Numerical Modeling of Hydrothermal Fluid Flow: An Example from the Devonian Wabamun Group, Northeast British Columbia, Canada

Fujian Ma, Ihsan Al-Aasm, and Jianwen Yang
University of Windsor, Windsor, ON

Parkland play type in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin has raised considerable interests for geologists due to its unique reservoir characterization by having very porous chert and dolomite in the same formation. The partially dolomitized Middle Wabamun carbonates and the local pods of fault-associated, pervasively dolomitized Upper Wabamun reservoirs represent significant potential for undiscovered resources.

In this study, finite element fluid flow modelling has been used to investigate hydrothermally-related dolomite reservoir in the Wabamun Group, Parkland Field, NE British Columbia. Two conceptual models have been developed corresponding to the early Antler and the later Laramide Orogenic movements. These two models have a vertical and horizontal dimension of 500m*8500m and 3100m*8500m, respectively, and both consist of sequences lying above and below the Wabamun Group penetrated by a sub-vertical shear fault. The Wabamun carbonates have been simulated as the major aquifer in the study area. Two scenarios have been investigated for each time frame: fault open and fault sealed. A variety of case studies with different physical parameters and boundary conditions have been also examined. Our preliminary numerical results indicate that the fault plays a most critical role in controlling hydrothermal fluid flow. In addition, permeability distribution of all examined sequences, especially the Wabamun carbonates, is also important for governing fluid flow and diagenetic reactions.

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