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Deeply-rooted paleobathymetric control on the deposition of the Falher F conglomerate trend, Wapiti Field, Deep Basin, Alberta

EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership, 421 - 7th Avenue SW, P.O. Box 2850, Calgary, AB T2P 2S5

Bruce S. Hart

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QB H3A 2A7

In this paper, we integrate wireline log, core, 3-D seismic and production data to study the Lower Cretaceous Falher F unit of Alberta. We subdivided the Falher F into four prograding parasequences labeled F1 to F4. F1, F2, and F4 consist of shallowing-upward successions typical of prograding sandy shorelines with minor amounts of pebbles. The F3 parasequence, however, contains an anomalously thick (12 m) succession of prograding, upper-shoreface and foreshore conglomerate. The conglomerate within the F3 parasequence forms a NE–SW trending linear body that terminates abruptly to the northeast. This conglomerate has produced over 9.0 x 10⁹m³ (320 Bcf) of natural gas within the study area since 1979. Detailed mapping using log, core, and 3-D seismic data indicates that the conglomerate was deposited along a linear paleobathymetric feature which resulted from differential compaction of the northern edge of the underlying upper Devonian Gold Creek (Smokey) reef trend (Leduc, Nisku, and Wabamun Formations). Furthermore, the northeastern termination of the conglomerate trend is coincident with a NW–SE striking structural feature that influenced the development of accommodation space. Transgressive and regressive models have been invoked previously to explain the development of linear shallow-marine conglomerate bodies in the Falher and other Cretaceous units of the Alberta Basin. Our results suggest that the Falher F conglomerate formed during regression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. S. Hart and J. A. Sagan Curvature for visualization of seismic geomorphology Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2007; 277(1): 139 - 149. [Abstract] [PDF]