This study provides an understanding of the depositional evolution of the Leduc-Camrose-Nisku interval in order to better understand it's hydrocarbon potential.  The study successfully documents the depositional facies and sedimentation patterns that govern the distribution of productive and postulated play-types within the study area.  In particular it extends the prospective play fairway of the Wood River pinnacle/shelf outlier (Nisku 'G' Pool) occurrences further south.  Inclusive is a systematic mapping of this embayment or "moat" system.  It is significant in that it outlines another potential Nisku play-type, namely shelf edge closure.

The study area is located in southern Alberta, centered on the Drumheller area, from Townships 25 to 36 between Ranges 15W4 and 29W4.  At the time of the study, a total of 1012 wells penetrated the Nisku Formation within the study area.  Cored intervals from 214 wells (over 5260 metres) were described at the AEUB Core Research Centre for this study.

Click globe for general location of study area.

The study area covers 166 townships (14,200 square kilometres) in the Drumheller, West Drumheller Swalwell, Lone Pine Creek, Wimborne, Davey, Three Hills, Lousana and Fenn West areas:

• comprehensive text (113 pages), fully illustrated with 108 colour and B&W figures, documenting stratigraphy, depositional facies, geologic evolution, play types and exploration potential, core descriptions, and database;
• 6 regional cross sections;
• 13 field cross sections;
• 19 maps (isopach, structure, facies & exploration potential) at 1:50,000, 1:150,000 & 1:250,000 scales;
• stratigraphic picks and isopach values from Top Wabamun Grp. to Top Cooking Lake Fm., including Wabamun Grp., Graminia Fm., Calmar Fm., Nisku Fm. (Open Marine & Hypersaline Phases), Ireton Fm., Camrose Mbr., Duvernay Fm., Leduc Fm., and Cooking Lake Fm.;
• 1012 well database available in digital and hardcopy formats;
• core descriptions from 214 wells with internally consistent correlations.