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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Williston Basin Symposium

Abstract

SKGS-AAPG

Sixth International Williston Basin Symposium, October 7, 1991 (SP11)

Pages 103 - 112

ROUTLEDGE POOL: A MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE VIRDEN-WHITEWATER LAKE PALEOEROSIONAL TREND, SOUTHWEST MANITOBA

DEAN POTTER, Mark Resources Inc., 1300, 800 - 5th Ave. S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 4A4

ABSTRACT

The Virden-Whitewater Lake paleoridge on the Mississippian erosion surface is located on the northeastern margin of the Williston Basin in southwestern Manitoba. In the Routledge pool area (Township 9; Range 25 Wl) along the northern portion of this paleoerosional feature, Mississippian Lodgepole strata subcrop across a narrow northwesterly trending paleoerosional high, underlain by parallel basement-controlled structural elements. Oil is trapped in Lodgepole oolitic and skeletal carbonate sand reservoirs beneath dense dolomite caprock and against a steep updip escarpment facing northeast. Beyond this cuesta deep erosion into Upper Devonian rocks is seen within a short distance.

The paleoerosional high across the Routledge pool area can be traced as a continuous element for at least 110 km (70 mi), creating a paleodrainage watershed to the southwest into the main Williston Basin depocentre and to the northeast into the deep Brandon sub-basin. Erosion backstepped progressively southwestward towards the escarpment without secondary erosional forms and left no apparent outliers. The Virden-Whitewater Lake ridge bears an obvious relationship to basement-controlled structural elements. A major stratigraphic accumulation of oil in the Virden and Routledge pools straddles the ridge and is sealed up-dip against tight dolomitized Lodgepole strata.

Beyond, to the south the Virden-Whitewater Lake trend is traced discontinuously for at least 55 km (35 mi) to the international border across outliers of Lodgepole strata. Breaching of the ridge does not coincide with apparent underlying structural control. Oil is trapped in Whitewater Lake Member reservoirs preserved within outliers overlain by Lower Watrous siltstone and shale.

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