1. Regional Petroleum Hydrogeological study of Bakken Formation,
Canadian part
Birendra Kumar Piya
MSc Integrated Petroleum Geosciences 2012/2013
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and
Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Supervisor: Professor Ben J. Rostron
August 8, 2013
1

2. OBJECTIVE
 To Carry out general hydrogeological study of Bakken
formation in Canadian parts.
 To generate Potentiometric surface map, structural
maps and to determine the groundwater flow direction.
 To analyse and evaluate the chemistry (TDS) of the
formation waters
 To generate Pressure versus depth plots
 To determine the position of hydrocarbon entrapments
using UVZ method
2

3. Introduction
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Study area
Manitoba
Canadian
Shield
North Dakota
South Dakota
Siouxarch
Montana
Wyoming
Location :
Longitude: 990
30' to 1110
53' W
Latitude : 490
to 520
20' N
Area: 84,000 Sq. Miles̴
(216,700 km2
)
Thickness: 0 – 47m
Bakken formation area
200,000 Sq. miles (520,000 Km2
)
(Kent and Christopher, 1994, Wikipedia)
Modified from, Benn and Rostron, 1998, Bakken outline-Smith and Bustin, 2000
Study area
3

4. Geoscout
Final Report
Data
Source Accumap
(IHS)
•Structural data,
•Chemical data
•Pressure data
Culling of data
Data
analysis
Database
management
Microsoft Excel
Calculation of
Hydraulic heads
Calculation for
formation
density
Calculation of DFR
and driving force
Calculation of �∇
and �∇
Surfer and IlWISHydraulic head
map, UVZ map
Structure map,
TDS map,
Methods
Hitchon and Brulotte, (1994)
4

5. Formulas
• Hydraulic head (h) = z +( P/ρg) ….……..1
• U =V – Z…………………………………...2
• U= {ρo/(ρo - ρw)} * ho…………………… 3
• V={ρw/(ρw-ρo)}*hw …………………………4
• DFR = (Δρ * E)/(ρ0 * Hf)…………………5
• The driving force (F) = Hf +(Δρ/ρf) * E. ..6
Hubbert, 1953; Davies, 1987
5

6. GENERAL GEOLOGY
Williston Basin
Bakken Formation
Lodgepole
Threefork
formation
Meissner, 1978 Osinski, 1970, Rocanville area
lodgepole
threefork
6

7. Hydrostratigraphy Of Williston Basin
Melnik, 2012
Melnik 2012, 12 aquifer, 12 aquitard
Palombi, 2008, 19 aquifer, 13 aquitard
7

8. The Laramide orogeny was caused
by subduction of a plate at a shallow
angle.
Wikipedia.org
Tectonics:
• Associated with laramide orogene
Mountain building activity, in late
Cretaceous period. Oceanic plate
sliding under the North American
plate at shallow angle.
According to Kent and Christopher (1994), the origin of
the basin is mainly due to subsidence and upliftment
caused due to normal process of heating and cooling
process in the inside of the earth.
8

9. Depositional environment
• Upper member: deposited in anaerobic condition (deep marine
environment ) i.e. restricted circulation of Oxygen
• Middle member: aerobic condition (diagenetically altered to
dolomites)
• Lower member: dysaerobic condition
• Deposited during major cycle of onlap and offlap sediments
(Transgression and regression series)
• The presence of some organic remains like planktonic organic
spores, fish remains, cephalopods, ostracodes and conodonts
indicate marine to marginal marine water conditions
• Absence of wave generated structure indicates deposition
below storm wave base
Halabura et al. (2007). Meissner, (1978) 9

10. S
N
Lower depth
Upper depth
Contour interval 500 ft
NW
SE
Bakken structure maps
10

11. Meissner, 1978
lower member = 3-20m
Middle member = few cm to
30m
Average = 13m
upper member
Max thickness varies 4-18m
= Average 2m
Halabura et al, 2007
11

