| Title | The Paleozoic Hudson Bay Basin in northern Canada: new insights into hydrocarbon potential of a frontier intracratonic basin |
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| Author | Lavoie, D ; Pinet,
N; Dietrich, J; Chen, Z |
| Source | American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin vol. 99, no. 5, 2015 p. 859-888, https://doi.org/10.1306/12161414060 |
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| Year | 2015 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20130505 |
| Publisher | American Association of Petroleum Geologists |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Manitoba; Nunavut; Ontario; Quebec |
| Area | Hudson Bay Basin |
| Subjects | fossil fuels; sedimentology; stratigraphy; structural geology; subsidence; isostasy; basins; basin analyses; Upper Ordovician; Lower Devonian; Upper Devonian; lithology; hydrocarbon potential;
intracratonic basins; modelling; petroleum exploration; stratigraphic correlations; stratigraphic analyses; unconformities; basin evolution; Lower Silurian; seismic interpretations; porosity; permeability; source rocks; thermal history; reservoirs;
faults; O-23 Beluga well; C-11 Polar Bear C well; No. 1 Pen Island well; N-01 Netsiq well; O-58 Narwhal South well; A-71 Walrus well; Devonian; Silurian; Ordovician |
| Illustrations | geological sketch maps; stratigraphic cross-sections; seismic profiles |
| Program | GEM: Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals Hudson / Foxe Bay Sedimentary Basins |
| Released | 2015 05 01 |
| Abstract | The Hudson Bay Basin is the largest intracratonic basin in North America, although it is the only one without any proven hydrocarbon reserves. The stratigraphic succession that fills the basin consists
mainly of Paleozoic strata, with a maximum preserved thickness of about 2500 m (8202 ft). The Paleozoic succession includes Ordovician to Devonian shallow marine carbonates, reefs, and shales with locally thick Devonian evaporites. The Paleozoic
strata are locally unconformably overlain by a thin Mesozoic and Cenozoic cover of nonmarine and marine strata. From 1964 to 1985, over 46,000 line-km (28,600 mi) of seismic reflection data were acquired, and four onshore and five offshore
exploration wells were drilled. The data acquired at that time led to pessimistic conclusions on source rocks and the thermal rank of the basin and resulted in the stoppage of exploration activities. However, hydrocarbon shows or indicators were
identified in well log data and seismic reflection profiles. The likelihood of an active petroleum system has also been recently supported by recognition of pockmarks on the seafloor and possible marine oil slicks identified on satellite images.
New studies of geological, geophysical, and biostratigraphic data reveal that the Hudson Bay Basin had an irregular subsidence and uplift history. Syntectonic deposition occurred during the Late Ordovician(?) to Early Devonian and sag-basin
deposition during the Middle to Late Devonian. The basin contains four unconformity-bounded sequences, with significant depocenter migration over time. Analyses of petroleum-system data indicate the Hudson Bay Basin has higher petroleum potential
than previously considered. Porous platform limestones, reefs, hydrothermal dolomites, and siliciclastics form potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. Upper Ordovician organic-rich shales with type II-S organic matter are recognized at several locations in
the basin. Newly acquired organic matter reflectance and Rock-Eval Tmax data indicate Ordovician-Silurian strata locally reached the oil window. Basin modeling demonstrates significant potential for oil generation and expulsion from Ordovician source
rocks. Five petroleum play types are identified in the Hudson Bay Basin, including an untested fault-sag or hydrothermal dolomite play. The synthesis of the petroleum system information indicates that the Hudson Bay Basin is, at least locally,
prospective for oil accumulations. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The Hudson Bay Basin is the largest intracratonic basin in North America and one of the largest sedimentary basin in Canada. Intracratonic basins in the
USA are major oil and gas producers. A first phase of exploration (1969-1985) failed to identify commercial hydrocarbons. As part of the Energy component of the GEM 1 program, a reevaluation of historical data and acquisition of new strategic
geoscience data led to an upgrade of our geological understanding of that basin with the proposition of conceptual new hydrocarbon plays for the basin. Synthesis of hydrocarbon-related data suggest that the Hudson Bay basin is prosepective for
oil. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 293798 |
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