A stratigraphic framework for Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous gas-bearing strata (Monteith Formation) in the subsurface of northwest Alberta

Miles, Brett D.; Kukulski, Ross B.; Raines, M. Keegan; Zonneveld, John‐Paul; Leier, Andrew; Hubbard, Stephen M.

doi:10.2113/gscpgbull.60.1.3

Cited by 17 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…10), support the interpretation that Late Jurassic sediment dispersal was characterized by basin-axial fluvial systems with headwaters in the southwestern United States (Fig. 11) (Hamblin and Walker, 1979;Miles et al, 2012;Raines et al, 2013). While this interpretation apparently best fits this data set, transverse sediment routing during this time period has also been reported.…”

Section: Late Jurassicsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Jurassic deposits record marine to nonmarine basin filling, which is typical of foreland basin clastic wedges (Table 1) (Cant and Stockmal, 1989;Fuentes et al, 2011;Miles et al, 2012;Kukulski et al, 2013;Raines et al, 2013). Overall, the thickness of these units is controlled by variations in accommodation and differential erosion of pre-Cretaceous units during incision of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity ( Fig.…”

Section: Late Jurassicmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Overall, the thickness of these units is controlled by variations in accommodation and differential erosion of pre-Cretaceous units during incision of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity ( Fig. 9) (Leckie and Smith, 1992;Hayes et al, 1994;Gillespie and Heller, 1995;Miles et al, 2012). That continental deposits at Grande Cache, Alberta (e.g., Monteith Formation), are stratigraphically younger than continental deposits in Montana (e.g., Morrison Formation) is interpreted to record southto-north, basin-axial filling of foreland accommodation space (Fig.…”

Section: Late Jurassicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gibson Reservoir, Montana Gibson Reservoir , Montana (Fuentes et al, 2011) Cold Lake, Alberta (Blum and Pecha, 2014) Grande Cache, Alberta Quinn et al, 2016) Synthetic age population Upper Jurassic strata of the Monteith Formation in the Grande Cache area have been assigned to the foredeep on the basis of thickness, sandstone provenance, and composition (Price and Mountjoy, 1970;Monger et al, 1982;Cant and Stockmal, 1989;Leckie and Smith;1992, Miles et al, 2012. The similarity between the detrital zircon spectra in the Late Jurassic system and the occurrence of Cordilleran magmatic-arc grains in these deposits do not support the hypothesis that a forebulge significantly influenced sediment dispersal in the basin during the Late Jurassic.…”

Section: Chinook Fm N=86mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

et al. 2018

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The Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous fill of the Western Interior foreland basin is characterized using geochronological data in order to assess the stratigraphic expression of wedge-top geomorphology, as controlled by sediment cover and denudation. In northern Montana, USA, and Alberta, Canada, wedge-top deposits are poorly preserved; however, their former presence may be inferred from the detrital record in the foreland basin. We present new U/Pb detrital zircon data from nine samples collected near Great Falls, Montana, augmented with field data. The stratigraphy at Great Falls is characterized by Late Jurassic marine and nonmarine deposits, which are truncated by a basinwide sub-Cretaceous unconformity. Aptian and lower Albian strata overlying the unconformity are dominated by nonmarine deposits, which transition up-section into a predominantly marine succession related to a major transgression of the Boreal Seaway in the Albian.Detrital zircon grains from Great Falls strata yield age spectra that can be subdivided into three groups using multidimensional scaling. Group 1 is characterized by diverse zircon populations, which are interpreted to record recycling of pre-Cordilleran sedimentary strata transported via foreland basin-axial river systems with headwaters in the southwestern United States. Group 2 is characterized by the dominance of Mesozoic detrital zircon grains, which are interpreted to record sediment dispersal by fluvial systems with headwaters in the Cordillera. Group 3 is intermediate between groups 1 and 2, based on its proportion of Mesozoic zircon grains. This group records a diversification of the provenance from one dominated by Cordilleran igneous rocks to include recycled sedimentary strata.New data are integrated with three other data sets from Montana and Alberta such that stratal thicknesses (a proxy for accommodation development) and provenance evolution can be compared across the basin. The detrital record in each area, which transitions from diverse provenance to predominantly Cordilleran through the entire stratigraphic section, can be linked to the burial of the pre-foreland strata in the wedge-top depozone. This record elucidates a period of evolution of the western margin of North America to a more Andean-type system with primary input to the basin from an active magmatic arc.

