University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2017 Integrated sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, and reservoir characterization of the basal Spirit River Formation, west-central Alberta Newitt, Dillon Newitt, D. (2017). Integrated sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, and reservoir characterization of the basal Spirit River Formation, west-central Alberta (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26573 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3926 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Integrated sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, and reservoir characterization of the basal Spirit River Formation, west-central Alberta by Dillon Jared Newitt A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS CALGARY, ALBERTA JUNE, 2017 © Dillon Jared Newitt 2017 Abstract The basal progradational Falher is comprised of five northward accreting wave- dominated deltaic shoreline parasequence sets within this study area. Well and core based sequence stratigraphy reveals broad facies belts and sharp-based shoreline parasequence sets, reflecting progradation into shallow water; and, an initial strongly progradational to subsequently dominantly aggradational parasequence set stacking pattern within the Spirit River Formation clastic wedge. Thin sections revealed the low porosity and permeability of the sandstone due to high degree of mechanical compaction, and precipitation of cements and clays. Locally, enhanced permeability is related to early ferroan dolomite cement, even though pore filling, reduced the effects of plastic deformation of ductile grains. Insights from this thesis provides a core and well based subsurface approach to studying ancient shoreline successions, which prograde into an epeiric sea within an active foreland basin; and, a thin section based approach to studying such tight sandstone intervals for various petrographic responses. ii Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank and acknowledge my supervisor Dr. Per Pedersen, for all the time he has put in over the last few years providing guidance, scientific expertise, and feedback. I would not have been able to accomplish my goals and be where I am now without his endless effort, I am forever grateful. Further, thesis defense committee members Dr. John-Paul Zonneveld and Dr. Rudi Meyer for providing constructive feedback and interesting discussion points, this input further improved the quality of this thesis. Funding for this research was provided through the Tight Oil Consortium (TOC). Without the generous support and donations from the companies within this consortium, research such as this would not be possible. I would like to sincerely thank colleagues from Centre for Applied Basin Studies (CABS) over the past few years for important feedback and discussions on thesis work. As well, to everyone for interesting lunchtime discussions and fun outside school activities, which has made my time as a graduate student an amazing experience while building lasting friendships, in particular Emma Percy and Rebecca Englert. To my parents, Lorne and Nola Newitt, and my brother Richard, I would like to thank for all their encouragement, support, and patience throughout the past seven years of school. Finally, I am thankful for all the friends outside of school, and those made through my time as undergraduate at U of C. I am forever grateful for the people in my life. iii Table of Contents Abstract. ii Acknowledgements. iii Table of Contents. iv List of Tables. .vi List of Figures. .vii Chapter One: Introduction. .1 1.1 Project Motivation. 1 1.2 Previous Work. .1 1.3 Preliminary Outcrop Study – Chungo Member, Southern Alberta. .2 1.4 Thesis Organization and Objectives. .3 1.5 References. .6 Chapter Two: Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy of Shoreline Sheet Sand Bodies within an Epeiric Sea, Spirit River Formation, west-central Alberta. .8 2.1 Introduction. .8 2.2 Study Area and Methodology. 9 2.3 Geological Setting. .11 2.4 Basal Progradational Falher Facies. 15 2.4.1 F0 – Massive mudstone. 15 2.4.2 F1 – Massive sandstone with conglomerate. .19 2.4.3 F2 – Interbedded marine mudstone and sandstone. 19 2.4.4 F3 – Amalgamated hummocky cross-stratified sandstone. 22 2.4.5 F4 – Swaley cross-stratified sandstone. 23 2.4.6 F5 – Trough cross-stratified and parallel laminated sandstone and conglomerate.24 2.4.7 F6 – Interbedded sandstone, mudstone and coals. .25 2.4.8 F7 – Finer grained coarsening upwards succession. 25 2.4.9 F8 – Sandstone and organic mudstone. .26 2.4.10 F9 – Thick fining upwards sandstone. .27 2.4.11 Depositional Environment. 27 2.5 Stratigraphic Framework. 29 2.5.1 Stratigraphic Datum. .29 2.5.2 Studied Succession Stratigraphic Architecture – Cross-Section B-B’. .29 2.5.3 Falher N Facies Architecture – Cross-Section X-X’, Y-Y’, & Z-Z’. 31 iv 2.6 Discussion. 34 2.6.1 Sheet Sand Body Facies Architecture and Geometric Characteristics in a Low Accommodation and Gradient Setting. 34 2.6.2 Controls on Parasequence Set Stacking Pattern within an Active Foreland Clastic Wedge. 37 2.7 Conclusions. 40 2.8 References. .42 Chapter Three: Reservoir Characterization of Tight ‘Wilrich’ Sandstone Reservoirs, Spirit River Formation, west-central Alberta. .49 3.1 Introduction. .49 3.2 Study Area and Methodology. 49 3.3 Results. 52 3.3.1 Grain Texture. .52 3.3.2 Mineralogy and Provenance. .54 3.3.3 Paragenetic Sequence. .58 3.4 Discussion. 61 3.4.1 Sequence Stratigraphy and Diagenetic Processes. 61 3.4.2 Petrographic Responses. 64 3.5 Conclusions. 67 3.6 References. .68 Chapter Four: Conclusions. .72 4.1 Summary. 72 4.2 Future Work. .74 4.3 References. .75 Appendix: Logged Cores. .76 v List of Tables Table 2.1 – Summary of Facies. .17 Table 3.1 – Summary of Grain Textures. ..