Geology of gas accumulations in Paleozoic rocks of Alberta plains

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1968 · Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5750308

Prather, R W; McCourt, G B

More than 40% of Canada's known natural gas resources, or 18.5 trillion cu ft of indicated gas reserves are contained in Paleozoic rocks of the Alberta plains. The constant growth of Alberta's reserves since 1947 has encouraged the gas industry to seek extensive markets in Canada and the U.S. The Paleozoic rocks are predominantly shelf carbonates, limy marine shale, and evaporites. These strata are on the E. flank of the Alberta syncline and dip southwestward at an average of 40 ft/mile. They form a wedge which is more than 5,000-ft thick near the Rocky Mt. foothills and thins to the outcrop in the NE. corner of the province. Emergence of the Alberta plains between the end of Cambrian time and Middle Devonian time, plus periodic emergence and erosion between Mississippian time and Cretaceous time, resulted in the removal of considerable parts of the Paleozoic systems. The major Paleozoic reservoir's are organic and clastic carbonates of the Devonian and Mississippian systems. They form 3 types of stratigraphic traps--reefs, lithological pinchouts and unconformity traps. Draped anticlinal structure also aided in localizing accumulations in Nisku reefal reservoirs, which overlie Leduc bioherms. (18 refs.)

• Research Organization: King Resources Co; Imperial Oil Ltd
• OSTI ID: 5750308
• Journal Information: Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Mem. - Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 2:9; ISSN MAPGA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030200* -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALBERTA
CANADA
CARBONATE ROCKS
DEVONIAN PERIOD
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
GEOLOGY
LITHOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
RESERVES
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY