Structure and Isopach Mapping of the Lower Cretaceous Dina Member of the Mannville Group of Northwestern Saskatchewan

Transcription

1 Structure and Isopach Mapping of the Lower Cretaceous Dina Member of the Mannville Group of Northwestern Saskatchewan Dan Kohlruss, Per Kent Pedersen 1, and Guoxiang Chi 2 Kohlruss, D., Pedersen, P.K., and Chi, G. (213): Structure and isopach mapping of the Lower Cretaceous Dina Member of the Mannville Group of northwestern Saskatchewan; in Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Ministry of the Economy, Misc. Rep , Paper A-5, 12p. Abstract The Athabasca bitumen deposits of Alberta represent one of the world s largest hydrocarbon accumulations and subsequently have garnered considerable attention and have been the focus of numerous scientific studies. In contrast, Saskatchewan bitumen deposits, though recognized since the mid-197s, had received very little attention up until 24 when Oilsands Quest Inc. launched their Axe Lake drilling project along the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary at the extreme northwestern limit of Saskatchewan s portion of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Much new geophysical well log and drill core data were acquired during Oilsands Quest Inc. s Axe Lake exploration drilling program between 25 and 28 and are available for study. Utilizing the new data, mapping of the stratigraphic units within the study area was undertaken in an effort to understand the depositional controls on the bitumen-bearing Dina Member sandstones of the Cantuar Formation (Mannville Group). Mapping revealed distinctive relationships between the sub-cretaceous unconformity structural surface, the thickness of the Dina Member, and the basal structural surface of the Quaternary deposits. The Dina Member deposits are generally confined within the paleo-topographic lows on the sub-cretaceous unconformity and the thickest successions correspond with the deepest portions of those paleo-topographic lows. Quaternary glacial processes eroded significant portions of the Mannville Group and were the major factor responsible for Mannville deposits being preserved predominantly within the paleo-lows that are below the level of Quaternary erosion. Keywords: Lower Cretaceous, Mannville, Dina, McMurray, oil sands, northwestern Saskatchewan, sub- Cretaceous unconformity, karsting, salt dissolution. 1. Introduction The Athabasca oil sands in Alberta represent one of the world s largest hydrocarbon accumulations (Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, 27), and a number of studies have been carried out on the sedimentology and stratigraphy of the hosting McMurray Formation of the Mannville Group (Carrigy, 1959, 1963, 1966, 1971; Nelson and Glaister, 1978; Mossop, 198; Pemberton et al., 1982; Mossop and Flach, 1983; Flach and Mossop, 1985; Smith, 1988; Ranger and Pemberton, 1997; Strobl et al., 1997; Wightman and Pemberton, 1997; Hein and Cotterill, 26; Crerar and Arnott, 27; Fustic et al., 28; Hubbard et al., 211). The Saskatchewan portion of the oil sands was first explored between 1974 and 1976 when stratigraphic test holes were drilled by Shell Canada and Gulf Canada in an effort to expand the known oil sands resource of Alberta s Athabasca Oil Sands deposit (Paterson et al., 1978; Ranger, 26; Kohlruss et al., 21a, 21b, Kohlruss, 212). In those early test holes, two wells intersected bitumen-bearing sandstones, but the exploration permits were subsequently relinquished back to the provincial government. This was likely a result of technological limitations, poor economics, and/or poor understanding of the potential resource. Regardless of the reasons, further industry exploration for oil sands deposits in Saskatchewan ceased until 24 when oil prices reached favourably high levels and Oilsands Quest Inc. acquired Saskatchewan oil sands permits in northwestern Saskatchewan. In 25, Oilsands Quest Inc. drilled 25 exploratory test holes with several intersecting bitumen-stained sediments. The initial test holes which intersected bitumen-saturated sandstones were subsequently described and reported by Hoffman and Kimball (26) and Ranger (26). Further drilling of an additional 33 test holes resulted in many more intersections of heavily bitumen-saturated sandstones and consequently a large resource has since been identified. 1 Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 25 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4. 2 Department of Geology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S A2. Saskatchewan Geological Survey 1 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

