A 4,000-acre oil-sand mining operation in northeastern Alberta is being conducted by Great Canadian Oil Sands, Ltd. The sandstones contain as much as 18 per cent by weight of low-gravity oil or tar, they are lenticular and interbedded with barren shale and siltstone. In order to determine in-place oil content and other ore-body characteristics, an extensive coring and well-logging program was conducted during the winters of 1963-64 and 1964-65. Using a comprehensive well-log-analysis computer program, core-analysis data, and a geological data-processing system, the average grade, in-place oil reserves, and other characteristics of the mining lease were determined. Of all logging devices tested, the formation density-laterolog 3 combination provided the best borehole measu ements of porosity and water saturation. Numerous comparisons of core versus log analysis results indicate that accurate oil content can be ascertained in the oil-sands using conventional log-analysis methods. Core and log information was combined to produce continuous oil saturation, water saturation, porosity, and bulk-density profiles for each test hole. Stratigraphic correlations and oil-grade cutoff tops and bases also were included for each test hole. From this information numerous maps and cross sections for use in defining the ore body and in mine planning were produced, using the computer-plotting combination.

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