Low- and High-Relief Leduc Formation Reefs: A Seismic Analysis

Author

Neil Lennart Anderson, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Robert James Sidford Brown
Ronald C. Hinds

Abstract

Leduc reefs have grown to widely varying heights and aereal extents along the Rimbey-Meadowbrook trend of central Alberta, resulting in significantly different seismic signatures. Three examples considered in this paper include two high-relief or full reefs from the Leduc-Woodbend field, an atoll and a pinnacle, each around 200 m in height but differing greatly in areal extent, about 100 km² for the atoll and 1 km² for the pinnacle. The third example, a low-relief or basalt reef from the Morinville field, is about 100 m high and 1 km² in areal extent.

The Leduc-Woodbend and Morinville reefs exhibit quite different seismic signatures. For example, 25 ms of time-structural drape along the top of the Devonian is observed across the Leduc-Woodbend atoll but only 15 ms across the Morinville reef. There is 30 ms of pullup at the Beaverhill Lake level beneath the Leduc- Woodbend atoll, 15 ms for the Morinville reef. Also, it is very difficult to differentiate the Leduc reflection from the Duvernay reflection, with which it merges, on the Morinville (basal-reef) section. In contrast, the Leduc reflection can be correlated readily on the Leduc-Woodbend atoll section; and reflections from the offreef shales (Duvernay and Ireton formations) terminate abruptly against the reef flank.

In addition, the amplitude of the underlying Cooking Lake platform reflection varies laterally, depending on the velocity of the overlying formation (Duvernay shale or Leduc reef) and, to a lesser extent, the thickness of the overlying reef. This variation is not as useful in distinguishing between low-relief and high- relief reefs as it is in indicating the presence or absence of reef.

Recommended Citation

N. L. Anderson et al., "Low- and High-Relief Leduc Formation Reefs: A Seismic Analysis," Geophysics, vol. 54, no. 11, pp. 1410 - 1419, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Nov 1989.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1442604

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Leduc Formation; Reef; Seismic Analysis; Canada, Alberta, Meadowbrook; Canada, Alberta, Rimbey; Lakes; Seismology; Shale

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0016-8033

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1989 Society of Exploration Geophysicists, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Nov 1989