--> ABSTRACT: Sedimentology of McMurray Formation at HASDrive Site of AOSTRA Underground Test Facility, Northeastern Alberta, Canada, by R. G. Chalcraft, J. H. Duerksen, and W. R. Cox; #91022 (1989)

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Sedimentology of McMurray Formation at HASDrive Site of AOSTRA Underground Test Facility, Northeastern Alberta, Canada

R. G. Chalcraft, J. H. Duerksen, W. R. Cox

The Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation at the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA) underground test facility (UTF) site, HASDrive field trial area, is represented by a fining-upward sequence deposited during a marine transgression over Devonian limestone of the Waterways Formation. The clastic sediments were deposited in delta-plain, estuarine, tidal-flat, and shallow-marine environments as a gradual transgression proceeded over the existing basin.

Detailed core study, which included thin-section, SEM, size, chemical, and conventional core analyses and palynological study, provided the data base for interpretation at the UTF site. McMurray reservoir sandstones, deposited as distributary and tidal-channel sands, are normally well to moderately well-sorted, subrounded to subangular, fine to very fine-grained subarkosic arenites. Detrital mineralogy of the poorly consolidated McMurray sandstones is dominated by quartz, feldspars, minor amounts of rock fragments, and mica. Clay minerals, whether detrital or authigenic in origin, are present only in trace amounts and therefore have a negligible effect on porosity and permeability.

Seven logged wells, four of which were cored, have been used to determine the geometry of reservoir sand bodies and intervening shale barriers in order to provide a geologic model for reservoir simulation. The AOSTRA UTF site is being used for a field trial of Chevron's Heated Annulus Steam Drive (HASDrive) enhanced recovery process. In this process, heat is applied through a subsurface horizontal pipe to basal bitumen-rich McMurray sandstone. A vertical steam injection well aids in mobilization of the heavy crude and sweeps hydrocarbons toward a horizontal subsurface producing well. HASDrive process performance is evaluated through injection and production data, temperature and saturation logging, well testing, and numerical modeling.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91022©1989 AAPG Annual Convention, April 23-26, 1989, San Antonio, Texas.