Regional Correlation of The Beaverhill Lake Group

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05
Regional Correlation of the

Beaverhill Lake Group in
the Subsurface of Alberta,
Townships 29 to 113 and
Ranges 1W4 to 13W6
AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05
Regional Correlation of the Beaverhill Lake

Group in the Subsurface of Alberta, Townships
29 to 113 and Ranges 1W4 to 13W6
T.E. Hauck
Alberta Energy Regulator

Alberta Geological Survey
July 2014
©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Alberta, 2014
ISBN 978-1-4601-0125-4
The Alberta Energy Regulator/Alberta Geological Survey (AER/AGS), its employees and contractors
make no warranty, guarantee or representation, express or implied, or assume any legal liability regarding
the correctness, accuracy, completeness or reliability of this publication. Any references to proprietary
software and/or any use of proprietary data formats do not constitute endorsement by AER/AGS of any
manufacturer’s product.
If you use information from this publication in other publications or presentations, please acknowledge
the AER/AGS. We recommend the following reference format:
Hauck, T.E. (2014): Regional correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group in the subsurface of Alberta,
townships 29 to 113 and ranges 1W4 to 13W6; Alberta Energy Regulator, AER/AGS Open File
Report 2014-05, 29 p.
Published July 2014 by:

Alberta Energy Regulator
Alberta Geological Survey
4th Floor, Twin Atria Building
4999 – 98th Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6B 2X3
Canada
Tel: 780.638.4491
Fax: 780.422.1459
E-mail: AGS-Info@aer.ca
Website: www.ags.gov.ab.ca
AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • iii

Contents
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................v
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ vi
1 Introduction and Background ..................................................................................................................1
2 Stratigraphy .............................................................................................................................................1
2.1 Watt Mountain Formation, Elk Point Group ..................................................................................4
2.2 Fort Vermilion Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group ........................................................................5
2.3 Slave Point Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group .............................................................................5
2.4 Swan Hills Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group..............................................................................5
2.5 Waterways Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group..............................................................................6
3 Methods ...................................................................................................................................................7
4 Results: Representative Wells .................................................................................................................8
4.1 Southern Alberta (02-02-042-14W4) .............................................................................................9
4.2 Swan Hills (13-22-063-10W5) .......................................................................................................9
4.3 Eastern Platform (07-31-074-12W4) ...........................................................................................12
4.4 Peace River Arch Fringing Platform (08-24-087-13W5).............................................................12
4.5 Hay River Platform (10-15-103-08W6) .......................................................................................12
5 Results: Stratigraphic Cross-Sections ...................................................................................................16
5.1 Cross-Section A–A′ ......................................................................................................................16
5.2 Cross-Section B–B′ ......................................................................................................................16
5.3 Cross-Section C–C′ ......................................................................................................................19
5.4 Cross-Section D–D′ ......................................................................................................................21
5.5 Cross-Section E–E′.......................................................................................................................21
5.6 Cross-Section F–F′ .......................................................................................................................21
5.7 Cross-Section G–G′ ......................................................................................................................25
6 Summary ...............................................................................................................................................27
7 References .............................................................................................................................................28
Figures
Figure 1. Location of the study area within Alberta. .................................................................................2
Figure 2. Schematic lithostratigraphic column showing the distribution of upper Givetian to
lower Frasnian strata in the Alberta Basin. ................................................................................3
Figure 3. Paleogeography of the Alberta Basin during the lower Frasnian. ..............................................4
Figure 4. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in southern Alberta. ................................10
Figure 5. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Swan Hills area. ...........................11
Figure 6. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Eastern Platform of
east-central Alberta. ..................................................................................................................13
Figure 7. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group on the Peace River Arch fringing
platform of the Peace River area of Alberta. ............................................................................14
Figure 8. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group on the Hay River Platform of
northwestern Alberta. ...............................................................................................................15
Figure 9. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section A-A′. .....................................................................17
Figure 10. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section B–B′. .....................................................................18
Figure 11. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section C–C′. .....................................................................20
Figure 12. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section D–D′. ........................................................................22
Figure 13. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section E–E′. .........................................................................23
Figure 14. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section F–F′. .........................................................................24
Figure 15. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section G–G′. ........................................................................26
AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • iv