12. Analysis
Hydraulic Head
h = z + P/ρg = z + Ψ
Hydraulic head is the sum of
elevation head and the pressure
head
ΨB
hB
SB
Surface
zB
Formation
Name
Bottom
Hole
Latitude
Bottom
Hole
Longitu
de
KB
Elevatio
n
(m)
Upper
Depth
(m)
Lower
Depth
(m)
Average kPa Head
H
BAKKEN /
TORQUAY 52.05 -109.99 753.7 766.0 778.8 772.4 5910.90 583.84
BAKKEN /
TORQUAY 52.05 -109.99 753.7 805.0 816.0 810.5 5910.9 545.74
BAKKEN / UNDEF 51.07 -108.98 726.9 886.1 897.9 892.0 9173.47 770.01
BAKKEN / UNDEF 51.06 -109.44 679.7 876.0 884.0 880.0 9101.63 727.49
BAKKEN / UNDEF 51.33 -109.99 700.1 857.0 873.0 865.0 8535.02 705.13
BAKKEN / UNDEF 51.38 -109.37 699.1 883.0 888.0 885.5 8400.70 669.94
BAKKEN / UNDEF 51.44 -109.83 689.5 739.0 751.0 745.0 8154.30 775.72
BAKKEN / UNDEF 51.50 -109.28 677.7 886.1 897.9 892.0 7675.20 568.09
BAKKEN / UNDEF 51.50 -109.81 693.8 876.0 884.0 880.0 7868.30 615.87
depth
P
Hubbert, 1953
12

13. • In practice direction of flow is normal to the equipotential lines,
provided no variable density and aquifer is horizontal
Final Potentiometric surface map
Contour interval 40m
1120 – 400m
13

14. Potentiometric surface Map
•Factors affecting flow direction are density variation, temperature,
pressure and topography.
14

15. WDF (F) = �� + Δ�/��∇
�∇
DFR = (�/ ��
) * ( � / �∇ ∇ f
)
Davies, 1987
�∇ � = pressure related driving force
(Δ�/��) � = density and slope related driving force∇
15

16. Easting Northing Δ Hf Δ Z ρf kg/m3
ρw kg/m3
(Δρ/ρf)*ΔE DFR Driving force
305508.6 5425089.1 0.001 0.001 1010 1000 0.00099 0.002 0.00001
302416.9 5426812.9 0.0011 0.0011 1010.1 1000 0.00108889 0.003 0.00001111
299052.8 5427876.72 0.0012 0.0012 1010.2 1000 0.00118776 0.004 0.00001224
295537.9 5428512.8 0.0013 0.0013 1010.3 1000 0.00128661 0.005 0.00001339
291998.3 5428920.78 0.0014 0.0014 1010.4 1000 0.00138544 0.006 0.00001456
288465.9 5429154.51 0.0015 0.0015 1010.5 1000 0.00148425 0.007 0.00001575
284926.4 5429160.57 0.0016 0.0016 1010.6 1000 0.00158304 0.008 0.00001696
281379.9 5428974.13 0.0017 0.0017 1010.7 1000 0.00168181 0.009 0.00001819
277850.3 5428844.11 0.0018 0.0018 1010.8 1000 0.00178056 0.01 0.00001944
274347.6 5428957.72 0.0019 0.0019 1010.9 1000 0.00187929 0.011 0.00002071
270800.7 5429193 0.002 0.002 1011 1000 0.001978 0.012 0.000022
267129.2 5429440.06 0.0021 0.0021 1011.1 1000 0.00207669 0.013 0.00002331
263574.1 5430053.69 0.0022 0.0022 1011.2 1000 0.00217536 0.014 0.00002464
Calculation of WDF and DFR
16

17. Hydraulic gradient map
Variation: 0.001 to 0.014
ΔHf=Δh/Δx
=( h2-h1)/l
17

18. Topographic gradient map
Variation; 0.001 to 0.037
ΔE=Δz/Δx
= (z2-z1)/l
18

19. Driving Force Ratio map DFR = (�/ ��
) * ( � / �∇ ∇ �
)
Variation: 0.002 to 1.106.
Variable density flow
19

20. Driving force Vector map: WDF (F) = �� + Δ�/�� �∇ ∇
Variation: 0.000251 to 0.006082
20

21. Density map of Bakken formation (Canadian part), contour interval
10kg/m3
997.69 kg/m3
to 1186.06 kg/m3
��
= 730.6+2.025*T-3.8*0.001*T^2+(2.362-1.197*0.01*T+1.835*0.00001*T^2) *P+(2.374-1.024*0.01*T
+1.49*0.00001*T^2-5.1*0.0001*P)*C Chierici, 1994
21

