A Case Study: Reservoir Potential of the Chinook Formation, Upper Cretaceous, in the Alberta Deep Basin, Canada

The present study examines the Chinook Formation of the Upper Cretaceous in the Alberta Deep Basin, using ninety two wireline logs from wells drilled in relatively shallow sites (1100 to 1900 m penetration). The two main purposes are (1) to distinguish the log character of the sediments within this formation, providing a preliminary stratigraphic interpretation of the study area, and (2) to define reservoir properties which help to determine possible drillable locations in the study areas.

The well-log-based stratigraphic cross-section integrated with a seismic profile available shows that the Chinook formation is composed of three different relatively conformable sedimentary units (Units A, B and C, from younger to older). These deposits are interpreted as shoreface siliciclastic sand bodies and are assumed to form a linear feature trending northwest in the study area.

The volumetric reservoir information on the Unit C, the focus of this study, is measured from the well logs. The possible netpay distribution of the depositional unit determined by a porosity cutoff of 9% shows a range of thickness from 3 m to 5 m and it has an area extent of about 1.8 km2. Although further detailed analysis is needed, the present study may make a contribution to selecting a stepout site for hydrocarbon in the Chinook Formation in the Alberta Deep Basin.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90142 © 2012 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, April 22-25, 2012, Long Beach, California