About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

CSPG Bulletin

Abstract


Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology
Vol. 38 (1990), No. 1. (March), Pages 166-166

C.S.P.G. 1990 Convention, "Basin Perspectives"

Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology of the Artex Member (Charlie Lake Formation), Northeast British Columbia [Abstract]

Higgs, R.1

ABSTRACT

The subsurface Charlie Lake Formation (Upper Triassic) is interpreted as a succession of sabkha cycles, based on the facies association of fine clastics, carbonates and evaporites. One such cycle is the Artex Member, which is up to 5 m thick, and occurs throughout the Peace River area of northeast British Columbia. In the Brassey Field, the Artex Member has been interpreted as aeolian sandstone by Canadian Hunter geologists. The present study, based on well-log correlations and core examination, suggests that the Artex Member consists of (coastal?) dune-field sandstone which passes eastward, at about 121°W longitude, into playa-flat sandstone and mudstone. Toward the west, muddy strata above and below the Artex grade into a continuous sandstone sequence within which the Artex cannot be differentiated on wireline logs.

The Artex Member shows abrupt lateral changes in thickness and is locally missing at Brassy. This reflects neither primary dune-field topography, nor post-Artex erosion, since log markers above and below the Artex show no lateral thickness changes, truncations, or onlap. This suggests that the Artex Member was essentially tabular upon burial. Thin areas are therefore interpreted as interdune and playa areas, where ephemeral lakes deposited halite, which was subsequently dissolved after burial.

Hydrocarbons are stratigraphically trapped in the Artex Member at Brassey (oil), Stoddart West (oil and gas), Buick Creek (gas), and Wilder (gas). Hydrocarbon pools coincide with Artex "thicks" (i.e. dunes); the intervening interdune and playa sandstones are tight. Discovery and development of further Artex pools will be optimized by an integration of subsurface mapping, sedimentology and refined seismic techniques.

End_of_Record - Last_Page 166-------

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ASSOCIATED FOOTNOTES

1 Consultant, Petroleum Geology Branch, Victoria V8V 1X4

Copyright © 2003 by The Society of Canadian Petroleum Geologists. All Rights Reserved.