2 Oilsands Quest Inc. estimated their Axe Lake project has a resource of 222 million m 3 to 371 million m 3 (1.4 billion barrels to 2.3 billion barrels) of bitumen in place (Oilsands Quest Inc., 21). These lands are located directly adjacent to the Alberta border in very close proximity to the Athabasca Oil Sands deposit, which has a total in-place reserve of billion m 3 (1.13 trillion barrels) (Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, 27) (Figure 1). Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. also owns a Saskatchewan exploration licence in the study area, but has yet to drill any stratigraphic test holes. 2. Study Area and Methods The study area is located in northwestern Saskatchewan, north of the Clearwater River valley, directly adjacent to the Alberta-Saskatchewan provincial border (Figure 2). This is coincident with the majority of Oilsands Quest Inc. s test holes and their identified bitumen resource. Utilizing data from 83 drill cores and data from geophysical well logs from 244 stratigraphic test wells, a series of maps of the study area were constructed, including a structural map of the sub-cretaceous unconformity surface, an isopach map of the Dina Member, and a structural map of the sub-quaternary erosional Precambrian Shield edge surface. The well coverage and cores utilized for mapping are shown in Figure 3. Athabasca Oil Sands Area Athabasca River Fort McMurray Clearwater River Oilsands Quest Inc. Petrobank These maps were developed as part of a recently completed M.Sc. project (Kohlruss, 212), in an effort to identify the main paleo-topographic features of the depositional surfaces of the Dina Member, to identify thickness trends in the Dina Member, and to determine the affects and degree of Quaternary erosion upon the Dina Member. The Dina Member isopach map reflects the thickness of the sediments regardless of bitumen saturation. Oil sands agreement (Alberta) Surface mineable area Active exploration licence (Saskatchewan) Precambrian Shield edge Rivers Alberta Saskatchewan Figure 1 Location map of current active oil sands exploration licences in Saskatchewan along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, directly adjacent to Alberta oil sands agreements, and immediately north of the Clearwater River valley (modified after Alberta Energy, 212); information for this graphic included with permission from Alberta Energy. 5 km N ALTA. SASK MAN km Geological isopach and structure maps were constructed using formation and member top depths determined from drill cores and geophysical well-log signatures. These depths were entered into Microsoft Excel 27 spreadsheet and were mapped using Golden Software s Surfer 9 mapping program. The contours generated for these maps were constructed utilizing Golden Software s Surfer 9 Kriging algorithm. 3. Stratigraphy of the Lower Mannville Group The stratigraphic nomenclature used for the Mannville Group in Alberta is different than that used in Saskatchewan. In northeastern Alberta, the Mannville Group is Saskatchewan Geological Survey 2 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

