Three-Dimensional Property Model of the Uppermost Cretaceous–Paleogene Paskapoo, Porcupine Hills, Scollard, and Willow Creek Formations in West-Central and Southern Alberta (dataset, multiple files)

This 3D property model of the uppermost Cretaceous–Paleogene Paskapoo, Porcupine Hills, Scollard, and Willow Creek formations in west-central and southern Alberta contains modelled property data for shale volume and total porosity. The model provides insight into the regional distribution of highly porous sandstone within these near surface bedrock deposits.

The model area covers approximately 91 000 km² and is bounded by the deformation edge associated with the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the west and the erosional edge of the Scollard and Willow Creek formations to the north and east. The volume of the model is defined by the bedrock top surface and the base surface of the Scollard and Willow Creek formations. The model has been subdivided into an upper zone, comprised of the Paskapoo and Porcupine Hills formations, and a lower zone, comprised of the Scollard and Willow Creek formations.

The shale volume in these zones is inversely related to the sandstone abundance and was calculated from a combination of gamma-ray logs from oil and gas wells and lithological descriptions from water wells. The porosity was calculated from bulk density logs from oil and gas wells, and it was not calibrated and intended for mapping regional trends only. The resolution and accuracy of the 3D property model is constrained by the uncertainty and quality of the input logs and the methods used in modelling; as a result, the model is appropriate for regional-scale (1:100 000) assessments rather than site-specific investigations.

This model is available for download in the following packages:

1. the Petrel project file [Download, 3 GB]

2. a deconstructed model dataset composed of continuous model horizons as Esri format grids, and a zone model extent shapefile [Download, 10 MB]

3. populated model properties as point data in ASCII format [Download, 790 MB]

4. all of the above data [Download, 3.9 GB]

All packages are accompanied by Open File Report 2019-05 which provides the geological context and describes the creation of the property model.