Geoscience

Geological Survey Activity Tracker

Southwest Manitoba

 

Stratigraphy, sedimentology and petroleum geology of the Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba

 

Digital elevation model map showing distribution of the Devonian Duperow Formation in brown; oil fields are shown in light brown; NTS map sheets are shown and names labelled. Click image to enlargeProject Information

Principal investigator:
Michelle P.B. Nicolas

Partnered with:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba (Nancy Chow, Kerry Bates, Lauren Eggie)

Location:
Southwestern Manitoba: parts of Brandon NTS 62G, Neepawa NTS 62J, Dauphin Lake NTS 62O, Swan Lake NTS 63C and The Pas NTS 63F; Manitoba parts of Virden NTS 62F, Riding Mountain NTS 62K and  Duck Mountain NTS 62N.

 

Project Description

Main objectives:

The objective of this project is to gain a better stratigraphic, sedimentological and economic understanding of the Devonian Duperow Formation by studying the stratigraphy, facies architecture, diagenesis, petroleum potential, and regional correlations across the basin.  A formal stratigraphic framework will be created.

Methodology:

  • Detailed core logging of the Duperow Formation; sampling for thin sections and geochemistry
  • Conduct transmitted-light, cathodoluminescence and epi-fluorescence microscopy; send samples for Rock Eval pyrolysis, and elemental and isotopic analysis
  • Structural and isopach mapping
  • Regional geophysical log correlations
  • Reservoir evaluation

 

Benefits:

This project addresses (1) a need by the petroleum industry for new potential oil-bearing horizons located at moderate depths, (2) a need identified during TGI 2 to provide a stratigraphic framework in Manitoba and correlations to Saskatchewan and North Dakota, where oil production exists, and (3) provide information to the regulators to assist in their fiscal regime structure.

 

Plans for fiscal year 2020–2021:

  • No activities planned.

 

Completed outputs:

2019–2020

Chow, N., Bates, K., Eggie, L., and Nicolas, M.P.B. 2019: Sedimentology and Petroleum Evaluation of the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, Southwestern Manitoba (abstract); CSPG Core Conference, Calgary, Alberta, May 16–17, 2019, CSPG Core Conference Abstracts, p. 105–109.

2018–2019

Nicolas, M.P.B. and Chow, N. 2018: Stratigraphy, lithology and petroleum potential of the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation in the Manitoba Potash Corporation core at 3-29-20-29W1, southwestern Manitoba (part of NTS 65K1); in Report of Activities 2018, Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 125–135.

2016–2017

Bates, K. 2016: Stratigraphy, sedimentology and petroleum potential of the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwest Manitoba; M.Sc. thesis; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba; 228 p.

Bates, K., Chow, N., and Nicolas, M.P.B. 2016: Preliminary results from sedimentological investigations and petroleum evaluation of the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba; in Report of Activities 2016, Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 157–167.

Bates, K.B., Chow, N. and Nicolas, M.P.B. 2016: Rock-Eval 6 and total organic carbon results from three wells of the Upper Devonian Wymark Member, Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba (NTS 62F14 and 16); Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, Data Repository Item DRI2016005, file format Microsoft® Excel® file.

2013–-2014

Chow, N. Bates, K., Eggie, L., McDonald, D. and Nicolas, M.P.B. 2013: Resource potential of the Devonian Winnipegosis and Duperow formations in southwestern Manitoba; 21st Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, Regina, Saskatchewan, April 30–May 2, 2013, oral presentation URL <http://wbpc.ca/+pub/document/2013_presentations/Chow%20WBPC%202013_N%20Chow_for%20posting.pdf>, 28 p. [October 11, 2013]

Bates, K.B, and Chow, N. 2013: Sedimentology and reservoir potential fo the upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Mantioba; 2013 CSPG CSEG CWLS Conference extended abstract; Calgary, Alberta, May 6–10, 2013, oral presentation, URL http://geoconvention.org/archives/2013abstracts/104_GC2013_Sedimentology_and_Reservoir_Potential.pdf>, 2 p. [January 7, 2014]

2012–2013

Bates, K. 2013: Stratigraphy, sedimentology and petroleum potential of the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba: a preliminary report; Western Inter-university Geological Conference (WIUGC); January 3-5; abstract and oral presentation. (Recipient of the  WIUGC Graduate Presentation prize).

Eggie, L., Chow, N. and Nicolas, M.P.B. 2012: Sedimentology of the Wymark Member (middle unit) of the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba (NTS 62F14, 15, 16); in Report of Activities 2012, Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines, Manitoba Geological Survey, p.160-171.

Eggie, L., Chow, N., and Nicolas, M.P.B. 2012: Lithofacies analysis and reservoir potential of the Duperow Formation (Upper Devonian), Williston Basin, southwestern Manitoba; 2012 CSPG CSEG CWLS Conference extended abstract; Calgary, Alberta, May 14-18, 2012; oral presentation; http://www.cspg.org/documents/Conventions/Archives/Annual/2012/195_GC2012_Lithofacies_Analysis_and_Reservoir_
Potential_of_the_Duperow.pdf
[October 22, 2012]; 2 p.

2011–2012

Eggie., L.A. 2012. Stratigraphy, sedimentology and petroleum reservoir potential of the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba, Canada: summary of NSERC summer work; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba; unpublished report.

Eggie, LA., 2012.  Lithofacies analysis of the middle unit of the Wymark Member in the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba, oral presentation at Western Inter-University Geoscience Conference, Regina, Saskatchewan, January 6-7.

Eggie, L.A. 2012. Sedimentology and petroleum reservoir potential of the middle unit of the Wymark Member in the Upper Devonian Duperow Formation, southwestern Manitoba; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, B. Sc. (Honours) thesis; in prep.

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