Acknowledgements
The author thanks Chris Schneider (formerly Alberta Geological Survey [AGS], now with University
of Alberta) for the introduction to Beaverhill Lake Group stratigraphy and many fruitful discussions
thereof. The author also benefited from discussions of Beaverhill Lake Group stratigraphy with Jack
Wendte (Geological Survey of Canada). Paul Glombick (AGS), Chris Banks (formerly AGS, now with
Schlumberger), and Dave Bechtel (AGS) are thanked for assistance with IHS Petra software. Nigel
Atkinson (AGS) and Matt Grobe (AGS) reviewed the report and made many constructive suggestions and
improvements.
AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • v

Abstract
Regional correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group in the subsurface of Alberta is presented in the
form of strike- and dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-sections. Lithostratigraphic units described in this
report are the Watt Mountain Formation of the Elk Point Group (the top of which forms the base of the
Beaverhill Lake Group), the Fort Vermilion Formation, the Slave Point and Swan Hills formations, and
the Waterways Formation. Member-level stratigraphy within the Waterways Formation is discussed, but
these units are not correlated within the study area. Picking criteria are outlined in an examination of
representative wells from distinct geographic areas that encompass various depositional realms during
Beaverhill Lake Group time. Important carbonate depositional realms covered by the study area include
(1) the Swan Hills Formation carbonate complexes of west-central and southwestern Alberta, (2) the
Slave Point Formation carbonate complex of the Peace River region in northwestern Alberta, (3) the
Slave Point Formation carbonate complex of the Hay River Platform in northwestern Alberta, and (4)
the carbonate complex within the Waterways Formation—the Eastern Platform—in southeastern and
east-central Alberta. Additionally, the evaporites of the Fort Vermilion Formation and the argillaceous
carbonates and calcareous shales of the Waterways Formation basinwards of the main carbonate
complexes are correlated and discussed. Measured depths of formation tops from cross-section wells are
included in an associated data release, DIG 2014-0024.
AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • vi