22. Borehole Temperature map
Contour interval 50
C
Variation: 10o
C to 850
C, average 33o
C Corresponds with Bachu and Burwash (2012)
22

23. Pressure (Kpas)Depthinmeter
23

24. P-D plots for Bakken formation in Manitoba region
24

25. P – D plot for different aquifer zone In Alberta region
Ordovician
25

26. Geochemistry
Ions
Minimum
mg/l
Maximum
mg/l Average Count Total Ave % Max %
Na+
34 122687 12185 301 303 32.57 29.95
Cl-
2790 190300 19965 303 303 53.37 46.45
K+
1 38500 1350 200 303 3.61 9.40
Ca++
5 18273 734 292 303 1.96 4.46
Mg++
1 4854 245 300 303 0.65 1.18
HCO3-
18 8170 858 300 303 2.29 1.99
SO4
--
1 23360 1921 296 303 5.14 5.70
CO3
++
0.05 3440 144 74 303 0.38 0.84
OH-
0 98 4 27 303 0.01 0.02
TDS 173 319172 35335 266 303
pH 5 9.7 7 300 303
26

27. End Member = NaCl (Brines) Chebotarev (1955)
Groundwater evolution chart
27

28. Contour interval 20000 mg/l28

29. 29

30. Increasing depth
Increasing depth
30

31. UVZ method
U = V – Z
U = {ρo/(ρo - ρw)} * ho
V = {ρw/(ρw - ρo)} * hw
M. K. Hubbert, 1953
ρo = 0.844 g/cm3
ρ w = 1 g/cm3
Well Id (UWI) Longitude Latitude Head H ρw = g/cm3
ρo = g/cm3
V0 U0 = v0 - z
100/01-01-031-02W4/0 -110.15 51.62 690.18 1.0089 0.844 4222 2386
100/01-34-024-06W4/0 -110.75 51.08
1092.8
0 1.0140 0.844 6518 2386
100/01-34-031-03W4/0 -110.34 51.69 646.63 1.0140 0.844 3857 2386
100/02-10-026-03W4/0 -110.34 51.20
1042.5
4 1.0140 0.844 6218 2386
100/02-11-015-29W1/0 -101.37 50.26 427.11 1.0140 0.844 2548 3124
100/02-11-029-03W4/0 -110.32 51.46 879.85 1.0261 0.844 4957 3124
100/02-14-016-28W1/0 -101.23 50.36 405.20 1.0140 0.844 2417 3363
100/03-04-028-04W4/0 -110.51 51.36 935.16 1.0140 0.844 5578 3602
100/03-13-014-29W1/0 -101.32 50.18 452.13 1.0140 0.844 2697 4079
100/03-21-015-27W1/0 -101.14 50.29 413.98 1.0140 0.844 2469 4340
100/03-26-028-03W4/0 -110.32 51.42 821.11 1.0140 0.844 4898 4102
100/03-26-031-01W4/0 -110.04 51.68 526.72 1.0140 0.844 3142 3883
31

32. V0 Map
32

33. Structural map overlay on V0 Map
33

34. U0 plots (Intersection points between V0 and Z value
34

35. 2
1
Possible site for
petroleum
accumulation
UVZ map for Light Oil (ρ0=0.844 g/cm3
)
Possible sites for hydrocarbon entrapment marked in a circle
35

36. Possible site of oil
accumulation
UVZ map for heavy Oil (0.933 g/cm3
)
Possible sites for hydrocarbon entrapment marked in a circle
More confined than the light one.
36