3 T1 Precambrian Shield Lake Athabasca T98 Fort McMurray ALBERTA Cle arwater River SASKATCHEWAN MANITOBA T96 Edmonton T94 N Calgary Saskatoon Regina Winnipeg T92 Study Area km T9 2 km Figure 2 Location of study area in northwestern Saskatchewan. Note location of Precambrian Shield edge (green line). divided into the lower McMurray Formation, middle Clearwater Formation, and upper Grand Rapids Formation (Figure 4). In portions of northwestern Saskatchewan, the Mannville consists of a lower Cantuar Formation and an upper Pense Formation. The Cantuar Formation is divided into seven members, which are, from lower to upper: Dina, Cummings, Lloydminster, Rex, General Petroleums, Sparky, and Waseca. The Pense Formation is comprised of the lower McClaren Member and the upper Colony Member (Figure 4). The Dina Member is equivalent to the lower portions of Alberta s McMurray Formation, which is the main reservoir for the Athabasca Oil Sands deposit. The Cummings Member is represented by a fining upward sequence of interbedded sandstones and mudstones. The uppermost portion of the Cummings Member is equivalent to the Wabiskaw Member located at the base of the Clearwater Formation (Christopher, 23). The Dina Member is the only unit of the Mannville Group preserved in the study area. This conclusion is based on facies interpretation and is supported by microfossil and palynological analyses dating the deposits as no younger than Aptian in age (L. Bloom, pers. comm., 212). The Dina overlies the sub-cretaceous unconformity (Figure 4) which in the study area was developed on the Devonian Prairie Evaporite (Breccia) or Devonian carbonates of the Winnipegosis Formation and in some instances the Meadow Lake Formation (Paterson et al., 1978; Christopher, 1997, 23; Kohlruss, 212). T88 R25W3 Clearwater River R23 R21 R19 4. Sedimentology of the Dina Member The Dina Member in northwestern Saskatchewan is a stratigraphically complex siliciclastic depositional system with abrupt lateral facies changes that makes internal stratigraphic correlations of facies difficult even between closely spaced wells (Carrigy, 1971; Ranger and Pemberton, 1997; Kohlruss et al., 21b; Kohlruss, 212). Core analysis of the Dina Member in the study area has led to the recognition of eight recurring sedimentary facies (Table 1) (Kohlruss et al., 21b, Kohlruss, 212). Facies range from pebble conglomerate to mudstones, and when the facies are compared in typical depositional sequence, they represent an overall fining upwards succession (Table 1; Figure 5) (Kohlruss et al., 21b, Kohlruss, 212). Saskatchewan Geological Survey 3 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

4 MANNVILLE MANNVILLE T95 Both trough and planar crossbedding are observed. Trough crossbedding is interpreted to have formed in a high energy environment with unidirectional flow, while the tabular crossbedding represents a high, but relatively lower and rhythmically variable energy environment that was also dominated primarily by a unidirectional flow regime (Figure 5) (Kohlruss et al., 21b, Kohlruss, 212). T94 R25 R24W km Figure 3 Map of study area showing the distribution of stratigraphic test holes and cores used for mapping. Red dots indicate test hole locations where both cores and geophysical well logs were examined for study. Small circles indicate test hole locations where only geophysical well logs were utilized for the study. The green star indicates location of type well shown in Figure 5. PERIOD QUATERNARY LOWER CRETACEOUS UPPER DEVONIAN MIDDLE DEVONIAN BEAVERHILL LAKE NORTHEAST ALBERTA BEAVERHILL LAKE PRAIRIE EVAPORITE GLACIAL DRIFT ELK POINT WINNIPEGOSIS PRECAMBRIAN NORTHWEST SASKATCHEWAN GLACIAL DRIFT COLONY McCLAREN WASECA SPARKY GENERAL PETROLEUMS REX LLOYDMINSTER CUMMINGS DINA SANDSTONE SHALE CARBONATE EVAPORITE GLACIAL DRIFT PRECAMBRIAN UNCONFORMITIES Based upon facies distribution and stacking patterns, Kohlruss et al. (21b) and Kohlruss (212) interpret the sedimentary structures and sedimentology of the facies to represent a depositional setting that is primarily non-marine with a limited marginal marine component. There are flow regimes ranging from high energy bed-load sedimentation of braided channels to relatively lower energy point bar sedimentation of meandering channels that is both fully fluvial to fluvial with a minor tidal influence. The combination of observed facies suggests deposition occurred primarily on an alluvial plain that included braided channels, meander channels and flood plain as well as portions of the most landward reaches of a marginal marine system. Deposition of relatively Figure 4 Correlation of stratigraphic units