Seismic modeling of fluvial-estuarine deposits in the Athabasca oil sands using ray-tracing techniques, Steepbank River area, northeastern Alberta

Research Article| March 01, 2002 Seismic modeling of fluvial-estuarine deposits in the Athabasca oil sands using ray-tracing techniques, Steepbank River area, northeastern Alberta C.W. Langenberg; C.W. Langenberg Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Alberta Geological Survey, 4th Floor, Twin Atria, 4999 - 98 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6B 2X3 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar F.J. Hein; F.J. Hein Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Alberta Geological Survey, 4th Floor, Twin Atria, 4999 - 98 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6B 2X3 1Present Address: Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, 640 - 5 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3G4 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Lawton; D. Lawton Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Calgary, 2400 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N IN4 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Cunningham J. Cunningham Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Calgary, 2400 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N IN4 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2002) 50 (1): 178–204. https://doi.org/10.2113/50.1.178 Article history received: 05 Apr 2001 accepted: 15 Oct 2001 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation C.W. Langenberg, F.J. Hein, D. Lawton, J. Cunningham; Seismic modeling of fluvial-estuarine deposits in the Athabasca oil sands using ray-tracing techniques, Steepbank River area, northeastern Alberta. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 2002;; 50 (1): 178–204. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/50.1.178 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyBulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract Most of the bitumen resources in the Athabasca oil sands area are contained in fluvial and estuarine channel deposits of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation. Stratigraphic sections were measured along a 5 km stretch of the Steepbank River, north of Fort McMurray, near the Suncor Steepbank Mine. We have identified at least four channel complexes based on stratal bounding surfaces, arrangement of exposed lithofacies, and consistent paleoflow patterns. The lower part of each channel complex contains medium to large-scale, trough crossbedded sandstone, exhibiting high porosity and permeability. These sandstones were deposited in channel axes and are the highest-grade bitumen deposits in the study area. Overlying inclined beds (sandy or muddy inclined heterolithic stratification) downlap on the lower sandy beds and were deposited in estuarine point bars, but the permeability and bitumen saturation of these strata are considerably lower.Nearby wells contain cored and logged intervals that are similar to exposed outcrops in the riverbank. For the outcrop sections, artificial sonic logs were constructed by comparison with sonic curves from these nearby wells, but the curves were modified to reflect differences in thickness and mud content at the exposure. Three structural-stratigraphic cross-sections and ray-tracing techniques were used to construct seismic models. These models compare favourably with four high-quality, industry-acquired seismic lines from the Clarke Creek Exxon Mobil lease area, about 20 km southeast of the Steepbank River outcrops. The deposits at Steepbank are thus similar in scale and geometry to those in the Clarke Creek area. The Clarke Creek channel complexes are very well imaged on the seismic profiles, and our seismic modeling indicates that high-resolution seismic data are necessary to image these channels. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.