1 Introduction and Background
The Middle to Upper Devonian Beaverhill Lake Group of Alberta comprises a regionally extensive
subsurface succession of carbonates, argillaceous carbonates, calcareous shales, evaporites, and lesser,
areally restricted sandstones. Strata of the Beaverhill Lake Group outcrop along rivers near Fort
McMurray (Athabasca, Clearwater, and Christina rivers), underlying the Lower Cretaceous McMurray
Formation of the Mannville Group (Prior et al., 2013). During Beaverhill Lake Group time, the Alberta
Basin was characterized by bioherm and biostrome development in the form of extensive platforms,
banks, and isolated reef successions.
The economic importance of the Beaverhill Lake Group is demonstrated by significant hydrocarbon
exploitation, particularly within carbonate complexes on the western side of the Alberta Basin. Initial
hydrocarbon discoveries were made as early as 1957 within reefal strata of the Swan Hills Formation
(Oldale and Munday, 1994). Beyond the production of hydrocarbons, strata of the Beaverhill Lake Group
are, or may become, critical sources for industrial water, as well as reservoirs for wastewater disposal and
carbon sequestration. As engineering advances continue to expand the boundaries of what is considered a
producible reservoir, the Beaverhill Lake succession will continue to be economically important. A solid
understanding of the stratigraphy, lithological heterogeneity, and stratal architecture of these units across
the basin is important for informed and responsible decisions regarding subsurface resource development
and waste disposal.
The purpose of this report is to present regional correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group, and the
formations therein, in the form of strike- and dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-sections. The cross-
sections cover a large part of Alberta, from Township 29, Range 1, west of the Fourth Meridian in the
southeast, to Township 113 and the Alberta–British Columbia border in the northwest (Figure 1). Picking
criteria from five representative wells from paleogeographically significant areas accompany the cross-
sections (Figure 1). Regional correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group contributes to the broader Alberta
Geological Survey goal of modelling the three-dimensional distribution of Devonian strata across the
province of Alberta.
2 Stratigraphy
The Beaverhill Lake Group in Alberta comprises, in ascending stratigraphic order, the Fort Vermilion,
Slave Point, Swan Hills, and Waterways formations (Figure 2). The Slave Point and Swan Hills
formations are partly equivalent shallow-water and open-marine carbonates. The nomenclatural
distinction is due to these formations being discovered at different times in various geographic regions—
namely the discovery of hydrocarbon-bearing reef strata in the Swan Hills area and the Hay River and
Peace River regions (Figure 3).
In general, the Waterways Formation describes argillaceous carbonates associated with the Eastern
Platform (Wendte and Uyeno, 2005) in the eastern part of the basin. Here, the Waterways Formation
displays a number of alternating shaley and carbonate-rich units, recognizable on wireline logs, that
have been subdivided into the Firebag, Calumet, Christina, Moberly, and Mildred members (Crickmay,
1957). Keith (1990) proposed raising these members to formation status; however, in this report, I follow
Crickmay’s original classification defining the Waterways Formation and its constituent members. The
members of the Waterways Formation become gradually more difficult to define westwards from the
Eastern Platform in the area of the Waterways sub-basin, where the Waterways Formation becomes
increasingly argillaceous (Figure 3). Because of this, members of the Waterways Formation were not
correlated within the study area but are shown on the representative wells where they are well defined.
AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 1

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1. 02-02-042-14W4
Southern shelf
Edmonton 2. 13-22-063-10W5
Swan Hills reefs Wells reviewed
3. 07-31-074-12W4
Eastern Platform Approximate edge of
4. 08-24-087-13W5 Peace River Arch
Peace River Arch
5. 10-15-103-08W6
490 Hay River Platform
1100
Figure 1. Location of the study area within Alberta. The location of wells reviewed, lines of cross-
section A–A′ through G–G′, and representative wells 1 through 5 are shown (approximate edge of
Peace River Arch from O’Connell, 1994).

System Series Stage (Ma)
Age Northwest Northeast Central and
Plains Plains Southern Plains
Muskwa and Fort Simpson WB Ireton WB Led. Duvernay

Ireton
and WB
Ck. Lk. Ck. Lk.
Mildred Mildred
Frasnian
Beaverhill Lake Group

Upper
Moberly Moberly
Waterways
Waterways Waterways
Devonian
Christina Christina
G.W. Swan
Calumet Hills Calumet
382.7 ? ?
+-1.6 Peace Firebag Firebag
River Slave Point Slave Point
Arch
Givetian
Ft. V. Fort Vermilion Ft. V. Slave Point

Middle
Elk Point Gp.
Elk Point Gp.

Elk Point Gp.
Watt Mtn. Watt Mountain Watt Mountain
Gilwood
G.W. Muskeg Muskeg/Prairie Evaporite Prairie Evaporite
Crystalline basement Carbonate Sandstone Shale Evaporites
Figure 2. Schematic lithostratigraphic column showing the distribution of upper Givetian to

