Structure, stratigraphy and petroleum resource potential of the Central Whitehorse Trough, Northern Canadian Cordillera

Research Article| June 01, 2005 Structure, stratigraphy and petroleum resource potential of the Central Whitehorse Trough, Northern Canadian Cordillera Joseph M. English; Joseph M. English School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, Joe_English@nexeninc.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gary G. Johannson; Gary G. Johannson Canadian Discovery Ltd., Suite 1100, 603 – 7th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2T5, gjohannson@canadiandiscovery.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen T. Johnston; Stephen T. Johnston School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, stj@uvic.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mitchell G. Mihalynuk; Mitchell G. Mihalynuk British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, PO Box 9320, Stn Prov. Govt., Victoria, BC V8W 9N3, Mitch.Mihalynuk@gems5.gov.bc.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Martin Fowler; Martin Fowler Geological Survey of Canada (Calgary), 3303 – 33rd Street NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2A7, MFowler@NRCan.gc.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kara L. Wight Kara L. Wight School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, wightkara@yahoo.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Joseph M. English School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, Joe_English@nexeninc.com Gary G. Johannson Canadian Discovery Ltd., Suite 1100, 603 – 7th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2T5, gjohannson@canadiandiscovery.com Stephen T. Johnston School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, stj@uvic.ca Mitchell G. Mihalynuk British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, PO Box 9320, Stn Prov. Govt., Victoria, BC V8W 9N3, Mitch.Mihalynuk@gems5.gov.bc.ca Martin Fowler Geological Survey of Canada (Calgary), 3303 – 33rd Street NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2A7, MFowler@NRCan.gc.ca Kara L. Wight School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055, STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, wightkara@yahoo.ca Publisher: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Received: 02 Feb 2003 Accepted: 26 Jul 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 2368-0261 Print ISSN: 0007-4802 © The Society of Canadian Petroleum Geologists Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2005) 53 (2): 130–153. https://doi.org/10.2113/53.2.130 Article history Received: 02 Feb 2003 Accepted: 26 Jul 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Joseph M. English, Gary G. Johannson, Stephen T. Johnston, Mitchell G. Mihalynuk, Martin Fowler, Kara L. Wight; Structure, stratigraphy and petroleum resource potential of the Central Whitehorse Trough, Northern Canadian Cordillera. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 2005;; 53 (2): 130–153. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/53.2.130 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 The Whitehorse Trough is an early Mesozoic marine sedimentary basin, which extends from southern Yukon to Dease Lake in British Columbia. This paper outlines the stratigraphy and structure, and characterises the overall petroleum resource potential of the central Whitehorse Trough. Strata within the central Whitehorse Trough include carbonate rocks of the Upper Triassic Sinwa Formation, and interbedded sandstone, siltstone and argillite of the Lower Jurassic Inklin Formation. The central Whitehorse Trough is structurally dominated by a Middle Jurassic southwest-vergent fold and thrust belt. Programmed pyrolysis data indicate that potential source rocks in the Inklin Formation are gas-prone, and, along the northeastern flank of the central Whitehorse Trough, are within the oil and gas window. Variably tuffaceous feldspathic arenites in the Inklin Formation have fair to good reservoir characteristics, but are a minor component of the stratigraphy. Potential petroleum traps are provided by antiforms, thrust faults and stratigraphic pinch-outs. Three conceptual gas plays for the central Whitehorse Trough are proposed: (1) the Sinwa Structural Gas Play; (2) the Inklin Structural Gas Play; and (3) the Inklin Stratigraphic Gas Play. The Inklin Structural Gas Play presents the greatest potential in the central Whitehorse Trough because levels of organic maturation along the northeastern flank of the basin are favourable and structural traps are readily identifiable. This prospective belt of strata may extend to the northeast beneath the structurally overlying Cache Creek terrane. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.