in northeastern Alberta and northwestern Saskatchewan. The Dina Member is equivalent to the lower portions of Alberta s McMurray Formation and the uppermost portion of the Cummings Member is equivalent to the Wabiskaw Member located at the base of the Clearwater Formation. In the study area, the Dina Member is the only portion of the Mannville Group that has been preserved. Depending on location relative to the Paleozoic sub-crop in the study area, Dina deposits can reside on the Prairie Evaporite breccia, or Winnipegosis or Meadow Lake carbonates. GROUP PENSE CANTUAR WINNIPEGOSIS PRAIRIE EVAPORITE BRECCIA ELK POINT PERIOD QUATERNARY LOWER CRETACEOUS MIDDLE DEVONIAN GRAND RAPIDS CLEARWATER WABISKAW McMURRAY WINNIPEGOSIS MEADOW LAKE GROUP PRECAMBRIAN Saskatchewan Geological Survey 4 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

5 Facies 4 Trough-crossbedded sandstone Table 1 Summary of facies within the study area (Kohlruss et al., 21b; Kohlruss, 212). FACIES OCCURRENCE/ CONTACT PHYSICAL SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES BIOGENIC STRUCTURES DEPOSITIONAL INTERPRETATION Facies 1 Massive sandstone (rare facies) Generally overlies Facies 2 or 3 but not exclusively. Typically grades from Facies 2 or 3. Can be observed below and above Facies 6. Massive. Composed of medium to fine grains and very well sorted. Rare mud clasts. Rare Gyrolithes and Cylindrichnus populating discrete bedding planes. Part of meandering stream deposit, likely within limits of tidal influence. Very well sorted nature and/or high bitumen saturation makes identification of bedding features difficult. Facies 2 Ripple cross-laminated sandstone (rare facies) Typically found within or below Facies 6 and 1. Ripple cross laminated Rare Gyrolithes, Thalassinoides, and Cylindrichnus populating discrete bedding planes. Deposition under unidirectional lower flow conditions on the inside bends of fluvial and estuarine point bars. Facies 3 Planar crossbedded sandstone (very common facies) Generally overlies Facies 4, if present. Normally grades into Facies 4. Planar-crossbedded, medium to fine grained sands with metrescale bedding thickness. Commonly has thin basal conglomerate. Common mud ripup clasts and coaly debris throughout. Generally the best reservoir with high porosities (3%) and bitumen saturations. Absent to rare bioturbation (Cylindrichnus). Carbonaceous debris on drapes. Rare pyrite nodules. High hydraulic energy. Rip-ups, striped appearance, and reactivation surfaces may indicate tidal influence, but deposited in fluvial meandering channels and very upper reaches of estuary. 4a Medium to very coarse troughcrossbedded sandstone (very common facies) Typically below Facies 3, but not exclusively. Gradational with Facies 3. Medium to very coarse grained. Common crossbedding with abundant directional changes. Poorly sorted with common mud clasts and wood/coal fragments. Has good to excellent bitumen saturations and generally slightly less porosity than Facies 3. Rare to absent. High to very high hydraulic energy. Frequent directional changes deposited in fluvial channels and portion of braided stream. 4b Massive to trough-crossbedded pebbly sandstone (common facies) Typically below Facies 3, but not exclusively. Gradational with Facies 3. Medium to very coarse grained with common pebble- (centimetre-scale) sized quartz and chert grains. Common trough crossbedding with very abundant directional changes. Poorly sorted with common mud clasts and wood/coal fragments. Has good to excellent bitumen saturations, generally lower porosity than Facies 3 or 4a. Rare to absent. Very high hydraulic energy. Frequent directional changes deposited in fluvial channels and braided stream. Facies 5 Pebble conglomerate (common facies) Commonly observed above Devonian erosional surface, but can also be seen at the base of parasequences. Very coarse to conglomeratesized grains and pebbles. Very poorly sorted with porosities generally the poorest of the reservoir rocks (2%). Very common wood and mud fragments/clasts. Absent Very high hydraulic energy. Represents bed load deposits of braided stream. Facies 6 