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Section: Late Jurassicsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Late Jurassicmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Late Jurassicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Chinook Fm N=86mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

et al. 2018

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“…He also adapted the use of the Monteith, Beattie Peaks, and Monach Formations within the Minnes Group (equivalent Nikanassin Group in the Alberta Deep Basin), from older to younger, respectively. However, a careful review was provided recently by the same author (Miles et al, 2012), suggesting that the Monteith Formation (Northeastern British Columbia) is the lithostratigraphic equivalent of the Minnes Group (or Nikanassin Group in the Alberta Deep Basin). Consequently, he proposed an informal subdivision for this Formation consisting of the "Monteith C, B and A", from bottom-up, respectively (the previous equivalents were Monteith, Beattie Peaks, and Monach Formations, respectively).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geologic Controls of Gas Production from Tight-Gas Sandstones of the Late Jurassic Monteith Formation, Deep Basin, Alberta, Canada

Zambrano¹,

Pedersen²,

Aguilera

2013

All Days

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Comparison of rock properties and production performance between the uppermost lithostratigraphic unit ("Monteith A") and the lowermost portion ("Monteith C") of the Monteith Formation in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) in Alberta is carried out with the use of existing gas wells. The analyses are targeted to understand the major geologic controls that differentiate the two strata.The approach involves multi-scale description and evaluation techniques of cores and drill cuttings, including multiple laboratory measurements of key reservoir parameters. The ultimate goal is to understand the distribution of reservoir quality in each stratigraphy unit within the Monteith in the study area.This study comprises basic analytical tools available for geological characterization of tight gas Formations based on the identification and comparison of different rock types for each lithostratigraphic unit: depositional, petrographic, and hydraulic. As these low-permeability sandstone reservoirs have been subjected to post-depositional diagenesis, a comparison of the various rock types allows to generate a more accurate reservoir description, and to better understand the key geologic characteristics that control gas production potential.It is concluded that "Monteith A" Unit has better rock quality than the Monteith C", due to less heterogeneous reservoir geometry, less complex mineralogical composition, and larger pore throat apertures. These results are linked successfully with Monteith production capabilities. SPE-167177-MSKeeping this in mind, results of two research projects focused on the Monteith strata are joined and are expected to provide important feedback for future hydrocarbon exploration and development of these low-permeability gas intervals using the available dataset. In addition, an enhanced methodology provides an excellent opportunity to improve our understanding of other similarly underexploited, undercored tight gas reservoirs with the incorporation of different data sources and analytical techniques presented in the here described workflow.The purpose of this investigation is the identification of key geologic and engineering aspects of the Monteith A and Monteith C intervals including: (1) nature of porosity and permeability, and their relation to petrophysical properties as qualitative indicators of storage and flow capacities; (2) mineralogical composition and dominant pore geometries; (3) identification of characteristic flow-units, (4) investigation of possible relationships between sedimentary facies, mineralogy and diagenetic processes, and petrophysical rock properties, and (5) relationship of the previous properties and gas production from individual wells.The previous knowledge combined with multi-fractured stimulated horizontal wells is critical to economic success of the Monteith tight gas reservoir, which is becoming an increasingly important producer. In order to provide support for the results of this work and to guide future drilling and development activities; acquisition of se...

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Early Cretaceous evolution of the McMurray Formation: A review toward a better understanding of the paleo-depositional system

Peng,

Durkin,

Martin

et al. 2024

Earth-Science Reviews

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A stratigraphic framework for Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous gas-bearing strata (Monteith Formation) in the subsurface of northwest Alberta

Cited by 17 publications

References 63 publications

A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

Geologic Controls of Gas Production from Tight-Gas Sandstones of the Late Jurassic Monteith Formation, Deep Basin, Alberta, Canada

Early Cretaceous evolution of the McMurray Formation: A review toward a better understanding of the paleo-depositional system

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