lower Frasnian strata in the Alberta Basin. Member nomenclature in italics. Abbreviations: WB,
Woodbend Group; G.W., Granite Wash (lithosome); Ft. V., Fort Vermilion; Ck. Lk., Cooking Lake;
Led., Leduc; Mtn., Mountain; Ma, millions of years. The age for the Givetian-Frasnian boundary is
from the International Chronostratigraphic Chart (www.stratigraphy.org).
The distribution of strata in the area is complicated by the presence of the Peace River Arch (PRA)
(Figure 3). Within the Alberta Basin, the PRA is a complex basement structure that has influenced
depositional patterns from at least the lower Paleozoic (O’Connell et al., 1990). During Devonian
deposition, the PRA was continuously onlapped as sediments accumulated in the basin. It remained
emergent throughout the time of deposition of the Beaverhill Lake Group strata and was a continuous
source of siliciclastic sediment that was shed in an apron around the margin of the structure (Figure 3).
The siliciclastics are therefore diachronous, forming complex interfingering deposits within the entire
Beaverhill Lake succession (Figure 2).
The Beaverhill Lake Group is Middle to Late Devonian—Givetian to Frasnian—in age in the Alberta
Basin (Figure 2). In northeastern Alberta, the Givetian-Frasnian boundary falls somewhere within the
upper Firebag Member or lower Calumet Member of the Waterways Formation (Braun et al., 1988;
McLean and Klapper, 1998). Within the western shallow-water carbonates of the Slave Point and Swan
Hills formations, the Givetian-Frasnian boundary is more difficult to discern due to a lack of diagnostic
biostratigraphic fauna (Braun et al., 1988; Wendte and Uyeno, 2005).
In the study area, the Beaverhill Lake Group has been affected by erosional events associated with the
sub-Cretaceous unconformity. In the northeast, progressively older Beaverhill Lake strata are exposed
eastwards along a subcrop belt (Figure 1). Along the subcrop belt, Beaverhill Lake Group strata
are affected by deformation and karstification due to subsurface evaporite dissolution and collapse
(Schneider, 2011; Schneider et al., 2012). The strata are eventually truncated in the far northeast of the
study area.
N
er
Erosional edge
Platform
Hay Riv
Wa b-b
Hotchkiss
Su
Study area
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Embayment
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Arch Peace River
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Carbonate platform
Ri Carbonate-evaporite platform
dg
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Argillaceous carbonate and
basinal calcareous shale
Sandstone and conglomerate
Subaerially exposed
Figure 3. Paleogeography of the Alberta Basin during the lower Frasnian (modified from
Campbell, 1992).
2.1 Watt Mountain Formation, Elk Point Group

The Watt Mountain Formation was mapped for two reasons: (1) it forms the base of the Beaverhill Lake
Group, and (2) it is an excellent laterally continuous stratigraphic datum across the majority of the study
area.
The Watt Mountain Formation disconformably overlies the evaporites of the Prairie Evaporite and
Muskeg formations of the Elk Point Group (Braun et al., 1988). It can be mapped throughout most of the
areal extent of the Beaverhill Lake Group in the study area with the exception of the PRA area, where
the Watt Mountain Formation onlaps the arch and is overstepped archwards by the overlying Slave Point
Formation carbonates. The Watt Mountain Formation includes varicoloured shales with subordinate
limestone, dolostone, and anhydrite that interfinger with and overlie the Gilwood Member sandstones
(Rottenfusser and Oliver, 1977). Whereas the shales of the Watt Mountain Formation thin in a basinwards
direction away from the arch, the Gilwood Member thickens towards the arch (from which it is sourced),
and comprises sandstones of fluvial to marginal-marine environments (ibid.).

2.2 Fort Vermilion Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group
The Fort Vermilion Formation conformably overlies the shales of the Watt Mountain Formation. It is
present in much of the study area eastwards from the Beaverhill Lake Group erosional edge. Strata of
the Fort Vermilion Formation comprise laminated dolomite and anhydrite as well as more massive and
nodular anhydrites. Interbedded limestones are also present (Jansa and Fischbuch, 1974; Wendte and
Uyeno, 2005). Along the northern flank of the PRA, restricted-marine carbonates and evaporites of the
Fort Vermilion Formation interfinger with the shallow-water carbonates of the Slave Point Formation
(Figure 2). It is possible that in this area, Slave Point Formation carbonates grew contemporaneously
with the Fort Vermilion Formation due to access to marine waters through the Hotchkiss Embayment. In
the northwest of the study area, Fort Vermilion Formation strata interfinger with Slave Point Formation
carbonates associated with the Hay River Platform and eventually pinch out. In central Alberta, the
anhydrites of the Fort Vermilion Formation eventually pinch out and, south of Township 64, are replaced
by dolomitic mudstones and clastics deposited in a supratidal to continental setting (Oldale and Munday,
1994).
2.3 Slave Point Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group

