ three year associations and regulatory authorities to Hurry Hydrocarbons Executive term was centered on her 1999 influence the development of technical Navigator Resource Consulting Presidential year. There she led the creation strategies, key industrial climate change and NExT- A Schlumberger Company of a five year plan, which involved assessing greenhouse gas regulations and policies, as Valeura Energy the CSPG, its strengths and weaknesses, and well as air emissions issues. Following the Statoil Canada created a path to reach to the objectives the Suncor and Petro-Canada merger in 2009, Board set, including continuing to push the Mundiregina Resources Canada Kathy became the Energy & Climate Change CSPG to be a truly national organization. Mcleay Geological Consultants Ltd. Policy Advisor, ensuring that that Suncor Enviro-Tech Surveys Ltd In addition to volunteering with the CSPG, she was well-situated to deal with international Tucker Energy Services Canada has also been active in other organizations. greenhouse gas emission obligations and Gaffney, Cline & Associates Starting in 1993, Kathy spent seven years as working to improve energy literacy across Bounty Developments Ltd. a Member of AAPG’s House of Delegates, Canada. Kathy retired in 2012. including two years as Chairman (1995 – Franconia Geoscience Ms. Scales has had a distinguished 34 years 1996). She has spoken many times at her GeoChemTech Inc. career as a geologist and environmental alma mater, including as part of the Oil & Gas Prospect Drivers Inc. specialist. She has made a lasting mark on Speaker Series (2009 – 2010), Pollution Probe our industry, through years of working with Energy Literacy series “Energy Systems in Company Patron stakeholders and governments, bringing Canada” workshop (2011), as well as serving Journey Energy Inc. much needed perspective to one of the most on Queen’s Geology Council (2004 – 2013). Rife Resources Ltd. challenging public policy issues of our time – She has also facilitated the University of climate change. She is an engaging personality, Alberta Business Competition (2009). While a careful listener, a leader and a leader in AS OF JULY 31, 2015 at Petro-Canada, she was the President of the her field. The CSPG is pleased to welcome both the Squash Club (1981 – 1983) and the Kathryn Scales as an Honorary Member. Pacers Track Club (1988). During the 1988

30 RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 2 0 1 5 PLANETARY GEOLOGY Exploring Mars

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18th SPEAKERS: MATT GOLOMBEK Mars Exploration Rover Project Scientist Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology DON HLADIUK Past-President Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

DOORS OPEN: 4:30 PM APPETIZERS/CASH BAR: 5:00 PM EVENT: 6:00 PM

ARTS COMMON 205 - 8th Avenue SE Calgary AB

Adults: $25.00 Students: $10.00 Children (12 & under) FREE www.cspg.org

SPONSORS:

MacdonaldCole Inc.

RESERVOIR ISSUE 09 • OCTOBER 2015 31

CSPGPosterHonAdd2015mciLogo.indd 1 2015-04-30 11:20 AM MORE THAN MAPPING VISIT US AT SEG 2015 OCTOBER 18-21 CAN YOUR SOFTWARE BOOTH #1016 WITHSTAND A FLOOD OF INFORMATION?

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