Interbedded sandstone and bioturbated mudstone (inclined heterolithic strata) (rare facies) Above Facies 1 or 2. Sand dominated (>1 cm) with double mud drapes. Sand is ripple cross laminated to massive appearing. Predominantly less than 1% mud and mud rip-ups. Rare to common monospecific group of Cylindrichnus, Gyrolithes, rare Thalassinoides, Teichicnus, and Skolithos. Point bar deposits and muddy tidal channel deposits. Facies 7 Siltstone, mudstone, and coal (rare facies) Typically overlying Devonian erosional surface below Facies 4. Often lowest facies. In situ root fossils and common convoluted bedding. Occasional coal/wood fragments. Roots, rare insect burrows (Naktodemasis), lack of sedimentary bedding features suggesting bioturbation. Occasional coal. Over-bank, marsh, and/or oxbow lake deposits. Deposition from flooding events and suspension. Aerial exposure with paleosol. Facies 8 Laminated siltstone to very fine grained sandstone (rare facies) Found below or within Facies 3 or Facies 4. Siltstone to very fine sand, laminated bedding, soft sediment features such as decimetre-scale convoluted bedding and flame structures. Bioturbated appearance. Floodplain, over-bank deposits, and abandoned channels. Saskatchewan Geological Survey 5 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

6 Winnipegosis Ichnofossils CVE CLEARWATER 1 STRAT / W3/ KB : m Lic # : 1I14 Gamma-ray Resistivity Sfc Csg Formation/ Member Period 19 Metres (MD) 2 Dina / McMurray Devonian Lower Cretaceous 21 S 22 TD Lithology Sandstone Shale Pebbly sandstone Dolostone Sedimentary Structures Slump structure Flaser/lenticular bedding Trough crossbedding Rip-up clasts Coal/wood fragments Planar crossbedding Ichnofossils Thalassinoides Planolites Cylindrichnus Fossils S Algae Fossil (undifferentiated) Stromatoporoids Oncolite Figure 5 Gamma-ray and resistivity geophysical well logs and core litholog of well CVE Clearwater 1 Strat , 141/ W3/, licence number 1I14. The gamma-ray log signature and lithologies reflect the overall fining upwards nature of the Dina Member deposits. The resistivity log trace displays the variability in bitumen saturations within the W3 test hole. Note the presence of trace fossils within the uppermost ~4.5m of the test hole and the absence of trace fossils in the remainder of the Dina Member deposits. Abbreviations: Csg = casing; MD = measured depth; Sfc = surface casing; and TD = total depth. Saskatchewan Geological Survey 6 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

7 more distal deposits (marginal marine) overlying more proximal deposits (fluvial) was observed by Kohlruss (212) and is evidence the Dina Member had been deposited, at least partially, in response to a relative base-level rise (ibid.). Ichnofossils were mostly rare or absent within the majority of the facies in the study area, but were found to be rare to common in facies 6 (Table 1). In this facies, rare to common Cylindrichnus or Gyrolithes were observed and rarely Thalassinoides, Teichichnus and Skolithos (Table 1). Cylindrichnus or Gyrolithes generally occurred as the sole ichnofossil present in any individual core where facies 6 was present, indicative of an extremely low diversity marine assemblage. Cylindrichnus and Gyrolithes also represent morphologically simple vertical suspension feeding burrows. All observed ichnofossils were also of reduced size compared to a fully marine equivalent. 5. Structure and Isopach Maps a) Sub-Cretaceous Unconformity Structure Map Mapping of the sub-cretaceous unconformity surface revealed some notable features, not the least of which is a, prominent paleo-low running through the study area (Figure 6). In many places the lows within the paleo-low trend are in excess of 5 m below the surrounding areas (Figure 6). The axis of the dominant paleo-low runs T95 T94 Main Paleo-low Trend R km Paleo-low ARM R24W metres sub-sea Structurally higher Structurally lower Figure 6 Structural map of the sub-cretaceous unconformity surface. Contour interval above mean sea level is 5 m. Dashed black line marks generalized valley walls of main paleo-low trends. Note red star indicates location of type well in Figure 5. Saskatchewan Geological Survey 7 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