The Slave Point Formation conformably overlies the Fort Vermilion Formation. Where the restricted-
marine carbonates and evaporites of the Fort Vermilion Formation pinch out, the shallow-water
carbonates of the Slave Point Formation directly overlie the Watt Mountain Formation. Where the Watt
Mountain Formation pinches out near the PRA, the Slave Point Formation overlies the Granite Wash
lithosome. This basal contact of the Slave Point Formation can be disconformable or conformable—
the latter being the case where Slave Point carbonates that fringe the arch are coeval with evaporites
of the Fort Vermilion Formation (e.g., Slave Point Formation strata of the Cranberry Field; Campbell,
1992). The Slave Point Formation can be mapped throughout most of the study area westwards from the
Beaverhill Lake erosional edge in the east.
Near the PRA, carbonates of the Slave Point Formation accumulated on a platform fringing the arch.
Stromatoporoid mounds and platform-edge reefs are common (Meijer Drees et al., 1994). Closer to the
PRA, the Slave Point carbonates interfinger with nearshore siliciclastics that were shed from the exposed
PRA highlands (Figure 3). The carbonates of the Slave Point Formation are variably dolomitized in
locations around the PRA but have generally remained limestone. Sheasby (1971, Figure 5) provided a
map of major areas of dolomitization in the Slave Point Formation around the PRA.
In the Waterways sub-basin and underlying the Eastern Platform, the Slave Point Formation thins
significantly compared to the area around the PRA and the Hay River Platform (Figure 3). The
northwestern expression of the Hay River Platform in British Columbia is known as the Presqu’ile Barrier
Reef, which formed a long-lived northeast-trending barrier to the open ocean from Elk Point Group time
into Beaverhill Lake Group time. In between the northern part of the PRA fringing platform and the Hay
River Platform, a west-trending, open-marine embayment known as the Hotchkiss Embayment existed
(Campbell, 1992; Bernstein and Stoakes, 1996; Figure 3). Slave Point carbonates fringing this embayment
form the gas-producing Cranberry (Bernstein and Stoakes, 1996) and Hamburg fields (Oldale and
Munday, 1994).
2.4 Swan Hills Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group

The Swan Hills Formation is an areally extensive carbonate platform, bank, and bioherm complex in
the Swan Hills area of west-central Alberta (Figure 3). The Swan Hills Formation conformably overlies
the Fort Vermilion and Watt Mountain formations. The latter case is observed in areas close to the West

