(Courtesy of IEA Weyburn CO2 Storage and Monitoring Project) larger image [JPEG, 25.6 kb, 440 X 267, notice]

(Courtesy of IEA Weyburn CO2 Storage and Monitoring Project) larger image [JPEG, 160.8 kb, 440 X 330, notice]

Geological storage of CO2 is a highly promising method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the Weyburn Oilfield in southwestern Saskatchewan, CO2 is being in injected into 1.5 km deep Mississippian carbonates to test this method and also to increase oil production. The "Weyburn Project" - a collaboration of provincial and federal governments, academia and industry - is a successful integration of several subdisciplines, including geological mapping, geophysics, hydrogeology and remote sensing.

Williston Basin Architecture and Hydrocarbon Potential (Saskatchewan and Manitoba)

Synopsis

Understanding the architecture of the Williston Basin is essential for assessing its hydrocarbon resources. Building from the Weyburn Project, this TGI project will develop a seamless 3D geological model of Phanerozoic-aged rocks, from subsurface to outcrop, in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, in a geographic area that extends the IEA Weyburn Monitoring and Storage project area east and northeast into Manitoba, and west and north into central Saskatchewan, in order to enhance our knowledge of subsurface mineral potential (e.g. brines and potash), and hydrocarbon migration and entrapment. This model will incorporate geophysical and hydrogeological data to enhance our understanding of hydrocarbon migration paths and traps, within and beyond, traditional geographic areas of hydrocarbon production. This is to be done through analysis of the tectonic, sedimentary, hydrogeological and thermal history of the area. Information gathered will contribute to completing the geoscience framework in other parts of the basin where many stratigraphic intervals are under-explored.

Objectives

Specific objectives for project area are:

1. Identify major geological units and their equivalencies in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
2. Develop a web-enabled compilation of existing literature and current geoscience knowledge.
3. Produce regional isopach and structure maps for all major geological units and present them in ArcView GIS format with attached attribute data.
4. Acquire and incorporate seismic, aeromagnetic and gravity into a seamless subsurface geological model to improve our understanding of the Precambrian basement and tectonic relationship with Phanerozoic rocks.
5. Produce regional hydrogeological model for strata of Paleozoic and Mesozoic age.

Methods

1. Identify partnerships with industry, academia and other agencies for input into the development and implementation of the project and potential contributions with respect to data acquisition and interpretation.
2. Identify and compile selected references list deemed pertinent to the development of a 3D geological model for the project area.
3. Identify and compile all publicly available seismic, aeromagnetic and gravity data. Explore options to acquire private geophysical data (e.g. industry donations or purchase data from geophysical vendors). Process geophysical data as it becomes available.
4. Identify and acquire raster images of geophysical logs for all available wells within the proposed study area within Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
5. Identify major geological units and their equivalencies in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Construct a regional grid of cross sections from 30W2 in Saskatchewan, east, into the subcrop belt in Manitoba. This will help to determine the level of stratigraphic refinement possible within the time-frame of the project
6. Pick geological tops for mappable geological units from the Precambrian basement to surface.
7. Construct regional structure and isopach maps of geological surfaces picked.
8. Identify and compile existing data pertinent to an assessment of hydrocarbon potential in the project area (e.g. source-rock data, hydrocarbon shows, producing zones).
9. Identify and incorporate hydrogeological data into a hydrogeological model for the study area.
10. Synthesize results from all Tasks into a 3D seamless geological model for the project area.

Partners

Earth Sciences Sector, Natural Resources Canada
Manitoba Industry, Trade and Mines
Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
University of Saskatchewan
University of Alberta
Mollard and Associates

More Information

For more information about this project, contact Benoit Beauchamp.