Extensional Faulting, Paleodrainage Patterns
and Impact on Hydrocarbon Reservoir Quality and Distribution during Foreland Basin
Subsidence: A Case Study from the Cretaceous of Alberta
Marian J.
Warren
EnCana
Corporation,
Lithospheric
flexure during tectonic loading and subsidence of the Cretaceous-Tertiary
foreland basin in western
2-D
seismic data from the area support the geological model developed from core and
well log data. Regional seismic and deep well data indicate that intermittent
Cretaceous extensional faulting occurred on a regional scale and that the
faults commonly cut basement and Lower Paleozoic strata. However, seismic data
also suggest that where Devonian evaporites are present at depth, brittle
extensional faulting in the upper part of the section was accommodated at depth
by ductile strain within the weaker evaporites.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90064©2006-2007 AAPG Distinguished Lecturers