8 approximately north-northeast beginning approximately in Section W3 up to Section W3 (Figure 6). A second arm of the paleo-low extends in an southeasterly direction from approximately Section W3 to W3 (Figure 6). Several small tributaries also comprise the main paleo-low trend branching from the deepest portion of the paleo-low trend (Figure 6). b) Sub-Quaternary Unconformity Structure Map In several parts of the study area, the effects of Quaternary erosion can be seen. Quaternary sediments overlie Mannville Group deposits as well as Devonian carbonates. Erosion from Quaternary glaciations and/or glacial melt waters has been extensive with all areas of the study area affected, and the sub-quaternary unconformity can often be coincident with the sub-cretaceous unconformity. Even where the sub-cretaceous unconformity is lowest, Quaternary processes have, in some cases, cut down and removed all Cretaceous deposits. In particular, a prominent deep channel cut has removed Cretaceous sediments, down through to the underlying Devonian rocks and in some cases to the underlying Precambrian (Figures 7 and 8). This channel is orientated in a northwesterly direction and T95 T94 R25 R24W metres sub-sea Structurally higher Structurally lower Area of Devonian Paleo-low Kilometres Area of absent but expected Dina Member Figure 7 Structural map of the base of the Quaternary glacial deposits. A structural low (blue contour fill) cuts across the study area and is interpreted as a relatively deep Quaternary erosional channel. Note the area of absent, but expected Dina Member deposits is coincident with the deepest (thickest) Quaternary deposits (red hash lines outlined by red dashed lines). Note red star indicates location of type well in Figure 5. Saskatchewan Geological Survey 8 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

9 T metres T R25 R24W3 Area of Devonian Paleo-low Kilometres Area of absent but expected Dina Member Figure 8 Isopach map of the Dina Member/McMurray Formation (top of the sub-cretaceous unconformity to the base of the Quaternary). The thickest areas of sediment accumulation generally coincide with structural lows on the sub-cretaceous unconformity (general paleo-low trends marked by dashed lines). Note also areas of deep Quaternary erosion and absent Dina Member (between dashed red lines). The absence of Mannville deposits is interpreted to be a result of Quaternary erosion. Contour interval is 5 m. Note green star indicates location of type well in Figure 5. begins in the northwest at Section W3 and extends to Section W3 and is approximately 1 km wide. Beyond Section 34, the channel widens to approximately 5 km and abruptly turns south west and terminates in Section W3 (Figure 8). It is likely a result of channelling produced by glacial melt waters as has been observed and described in the glacial tills overlying and cutting down into the Cretaceous sediments in the Athabasca oil sands area of Alberta (Andriashek and Atkinson, 27). Andriashek and Atkinson (27) documented several of these linear, buried sand- and gravel-filled channels with very similar morphological character (length, width, and thickness) as the channel identified within the study area. Saskatchewan Geological Survey 9 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

10 c) Dina Member Isopach Map The isopach map of the Dina Member (McMurray Formation equivalent) shows that the thickest portions generally align with the main structural lows along the sub-cretaceous unconformity (Figure 6). The thickest of the accumulations occur in the most southwestern portions of the study area reaching thicknesses of 45 m (Figure 8). The Dina Member deposits thin quickly, often to zero, outside of the paleo-lows, as defined by the sub-cretaceous unconformity. There are also anomalously thin or zero-thickness areas within the isopach of the Dina Member where thick successions of Dina deposits would be expected to coincide with the paleo-topographic structural lows of the sub-cretaceous unconformity (Figures 6 and 8). It can be seen in the sub-quaternary unconformity structural map (Figure 7), these are areas where Quaternary glaciation and/or glacial melt waters removed thick successions of the Mannville Group sediments. 