Alberta Ridge (Figure 3), where anhydrites of the Fort Vermilion thin significantly and appear to pinch
out depositionally, shifting to a more nearshore siliciclastic facies that is difficult to differentiate from
the siliciclastics of the underlying Watt Mountain Formation. Towards the West Alberta Ridge, the Watt
Mountain Formation becomes progressively sandier, particularly where the Gilwood Member is best
developed in fluvial-deltaic complexes (Jansa and Fischbuch, 1974). Here the Swan Hills Formation
overlies a coarser grained, more nearshore siliciclastic facies.
Hydrocarbon production from the Swan Hills Formation is significant and has resulted in extensive well
and core coverage. Such exploration has enhanced the understanding of reef growth cycles and associated
depositional models. A number of the regional cross-sections in this report include portions of the Swan
Hills Formation. Relevant field names are included on the cross-sections to give the reader a sense of the
depositional complexity associated with hydrocarbon production.
The Swan Hills Formation can be characterized by a number of different cycles of reef growth, some
of which are equivalent to the Slave Point Formation carbonates fringing the PRA and in the Hay River
Platform (Oldale and Munday, 1994, Figure 11.24). The Slave Point Formation in these areas contains
Middle Devonian faunas (Norris, 1963). Fischbuch (1968) recognized nine divisions within the Swan
Hills Formation. His divisions I to V contain Middle Devonian faunas (Fischbuch, 1968), and therefore
at least part of the Swan Hills Formation is equivalent to the Slave Point Formation. In general, growth of
the Swan Hills Formation carbonate complex began as a widespread carbonate platform, which became
a more areally restricted (backstepped) series of reef-rimmed banks and isolated reefs, the latter forming
outboard of the banks and overlying the platform (Fischbuch, 1968; Wendte, 1992; Oldale and Munday,
1994; Wendte and Uyeno, 2005).
Carbonates of the Swan Hills Formation are encased in, and overlain by, basinal argillaceous carbonates
and shales of the Waterways Formation. Some exceptions occur where shallow-water carbonate
accumulation continued into the overlying Leduc Formation of the Woodbend Group (Figure 2). Due to
the backstepping nature of the carbonate complex and the variation in continuation of growth in banks
and isolated bioherms, the nature of the contact between the Swan Hills and Waterways formations is
varied. Fischbuch (1968) considered the contact to be unconformable, marking a pronounced shift from
shallow-water to basinal conditions (Fischbuch, 1968). In areas of the platform where carbonate growth
ceased due to backstepping, the contact with the overlying Waterways Formation can be considered a
drowning unconformity (Schlager and Camber, 1986; Godet, 2013). Wendte and Uyeno (2005) describe
a submarine hardground with Trypanites borings at the top of the final stage of Swan Hills reef growth,
which suggests a depositional hiatus prior to burial by Waterways Formation strata.
2.5 Waterways Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group

Calcareous shales and argillaceous carbonates of the Waterways Formation abruptly overlie the Slave
Point Formation. The nature of the contact with the Slave Point Formation is debatable, with some authors
proposing a disconformable relationship (Crickmay, 1957; Loranger, 1965) and others a conformable
one (Belyea, 1952; Norris, 1963). Although it appears that the Waterways Formation downlaps the Slave
Point Formation within the Waterways sub-basin and along the eastern edge of the Hay River Platform,
it is evident that parts of the Slave Point platform fringing the PRA continued to accumulate and were
coeval with at least part of the Waterways Formation (Keith, 1990). This is also true of the relationship
between the shallow-water carbonates of the Swan Hills Formation and the Waterways strata in the Swan
Hills area (Wendte and Uyeno, 2005; Figure 3). The nature of the contact is therefore complex and varies
depending on geographic location.

