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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

CSPG Special Publications

Abstract


Future Petroleum Provinces of Canada, Their Geology and Potential — Memoir 1, 1973
Pages 589-720

The Geology and Petroleum Potential of the Canadian Sedimentary Basins — A Synthesis

R. G. McCrossan, J. W. Porter

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to relate the principal observations of the various contributors to the volume within a broad background of regional geology and to make an estimation of the Canadian petroleum potential drawing heavily on this basic material. The 38 un-metamorphosed sedimentary basins recognized in this study have been classified into 7 types to provide a framework within which the petroleum potential could be estimated in a uniform manner, and to permit comparison with sedimentary basins of the world. Within the stable region 4 categories of basins are recognized: the craton centre, the craton margin, the craton margin disturbed (the latter lying at the interface with the mobile belt), and the rift or collapse basin. Two types of coastal margin basins are defined: the stable and unstable types. Finally, within the mobile belt are the intermontane basins. Each of these types is geometrically quite distinct as a result of its unique tectonic setting which in turn controls its sedimentological properties. The tectono-sedimentary character of each basin style is related in turn to a limited and characteristic association of types of petroleum occurrence. Those basins of relatively more negative tendency, i.e. the craton margin, rift, and unstable coastal margin types, are of higher petroleum potential because of their particular structural and stratigraphic attributes.

An outline of the geological history of northern North America based on the study of four major stratigraphic sequences within the Phanerozoic serves to outline the evolution of the Canadian basins in time and space. The megasequences of continent-wide distribution were chosen to emphasize the significant tectonic events responsible for the basin formation, particularly with respect to generally accepted concepts of global tectonics.

The estimates of potential are based on a variety of methods but all involve geological analysis. The volumetric method is used to test the reasonableness of the results against other regions of the world. The potential of the various basins varies widely from very low for those of the craton centre to high for those of the unstable coastal margins. These values are shown in a table that displays estimates of oil and gas resources and sedimentary volumes for all basins as well as a series of calculated parameters for each, such as oil and gas yields per cubic mile, combined yield of oil plus gas equivalent, etc. In addition, a tabular geological description for each basin provides a summary of the documentation for the estimates followed by an aggregate description of each basin type based on the described examples.

Canada has a fairly comfortable conventional petroleum potential (including already discovered oil and gas) estimated at 85 billion barrels of oil and 577 trillion cubic feet of gas occurring within 3.5 million cubic miles of un-metamorphosed sedimentary rock, excluding the continental slopes. The bulk of the future resource lies in geographically remote areas and in areas involving severe logistical problems. No economic studies accompany this work so that it is impossible to say at what price and at what time the supply will be available. It is safe to say, however, that the bulk of it will be obtained only at relatively high cost. It is also fairly apparent that the short term lower cost future supply in the more accessible areas of the country is relatively small, amounting to a little over 6 billion barrels of oil and 55 trillion cubic feet of gas beyond that which has already been discovered. It is evident also that any possibility of major future reserves can lie only in three possible regions large enough volumetrically, or rich enough to contain them: the Mackenzie basin, the Sverdrup basin, and parts of the east coast off-shore area.


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