6. Summary Mapping in the study area of the sub-cretaceous unconformity, the thickness of the Dina Member, and the sub- Quaternary unconformity has revealed some distinctive relationships between these three features. A major paleolow trend/ paleo-valley with more than 5 m of paleo-relief demarcates the sub-cretaceous unconformity in the area, incising into Devonian carbonate rocks and, in rare instances, Precambrian metamorphic rocks. Development of the paleo-valley was likely initiated by incision of karsting and salt-collapse features. The Dina Member is preserved within the paleo-lows created by the sub-cretaceous unconformity and the thickest portions of Dina Member deposits are primarily confined to the deepest portions of the paleo-valley. Glacial processes have significantly influenced the preservation of Mannville deposits in the study area. Though impossible to determine the exact amount, the uppermost Mannville Group deposits are presumed to have been removed due to major Quaternary erosion. The Dina Member has remained primarily untouched because it resides in lows that have been below the effects of Quaternary glaciation. Despite this, there is an area where, within the confines of the main paleo-low, there has been preferential erosion of the Dina Member by a relatively narrow, but deep cutting Quaternary meltwater channel. 7. References Alberta Energy (212): Alberta s leased oil sands area; URL < pdfs/osaagreestats.pdf>, accessed 1 June 212. Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (27): Alberta s energy reserves 26 and supply/demand outlook , ST98-27, 218p, URL < accessed 2 June 212. Andriashek, L.D. and Atkinson, N. (27): Buried channels and glacial-drift aquifers in the Fort McMurray region, northeast Alberta; Alta. Energy Utilities Board, EUB/AGS, Earth Sciences Report 27-1, 16p. Carrigy, M.A. (1959): Geology of the McMurray Formation, Part III, General Geology of the McMurray Area; Alta. Resear. Counc., Mem. 1, 13p. (1963): Criteria for Differentiating the McMurray and Clearwater Formations in the Athabasca Oil Sands; Resear. Counc. Alta., Bull. 14, p1-32. (1966): Lithology of the Athabasca Oil Sands; Alta. Resear. Counc., Bull. 18, 48p. (1971): Deltaic sedimentation in the Athabasca tar sands; AAPG Bull., v55, p Christopher, J.E. (1997): Evolution of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville sedimentary basin in Saskatchewan; in Pemberton, S.G. and James, D.P. (eds.), Petroleum Geology of the Cretaceous Mannville Group, Western Canada, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol., Mem. 18, p (23): Jura-Cretaceous Success Formation and Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group of Saskatchewan; Sask. Industry and Resources, Report 223, CD-ROM. Crerar, E.E. and Arnott, R.W.C. (27): Facies distribution and stratigraphic architecture of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Lewis Property, northeastern Alberta; Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol., v55, no 2, p Saskatchewan Geological Survey 1 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

11 Flach, P.D. and Mossop, G.D. (1985): Depositional environments of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Athabasca oil sands, Alberta; AAPG Bull., v69, p Fustic, M., Hubbard, S.M., Leckie, D., Smith, D.G., and Spencer, R. J. (28): New insights into deposition of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation: downstream translation of tidally influenced channel meander bends; AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Oct 26 to 29, Cape Town, abstr., URL < accessed 2 June 212. Hein, F.J. and Cotterill, D.K. (26): The Athabasca Oil Sands A Regional Geologic Perspective, Fort McMurray Area, Alberta, Canada; Nat. Resour. Resear., Internat. Assoc. Math. Geol., 18p. Hoffman, G.L. and Kimball, E. (26): New cores from the McMurray Formation and underlying Elk Point Group in