AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 Regional Correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Subsurface of Alberta, Townships 29 to 113 and Ranges 1W4 to 13W6 AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 Regional Correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Subsurface of Alberta, Townships 29 to 113 and Ranges 1W4 to 13W6 T.E. Hauck Alberta Energy Regulator Alberta Geological Survey July 2014 ©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Alberta, 2014 ISBN 978-1-4601-0125-4 The Alberta Energy Regulator/Alberta Geological Survey (AER/AGS), its employees and contractors make no warranty, guarantee or representation, express or implied, or assume any legal liability regarding the correctness, accuracy, completeness or reliability of this publication. Any references to proprietary software and/or any use of proprietary data formats do not constitute endorsement by AER/AGS of any manufacturer’s product. If you use information from this publication in other publications or presentations, please acknowledge the AER/AGS. We recommend the following reference format: Hauck, T.E. (2014): Regional correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group in the subsurface of Alberta, townships 29 to 113 and ranges 1W4 to 13W6; Alberta Energy Regulator, AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05, 29 p. Published July 2014 by: Alberta Energy Regulator Alberta Geological Survey 4th Floor, Twin Atria Building 4999 – 98th Avenue Edmonton, AB T6B 2X3 Canada Tel: 780.638.4491 Fax: 780.422.1459 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ags.gov.ab.ca AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • iii Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................v Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ vi 1 Introduction and Background ..................................................................................................................1 2 Stratigraphy .............................................................................................................................................1 2.1 Watt Mountain Formation, Elk Point Group ..................................................................................4 2.2 Fort Vermilion Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group ........................................................................5 2.3 Slave Point Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group .............................................................................5 2.4 Swan Hills Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group ..............................................................................5 2.5 Waterways Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group ..............................................................................6 3 Methods ...................................................................................................................................................7 4 Results: Representative Wells .................................................................................................................8 4.1 Southern Alberta (02-02-042-14W4) .............................................................................................9 4.2 Swan Hills (13-22-063-10W5) .......................................................................................................9 4.3 Eastern Platform (07-31-074-12W4) ...........................................................................................12 4.4 Peace River Arch Fringing Platform (08-24-087-13W5) .............................................................12 4.5 Hay River Platform (10-15-103-08W6) .......................................................................................12 5 Results: Stratigraphic Cross-Sections ...................................................................................................16 5.1 Cross-Section A–A′ ......................................................................................................................16 5.2 Cross-Section B–B′ ......................................................................................................................16 5.3 Cross-Section C–C′ ......................................................................................................................19 5.4 Cross-Section D–D′ ......................................................................................................................21 5.5 Cross-Section E–E′ .......................................................................................................................21 5.6 Cross-Section F–F′ .......................................................................................................................21 5.7 Cross-Section G–G′ ......................................................................................................................25 6 Summary ...............................................................................................................................................27 7 References .............................................................................................................................................28 Figures Figure 1. Location of the study area within Alberta. .................................................................................2 Figure 2. Schematic lithostratigraphic column showing the distribution of upper Givetian to lower Frasnian strata in the Alberta Basin. ................................................................................3 Figure 3. Paleogeography of the Alberta Basin during the lower Frasnian. ..............................................4 Figure 4. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in southern Alberta. ................................10 Figure 5. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Swan Hills area. ...........................11 Figure 6. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Eastern Platform of east-central Alberta. ..................................................................................................................13 Figure 7. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group on the Peace River Arch fringing platform of the Peace River area of Alberta. ............................................................................14 Figure 8. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group on the Hay River Platform of northwestern Alberta. ...............................................................................................................15 Figure 9. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section A-A′. .....................................................................17 Figure 10. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section B–B′. .....................................................................18 Figure 11. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section C–C′. .....................................................................20 Figure 12. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section D–D′. ........................................................................22 Figure 13. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section E–E′. .........................................................................23 Figure 14. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section F–F′. .........................................................................24 Figure 15. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section G–G′. ........................................................................26 AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • iv Acknowledgements The author thanks Chris Schneider (formerly Alberta Geological Survey [AGS], now with University of Alberta) for the introduction to Beaverhill Lake Group stratigraphy and many fruitful discussions thereof. The author also benefited from discussions of Beaverhill Lake Group stratigraphy with Jack Wendte (Geological Survey of Canada). Paul Glombick (AGS), Chris Banks (formerly AGS, now with Schlumberger), and Dave Bechtel (AGS) are thanked for assistance with IHS Petra software. Nigel Atkinson (AGS) and Matt Grobe (AGS) reviewed the report and made many constructive suggestions and improvements. AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • v Abstract Regional correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group in the subsurface of Alberta is presented in the form of strike- and dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-sections. Lithostratigraphic units described in this report are the Watt Mountain Formation of the Elk Point Group (the top of which forms the base of the Beaverhill Lake Group), the Fort Vermilion Formation, the Slave Point and Swan Hills formations, and the Waterways Formation. Member-level stratigraphy within the Waterways Formation is discussed, but these units are not correlated within the study area. Picking criteria are outlined in an examination of representative wells from distinct geographic areas that encompass various depositional realms during Beaverhill Lake Group time. Important carbonate depositional realms covered by the study area include (1) the Swan Hills Formation carbonate complexes of west-central and southwestern Alberta, (2) the Slave Point Formation carbonate complex of the Peace River region in northwestern Alberta, (3) the Slave Point Formation carbonate complex of the Hay River Platform in northwestern Alberta, and (4) the carbonate complex within the Waterways Formation—the Eastern Platform—in southeastern and east-central Alberta. Additionally, the evaporites of the Fort Vermilion Formation and the argillaceous carbonates