THREE-DIMENSIONAL OUTCROP MODELLING, SEDIMENTOLOGY, AND ICHNOLOGY OF THE FALHER D MEMBER, NORTHEAST BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

• Author / Creator

  Acikelli, Arzu

• The Lower Cretaceous Falher Member is an important hydrocarbon reservoir in the Deep
  Basin of Alberta and British Columbia. Owing to its economic importance, it has been the subject
  of many studies. However, there remains contention on the depositional interpretation of
  individual Falher Member conglomerate units. Both shoreface and wave-dominated deltaic
  models have been proposed. As such, the Falher Member is an ideal outcrop analog that can be
  used to assess the spatial distribution of component lithofacies and sedimentary features of
  shoreface and wave-dominated delta deposits.
  The present research uses sedimentology and ichnology, within the context of 3D
  photogrammetric models, of several Falher-equivalent outcrop successions on Mount Spieker in
  northeastern British Columbia. Facies distributions and relationships are assessed through 3D
  outcrop models and collected field data. The presence of fluid mud lenses, terrestrial fossil
  fragments, and impoverished suites of trace fossils confirm that the study interval was deposited
  proximal to a fluvial sediment source. The abundance of HCS sandstone units and pebbly storm
  lags indicates robust storm-wave reworking at the time of deposition. The along-strike
  heterogeneity in facies distribution is interpreted as evidence for delta asymmetry. The proposed
  depositional model suggests that strong longshore currents were the main reason for delta
  asymmetry. In this wave-dominated deltaic setting, the updrift side presents better reservoir
  targets including thick, clast-supported conglomerate units. The downdrift side consists of finer
  grained argillaceous deposits representing poorer reservoir quality. This study documents the
  sedimentology of the studied outcrops and discusses the depositional processes causing the
  heterogeneity in facies type and distribution in a wave-dominated, gravel-dominated delta setting.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Delta
  • Wave Processes
  • Sedimentology
  • UAV-Photogrammetry
  • Falher D

• Graduation date

  Fall 2022

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-3ecn-zr76

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.