Delineation of a sandstone-filled incised valley in the Lower Cretaceous Dina-Cummings interval: implications for development of the Winter Pool, west-central Saskatchewan

Research Article| December 01, 2009 Delineation of a sandstone-filled incised valley in the Lower Cretaceous Dina–Cummings interval: implications for development of the Winter Pool, west-central Saskatchewan Dustin B. Bauer; Dustin B. Bauer University of Calgary, Department of Geoscience, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, dbbauer@ucalgary.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Dale A. Leckie; Dale A. Leckie Nexen Inc., 801–7 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3P7, dale_leckie@nexeninc.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen M. Hubbard; Stephen M. Hubbard University of Calgary, Department of Geoscience, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, shubbard@ucalgary.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Graham Dolby Graham Dolby 6719 Leaside Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3E 6H6, gdolby@shaw.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Dustin B. Bauer University of Calgary, Department of Geoscience, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, dbbauer@ucalgary.ca Dale A. Leckie Nexen Inc., 801–7 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3P7, dale_leckie@nexeninc.com Stephen M. Hubbard University of Calgary, Department of Geoscience, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, shubbard@ucalgary.ca Graham Dolby 6719 Leaside Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3E 6H6, gdolby@shaw.ca Publisher: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Received: 11 Nov 2008 Accepted: 02 Dec 2009 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 2368-0261 Print Issn: 0007-4802 © The Society of Canadian Petroleum Geologists Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology (2009) 57 (4): 409–429. https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.57.4.409 Article history Received: 11 Nov 2008 Accepted: 02 Dec 2009 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 Dustin B. Bauer, Dale A. Leckie, Stephen M. Hubbard, Graham Dolby; Delineation of a sandstone-filled incised valley in the Lower Cretaceous Dina–Cummings interval: implications for development of the Winter Pool, west-central Saskatchewan. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology 2009;; 57 (4): 409–429. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gscpgbull.57.4.409 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 Major heavy oil deposits are present in Lower Cretaceous strata of west-central Saskatchewan. The Winter Heavy Oil Pool (approximately 566 044 mmbl) consists of bitumen-rich sands from the Aptian–Albian Dina and Cummings members of the Mannville Group. This succession unconformably overlies Paleozoic carbonates and is conformably overlain by the Lloydminster Member.Lower Cretaceous deposition in the Winter area was influenced by topography on the regional sub-Cretaceous unconformity, including the Unity uplands south of the study area and major paleovalleys opening to the northwest. The overall depositional framework consists of a lowstand and transgressive fluvial sandstone deposit (Dina Member) that evolved into a brackish embayment system (Cummings Member). Upon sea level fall, a valley was incised into the mudstone-dominated marginal marine deposits, which filled with sandstone during a subsequent sea-level rise (Cummings Member). Exploitable heavy oil reservoirs are contained within these incised valley sandstone beds. Further transgression led to a rising water table with widespread deposition of an organic-rich shale and coal followed by marine shale of the Lloydminster Member. The new depositional model for the area should lead to more optimal placement of horizontal wells in the reservoir, which is vital to continued bitumen extraction from the Winter Pool. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.