northwestern Saskatchewan; in Nickel, E.H. (ed.), Saskatchewan and Northern Plains Oil & Gas Symposium Core Workshop Volume, Sask. Geol. Soc., Spec. Publ. No. 2, p17. Hubbard, S.M., Smith, D.G., Nielsen, H., Leckie, D.A., Fustic, M., Spencer, R.J., and Bloom, L. (211): Seismic geomorphology and sedimentology of a tidally influenced river deposit, Lower Cretaceous Athabasca oil sands, Alberta, Canada; AAPG Bull., v95, no 7, p Kohlruss, D. (212): Stratigraphic architecture and facies analysis of the Lower Cretaceous Dina Member of the Mannville Group in northwest Saskatchewan; unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. Regina, Regina, 186p. Kohlruss, D., Marsh, A., Jensen, G., Pedersen, P., and Chi, G. (21a): Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group sandstones in the Clearwater River valley, northwestern Saskatchewan; preliminary observations, bitumen sampling, and mapping; in Summary of Investigations 21, Volume 1, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Ministry of Energy and Resources, Misc. Rep , Paper A-1, 13p, URL < aspx/adxgetmedia.aspx?docid=11867,11866,11458,11455,11228,3385,546,2936,documents&mediaid=36 826&Filename=A-1KohlrussetalClearwater.pdf>. Kohlruss, D., Pedersen, P.K., and Chi, G. (21b): Preliminary facies characterization of the bitumen-bearing Lower Cretaceous Dina Member (Mannville Group) of northwestern Saskatchewan; in Summary of Investigations 21, Volume 1, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Ministry of Energy and Resources, Misc. Rep , Paper A-2, 9p, URL< ,11458,11455,11228,3385,546,2936,Documents&MediaID=36827&Filename=A- 2KohlrussetalDina.pdf>. Mossop, G.D. (198): Facies control on bitumen saturation in Athabasca Oil Sands; in Miall, A.D. (ed.), Facts and Principles of World Petroleum Occurrences, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol., Mem. 6, p Mossop, G.D. and Flach, P.D. (1983): Deep channel sedimentation in the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Athabasca oil sands, Alberta; Sediment., v3, p Nelson, H.W. and Glaister, R.P. (1978): Subsurface environmental facies and reservoir relationships of the McMurray oil sands, northeastern Alberta; Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol., v26, p Oilsands Quest Inc. (21): Oilsands Quest provides bitumen resource estimate update; URL < oilsandsquest.com/pdf/resource_estimate_update_jun1.pdf>, accessed 4 Aug 21. Paterson, D.F., Kendall, A.C., and Christopher, J.E. (1978): The Sedimentary Geology of the La Loche Area, Saskatchewan, NTS Sheet 74C; Sask. Dep. Miner. Resour., Rep. 21, 38p. Pemberton, S.G., Flach, P.D., and Mossop, G.D. (1982): Trace fossils from the Athabasca oil sands, Alberta, Canada; Sci., v217, p Ranger, M.J. (26): The northeastern sector of the Lower Cretaceous Athabasca oil-sands basin: facies and fluids; in Gilboy, C.F. and Whittaker, S.G. (eds.), Saskatchewan and Northern Plains Oil & Gas Symposium 26, Sask. Geol. Soc., Spec. Publ. No. 19, p Ranger, M.J. and Pemberton, S.G. (1997): Elements of a stratigraphic framework for the McMurray Formation in south Athabasca area, Alberta; in Pemberton, S.G. and James, D.P. (eds.), Petroleum Geology of the Cretaceous Mannville Group, Western Canada, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol., Mem. 18, p Saskatchewan Geological Survey 11 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1

12 Strobl, R.S., Muwais, W.K., Wightman, D.M., Cotteril, D.K., and Yuan, L. (1997): Geological modeling of McMurray Formation reservoirs based on outcrop and subsurface analogues; in Pemberton, S.G. and James, D.P. (eds.), Petroleum Geology of the Cretaceous Mannville Group, Western Canada, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol., Mem. 18, p Wightman, D.M. and Pemberton, S.G. (1997): The Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) McMurray Formation: an overview of the Fort McMurray area, northeastern, Alberta, in Pemberton, S.G. and James, D.P. (eds.), Petroleum Geology of the Cretaceous Mannville Group, Western Canada, Can. Soc., Petrol. Geol., Mem. 18, p Saskatchewan Geological Survey 12 Summary of Investigations 212, Volume 1