37. Conclusion
• Hydraulic head values gradually decreases towards North
and northeast direction
• Deeper parts of the formation indicate variable density flow
due to variation in density and the increase in salinity
• The TDS value increase towards deeper portion of the basin
and ranges from less than 10,000 mg/l to up to maximum of
317,00 mg/l.
• Hydrochemical study shows that, the formation water is rich in
sodium and chlorine ions that follow a positive trend with TDS.
• UVZ map for light oil show two possible sites for hydrocarbon
entrapments.
37

38. •The P-D plots results, occurrences of two pressure zones,
one at a depth less than 1300m (underpressure zone)
and the other at a depth greater than 1300m (overpressure
zone).
Recommendation:
Detail study covering entire Bakken formation (US and Canada
Part) is necessary to be carried out in order to understand
petroleum hydrogeological characteristics of the Bakken formation
as a whole. For this, enough data, enough budget and sufficient
time are required.
38

39. Acknowledgement
I would like to acknowledge,
 Supervisor Professor Ben Rostron
 Director of IPG program Prof. David Potter
 All IPG Professors
 EAS staffs (Technical non technical)
 Anatoly Melnik, Tibor Lengyel
 IPG Pool Awards (sponsored by ConocoPhillips, CNRL
and Nexen
 All IPG classmates
39

40. References:
Benn, A. A and B. J. Rostron, 1998, Regional hydrochemistry of Cambrian to
Devonian aquifers in the Williston basin, Canada-USA, Eighth international
Williston Basin Symposium, Sakatchewan Geological Society Special Publication
No. 13, p. 238-245.
Bachu, S., and B. Hitchon, 1996, Regional Scale Flow of Formation Waters in
the Williston Basin, AAPG Bulletin, v. 80, No. 2, p. 248-264.
Bachu, S., and R. A. Burwash, 2012, Geothermal Regime in the Western
Canada Sedimentary Basin, Geological Atlas of the Western Canada
Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 30.
Chebotarev, I. I., 1955. Metamorphism of natural water in the crust of
weathering, Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 8, Issue 1-2, p. 22-48,
137-170, 198-212.
Chierici, G. L., 1994, Principles of petroleum reservoir engineering.
Springer-Verlag, Berlin, New York, p. 430
Davies, P. B., 1987, Modelling Areal, Variable density, ground water flow using
equivalent freshwater head, analysis of the potentially significant errors, proceedings
of the solving groundwater problems with models conference and exposition, NWFA,
p. 888-903.
Halabura, S., L. Buatois, S. Angulo, and L., Piche, 2007; From Source to
Trap: A review of the Bakken Petroleum System, Upper Devonian-Mississippian,
and Southeastern Saskatchewan.
Hubbert, M. K., 1953, Entrapment of petroleum under hydrodynamic condition,
AAPG Bulletin, v. 37, no. 8p. 1954-2056.
40

41. Hitchon, B., and M. Brulotte, 1994, Culling Criteria for "Standard" formation
water analyses, Elsevier Science Ltd. vol. 9, pp. 637-645.
Kent, D. M., and J. E. Christopher, 1994, Geological History of the Williston
basin and Sweetgrass Arch, Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary
Basin Chapter 27.
Meissner, F. F., 1978, Petroleum Geology of the Bakken Formation, Williston
Basin, North Dakota and Montana; in the economic Geology of the Williston Basin:
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, 1978 Williston Basin
Symposium, Montana Geological Society, 4th
Annual Field Conference, September
10 to 12, Guidebook, p. 207-227.
Melnik, A., 2012, Regional Hydrogeology of Southwestern Saskatchewan:
Unpublished M. Sc. Thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 153 p.
Osinski, W. P. C., 1970, Geology and Production History of South eastern
Saskatchewan, a report submitted to Department of Mineral Resources of
Saskatchewan, Geological science branch, Sedimentary geology division.
Palombi, D. D., 2008, Regional Hydrogeological Characterization of the Northeastern
Margin in the Williston Basin: Unpublished M. Sc. Thesis, U of A, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada, 196 p.
Smith, M. G., and R. M. Bustin, 2000, Late Devonian and Early Mississippian
Bakken and Exshaw Black Shale Source Rocks, Western Canada Sedimentary
Basin: A Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretation, AAPG Bulletin, v. 84, No. 7, p. 940-960.
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42. Nepal’s beauty42