--> Abstract: Subsurface Facies Calibration of Large-Scale Fluvial-Estuarine Point Bars in the McMurray Formation, Syncrude North Mine, Alberta, by Thomas Nardin, Howard R. Feldman, John P. Irish, Dave Jennette, and Dave Heyser; #90039 (2005)

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Subsurface Facies Calibration of Large-Scale Fluvial-Estuarine Point Bars in the McMurray Formation, Syncrude North Mine, Alberta

Thomas Nardin1, Howard R. Feldman2, John P. Irish3, Dave Jennette4, and Dave Heyser5
1 Under Contract with Imperial Oil Resources, Calgary, AB
2 ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, TX
3 Imperial Oil Resources, Calgary, AB
4 University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
5 Syncrude Canada Ltd, Fort McMurray, AB

Canada's most important bitumen resource is contained within the McMurray Formation, a complex deepening-upward fluvial-estuarine succession typified by rapid facies changes, inclined strata and high-relief unconformities. Fluvial-estuarine point bar reservoirs represent a large fraction of the resource that can be developed using thermal recovery processes such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).

A unique opportunity to calibrate subsurface core and well data to McMurray fluvial-estuarine point bars is afforded at Syncrude's North Mine. Here, subsurface facies recognition criteria are developed by tying outcrops directly to core, gamma ray and dip meter data from wells spaced at ~125 meters. Two new 3D visualization tools have been used to integrate the data: LIDAR, laser technology that produces high-resolution digital terrain models of the outcrop and LogVu3D, which images large sets of logs in a 3D volume.

The point bar model developed here differs from traditional models. The range of facies associations documented in the 50-meter-thick point bar exposed at the mine is organized into a hierarchy that subdivides channel-fills into bedsets, stories, bars and barsets. In high-energy areas of the bar, inclined heterolithic stratafication (IHS) surfaces are characterized by erosive channel-forms oriented sub-parallel to dip. These channel-forms disrupt mudstone continuity and are a source of clast deposition that appears to be volumetrically more important than clasts derived from cutbank erosion. In low-energy areas, mudstones are continuous, evenly bedded, closely spaced and commonly bioturbated.

IHS mudstone characteristics for facies commonly observed in core throughout the basin are quantified and linked to reservoir performance.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005