The Waterways Formation is progressively more carbonate rich in the east and southeast of the study
area, where a series of progradational carbonate platforms comprise the Eastern Platform. (Figure 3).
Strata of the Eastern Platform originally extended an unknown, but possibly significant, distance to the
east of the present day subcrop belt. West of the Eastern Platform, progradational units of the Waterways
Formation exhibiting clinoform stratal geometries progressively fill the Waterways sub-basin from the
east towards the west. Clinoform models (e.g., Rich, 1951) have been invoked to describe the geometry of
the Waterways strata by a number of authors (Griffin, 1965; Sheasby, 1971; Williams, 1977; Keith, 1990;
Oldale and Munday, 1994). The top of the clinoforms can be mapped throughout the study area and are
marked by either an abrupt or gradational upwards transition to more carbonate-lean lithologies. These
clinoforms downlap the thin Slave Point carbonates in the Waterways sub-basin and eventually onlap
and bury the Slave Point Formation fringing the PRA and the majority of the Swan Hills Formation in
the Swan Hills area. (There are some exceptions, where carbonates of the Leduc Formation grew directly
on top of the Swan Hills Formation, such as in the Snipe Lake reef in the northwestern part of the Swan
Hills area [Wendte and Uyeno, 2005].) In a similar fashion to the underlying Beaverhill Lake Group
formations, Waterways strata interfinger with a nearshore siliciclastic facies abutting the PRA (Meijer
Drees et al., 1994; Figure 2).
The Waterways Formation has been subdivided into five members (Figure 2; members were not mapped
for this report), which were originally defined based on those areas where they are best developed—
that is, in the eastern portion of the study area. In ascending stratigraphic order they are the Firebag,
Calumet, Christina, Moberly, and Mildred members (Figure 2). These members can be traced for some
distance westwards away from the Eastern Platform into the Waterways sub-basin, where they eventually
transition to increasingly argillaceous carbonates and eventually calcareous shales.
3 Methods
The study area covers a large portion of Alberta, spanning the width of the province (with the exception
of the deformed belt) and from Township 29 in the south to Township 113 in the north (Figure 1). Wells
were selected based on depth of penetration, with those reaching the Watt Mountain Formation and deeper
preferred. Vertical wells were used for correlation, with a few exceptions for areas in need of well control.
In areas of dense well distribution, those with modern (post-1980) log suites were preferentially chosen.
Such areas are tied to hydrocarbon exploration and production within the Elk Point and Beaverhill
Lake groups and include the Swan Hills region of west-central Alberta (production from the Swan Hills
Formation) and the Peace River region where production occurs from the Slave Point Formation and the
underlying siliciclastics shed from the PRA (Gilwood Member and Granite Wash lithosome). Another
area of relatively dense well distribution penetrating the Beaverhill Lake Group is in northwestern
Alberta, where oil and gas is produced from the underlying Keg River Formation of the Elk Point Group.
The oil sands region of northeastern Alberta has significant well control for the top of the Beaverhill
Lake Group, but rarely do these wells span the full Beaverhill Lake Group succession; however, a small
number of wells, associated with pre-1950s salt exploration in this area and to the east of Edmonton, have
significant core coverage in the Beaverhill Lake Group (Crockford, 1949).
A small number of cores were reviewed for verification of stratigraphic tops and the presence or absence
of formations due to depositional pinch-out. The Bear Biltmore No. 1 core (07-11-087-17W4) was
reviewed for a previous study (Schneider et al., in press) and provided a continuous section through the
Beaverhill Lake Group and into the over- and underlying Woodbend and Elk Point groups, respectively.
The relationship between well-log signature and the rocks therein provided the basis for correlation within
the eastern portion of the study area. As no well log was run for the Bear Biltmore well, the rocks were
compared to the nearby log from the 04-13-087-17W4 well. Two additional wells were reviewed along

