Overview

The Middle Devonian Winnipegosis Formation of southeastern Saskatchewan is part of an extremely widespread shallow water carbonate system that covers the majority of the Western Canada and Williston Sedimentary Basins.  Pinnacle reefs of the Winnepegosis-equivalent Keg River Formation of Alberta have long proven to be significant oil producing reservoirs.  Although similar pinnacle reefs have been known to occur in the southeastern extent of the Elk Point basin it was not until the discovery near Tablelands, Saskatchewan that these reefs have proven productive.

This study provides an understanding of the stratigraphy, depositional units, structural history and source rock maturation & hydrocarbon migration within the Winnipegosis and its encasing formations.  Mapping outlines shelf and pinnacle prone (basinal) areas, and the irregular distribution of a previously unrecognized source interval, the Brightholme Member.  The geochemical analysis phase of the study delineates the oil window from the outcrop belt in Manitoba across southern Saskatchewan.  These criteria are synthesized into trends that appear to be the most prospective for hydrocarbon generation and accumulation.

The study area is located in southeastern Saskatchewan from Township 1 to 10, between Ranges 30W1 to 30W2.  At the time of the study a total of 169 wells penetrated the Winnipegosis Formation.  Cored intervals from 38 wells were examined and a total of 79 samples were taken for geochemical analysis.

Click globe for map of study area.

• fully illustrated text (106 pages, including 50 figures and plates) documenting stratigraphy, depositional setting, source rock geochemistry, hydrocarbon potential, play types ("pinnacle" buildups), core descriptions, and database;
• 8 regional stratigraphic cross sections;
• 6 maps (isopach, structure, & hydrocarbon potential) at 1:250,000 scale;
• 8 stratigraphic picks from Top Dawson Bay Formation to Top Ashern Formation;
• 169 well database available in hardcopy and digital formats;
• core descriptions from 38 wells with internally consistent correlations;
• geochemical analyses from 79 samples.