Wabamun Formation

For other uses, see Wabamun (disambiguation).

Wabamun Formation Stratigraphic range: Famennian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Sub-units	Crossfield Member
Underlies	Exshaw Formation, Blairmore Group, Mannville Group
Overlies	Graminia Formation (Winterburn Group)
Thickness	up to 240 metres (790 ft)^[1]
Lithology
Primary	Limestone, dolostone
Other	Anhydrite
Location
Coordinates	53°23′06″N 114°30′44″W / 53.3851°N 114.5123°W / 53.3851; -114.5123 (Anglo Canadian Wabamun Lake No. 1)
Region	Alberta
Country	Canada
Type section
Named for	Wabamun Lake
Named by	Imperial Oil, 1950

The Wabamun Formation is a stratigraphic unit of Late Devonian (Famennian) age in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin.^[2] It takes the name from Wabamun Lake and was first described in the Anglo Canadian Wabamun Lake No. 1 well (located between the Wabamun Lake and the North Saskatchewan River) by Imperial Oil in 1950.^[3]

Lithology

The Wabamun Formation is composed of dolomitic limestone and calcareous dolostone with anhydrite interbeds. ^[1] Halite and anhydrite are present at the base of the formation in the Stettler region. It is composed entirely of limestone in north-western Alberta. Secondary pyrite is found at the top of the formation.

Hydrocarbon potential

The Wabamun Formation had an initial established recoverable oil reserve of 7.2 million m³, with 3.2 million m³ already produced as of 2008.^[4] Gas reserves totaled 102.8 million m³, with 53.5 million m³ already produced.^[5]

Distribution

The Wabamun Formation reaches a maximum thickness of 240 metres (790 ft) in the sub-surface of central Alberta.^[1] It thins out and wedges towards the east, and thickens towards the Canadian Rockies foothills.

Relationship to other units

The Wabamun Formation is disconformably overlain by the Exshaw Formation in southern Alberta, by the Blairmore Group in western Alberta and by the Mannville Group in eastern Alberta. It rests conformably on the Graminia Formation siltstone of the Winterburn Group.^[1]

In the Calgary area, the formation is divided into a lower and an upper part separated by the porous dolomitic Crossfield Member.

It is equivalent to the Three Forks Formation in Montana, the Palliser Formation in the Canadian Rockies, the sum of the Kotcho Formation and Tetcho Formation in northeastern British Columbia.

References

1 2 3 4 Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Wabamun Formation". Retrieved 2009-03-01.
↑ Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I., (compilers), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and Alberta Geological Survey (1994). "The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 13: Devonian Wabamun Group of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin". Retrieved 2014-10-18.
↑ Imperial Oil Limited, Geological Staff, Western Division, 1950. Devonian nomenclature in Edmonton area, Alberta, Canada. Bull. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, v. 34, p. 1807-1825.
↑ Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I - Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (1994). "The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin - Summary of oil reserves and production data". Retrieved 2009-03-06.
↑ Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I - Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (1994). "The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin - Summary of gas reserves and production data". Retrieved 2009-03-06.

Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

Hydrocarbon history	Oil sands and heavy oil Frontier exploration and development Natural gas liquids Natural gas

Depositional regions	Southern Alberta Central Alberta Northwestern Alberta Plains South-central Canadian Rockies foothills North-east Plains North-central foothills Liard River Fort Nelson Northern Rocky Mountains Fort St. John Saskatchewan Western Manitoba

Northwest plains	Paskapoo FM Scollard FM Wapiti GRP Smoky GRP Puskwaskau FM Badheart FM Muskiki FM Cardium FM Kaskapau FM Pouce Coupe MBR Doe Creek MBR Dunvegan FM Fort St. John GRP Shaftesbury FM Peace River FM Spirit River FM Bullhead GRP Bluesky FM Gething FM Cadomin FM Nikanassin FM Fernie GRP Rock Creek MBR Poker Chip Shale Nordegg MBR Schooler Creek GRP Baldonnel FM Charlie Lake FM Halfway FM Doig FM Montney FM Belloy FM Stoddart GRP Taylor Flat FM Kiskatinaw FM Golata FM Rundle GRP Debolt FM Shunda FM Pekisko FM Banff FM Exshaw FM Wabamun FM Trout River FM Kakisa FM Redknife FM Jean Marie MBR Woodbend GRP Irteton FM Fort Simpson FM Leduc FM Duvernay FM Cooking Lake FM Beaverhill Lake GRP Waterways FM Swan Hills FM Fort Vermilion FM Elk Point GRP Watt Mountain FM Gillwood MBR Presqu’ile FM Sulphur Point FM Pine Point FM Muskeg FM Zama MBR Black Shale Keg River FM Rainbow MBR Chinchaga FM Cold Lake FM Ernestina FM Basal Red Beds Granite Wash Canadian Shield

Northeastern plains	Bearpaw FM Belly River GRP Lea Park FM La Biche GRP Viking FM Joli Fou FM Colony SS Mannville GRP McLaren MBR Grand Rapids FM Waseca SS Sparky SS Gen. Petr. SS Clearwater FM Rex SS Lloydminster SS Wabiskaw MBR Cummings MBR McMurray FM Dina MBR Banff FM Exshaw FM Wabamun FM Winterburn FM Woodbend GRP Grosmont FM Irteton FM Cooking Lake FM Beaverhill Lake GRP Elk Point GRP Canadian Shield

Southern Alberta plains	Cypress Hills FM Porcupine Hills FM Ravenscrag FM Edmonton GRP Belly River GRP Oldman FM Foremost FM Pakowki FM Milk River FM Colorado GRP Mannville GRP Ellis GRP Swift FM Rierdon FM Sawtooth FM Rundle GRP Banff FM Exshaw FM Bakken FM Wabamun FM Crowfoot FM Nisku FM Ireton FM Leduc FM Cooking Lake FM Beaverhill Lake GRP Elk Point GRP Canadian Shield

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