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Title: Relationships among oil density, gross composition, and thermal maturity indicators in northeastern Williston basin oils and their significance for expulsion thresholds and migration pathways

Abstract

Oil density ({degree}API), gross composition, and biological market thermal maturity variations in northeastern Williston basin have stratigraphic and geographic significance controlled by migration pathways and source rock composition as it affects hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics. When the depth and density of oil pools is compared to relationships predicted using the correlation between source rock thermal maturity and oil density, several different migration pathways can be inferred. Winnipegosis source oils indicate four paths. Most small pinnacle reef pools are sourced locally, but larger coalesced reefs contain oils migrated long distances through the Lower Member Winnipegosis Formation. Among oils that have migrated past Prairie salts, both locally sourced oils, like those on the flank of the Hummingbird Trough, and more mature, longer migrated oils in Saskatchewan Group reservoirs can be identified. Bakken oils have the longest migration pathways, controlled primarily by a lowstand shoreline sandstone on the eastern side of the basin. Lodgepole-sourced oils dominate Madison Group plays. Northwest of Steelman field, oil density increases primarily due to thermal maturity differences but also because of increasing biodegradation and water-washing that affect the western edge of the play trend. Along the margin of the Hummingbird Trough are a number of deep, medium-gravitymore » pools whose oil compositions are entirely attributable to low thermal maturity and local migration pathways.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5788184
Report Number(s):
CONF-9107109-
Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423; CODEN: AABUD
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 75:6; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Billings, MT (United States), 28-31 Jul 1991; Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; 58 GEOSCIENCES; MONTANA; PETROLEUM DEPOSITS; NORTH DAKOTA; PETROLEUM; API GRAVITY; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; MATURATION; BIOLOGICAL MARKERS; GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS; HYDROCARBONS; PETROLEUM GEOLOGY; SOURCE ROCKS; STRATIGRAPHY; WILLISTON BASIN; DENSITY; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; ENERGY SOURCES; FEDERAL REGION VIII; FOSSIL FUELS; FUELS; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; GEOLOGY; MASS TRANSFER; MINERAL RESOURCES; NORTH AMERICA; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; RESOURCES; USA; 020200* - Petroleum- Reserves, Geology, & Exploration; 023000 - Petroleum- Properties & Composition; 580000 - Geosciences

Citation Formats

Osadetz, K G, Snowdon, L R, and Brooks, P W. Relationships among oil density, gross composition, and thermal maturity indicators in northeastern Williston basin oils and their significance for expulsion thresholds and migration pathways. United States: N. p., 1991. Web.
Osadetz, K G, Snowdon, L R, & Brooks, P W. Relationships among oil density, gross composition, and thermal maturity indicators in northeastern Williston basin oils and their significance for expulsion thresholds and migration pathways. United States.
Osadetz, K G, Snowdon, L R, and Brooks, P W. 1991. "Relationships among oil density, gross composition, and thermal maturity indicators in northeastern Williston basin oils and their significance for expulsion thresholds and migration pathways". United States.
@article{osti_5788184,
title = {Relationships among oil density, gross composition, and thermal maturity indicators in northeastern Williston basin oils and their significance for expulsion thresholds and migration pathways},
author = {Osadetz, K G and Snowdon, L R and Brooks, P W},
abstractNote = {Oil density ({degree}API), gross composition, and biological market thermal maturity variations in northeastern Williston basin have stratigraphic and geographic significance controlled by migration pathways and source rock composition as it affects hydrocarbon generation and expulsion characteristics. When the depth and density of oil pools is compared to relationships predicted using the correlation between source rock thermal maturity and oil density, several different migration pathways can be inferred. Winnipegosis source oils indicate four paths. Most small pinnacle reef pools are sourced locally, but larger coalesced reefs contain oils migrated long distances through the Lower Member Winnipegosis Formation. Among oils that have migrated past Prairie salts, both locally sourced oils, like those on the flank of the Hummingbird Trough, and more mature, longer migrated oils in Saskatchewan Group reservoirs can be identified. Bakken oils have the longest migration pathways, controlled primarily by a lowstand shoreline sandstone on the eastern side of the basin. Lodgepole-sourced oils dominate Madison Group plays. Northwest of Steelman field, oil density increases primarily due to thermal maturity differences but also because of increasing biodegradation and water-washing that affect the western edge of the play trend. Along the margin of the Hummingbird Trough are a number of deep, medium-gravity pools whose oil compositions are entirely attributable to low thermal maturity and local migration pathways.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5788184}, journal = {AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)},
issn = {0149-1423},
number = ,
volume = 75:6,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991},
month = {Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991}
}

Conference:
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