the southeastern flank of the PRA to determine the maximum extent of the Fort Vermilion Formation and
the associated wireline log expression (cores from wells 11-21-077-15W5 and 12-03-079-08W5).
Correlation of the Beaverhill Lake Group was accomplished with a suite of well logs—gamma ray,
density-neutron, bulk density, resistivity, photoelectric effect, and sonic—using IHS Petra analysis
software. Correlation within the study area was based on a grid of seven regional stratigraphic cross-
sections: three dip-oriented and four strike-oriented (Figure 1). Cross-sections are constructed using the
gamma-ray curve of digital log files (LAS format), and where such files are missing, raster images of the
wireline logs. The type of curves on the raster images are noted on the cross-sections. The majority of
log raster images are sonic logs. The top of the Watt Mountain Formation was used as the datum for the
cross-sections (base of the Beaverhill Lake Group). Cross-sections C–C′ and E–E′, which traverse the
PRA, have inset figures in which the top of the Waterways Formation was used for a datum. The top of
the Waterways Formation (top of the Beaverhill Lake Group) was used to better illustrate depositional
onlap onto the PRA during a time when it was an emergent structural high. The arch is an enigmatic
cratonic structure that remained a paleotopographic high until Late Devonian–Early Mississippian time.
This feature remained exposed during deposition of the strata under review but subsequently became a
faulted paleotopographic low known as the Peace River Embayment during the Carboniferous (O’Connell
et al., 1990). The Mississippian subsidence resulted in downwarping of stratal terminations of sediments
deposited prior to the collapse of the PRA. The top of the Waterways Formation was used as a datum to
back out the Carboniferous subsidence patterns and restore the interpreted paleotopography in the basin
during deposition of the Beaverhill Lake Group—which is represented in the stratigraphic correlation
chart of Figure 2.
To supplement the limited number of cores reviewed to verify picks, pertinent work—notably the
excellent regional study of the Beaverhill Lake Group by Wendte and Uyeno (2005) in central and
southern Alberta—was used to aid in correlation. Regional syntheses of this extent, which contain
accessible well picks, otherwise do not exist for the Beaverhill Lake Group.
The following subsurface reference sections for the formations of the Beaverhill Lake Group were used:
1) Fort Vermilion (between 1350.0 and 1357.0 m) and Slave Point formations (between 1301.5 and
1350.0 m), 02-22-117-05W6;
2) Swan Hills Formation (between 2489.3 and 2590.8 m), 10-10-067-10W5; and
3) Waterways Formation (between 299.0 and 513.0 m), 07-11-087-17W4 (Bear Biltmore No. 1 core;
this has been tied to the log of nearby well 04-13-087-17W4).
Given the wide regional extent of the formations within the Beaverhill Lake Group and the varying
thickness and depositional expressions of these formations across different geographic areas, the
subsurface reference sections are only representative for a limited portion of the formations’ geographic
extents within the study area.
4 Results: Representative Wells

Five wells were chosen to illustrate in detail the picks for the Beaverhill Lake Group. These wells were
chosen based on geographic location and the availability of digital logs (LAS) within that location. When
attempting to correlate strata over an extensive geographic area, efforts are hampered by facies changes
associated with varying depositional systems. The following sections will illustrate the picking criteria
used for regional correlation within the study area.

4.1 Southern Alberta (02-02-042-14W4)
In this well, the Beaverhill Lake Group is 208 m thick. The Beaverhill Lake Group is underlain by shales
of the Watt Mountain Formation of the Elk Point Group and overlain by the thick platform carbonates
of the Cooking Lake Formation (Figure 4). The Fort Vermilion Formation is absent this far south in the
basin. As such, the basal unit of the Beaverhill Lake Group is represented by the thin carbonates of the
Slave Point Formation, which have a relatively clean gamma-ray signature and a much higher resistivity
than the underlying Watt Mountain shales. The transition from the Slave Point Formation to the overlying
shales of the Firebag Member of the Waterways Formation is marked by an increase in gamma-ray
counts. The Firebag Member in this area has a conspicuous serrated log response owing to a number
of alternating shales and argillaceous carbonates. The remaining members of the Waterways Formation
are easy to distinguish in this area due to the clean gamma-ray signatures of the Calumet and Moberly
members, which form the main carbonate platform elements of the Eastern Platform (Figure 3). The top
of the Waterways Formation in the area (top of the Mildred Member and the Beaverhill Lake Group) is
marked by a sharp contact between the argillaceous carbonates of the Mildred Member and the clean
carbonates of the Cooking Lake Formation.
4.2 Swan Hills (13-22-063-10W5)

In this well, the Beaverhill Lake Group is 139 m thick, with over 67% of that thickness comprising the
shallow-water carbonates of the Swan Hills Formation. This well penetrates an isolated bioherm that
forms the Judy Creek Field.
In the Swan Hills area, the Beaverhill Lake Group overlies the shales and sandstones of the Watt
Mountain Formation. The sandstones (Gilwood Member) are generally arkosic and therefore have high
gamma counts. The Fort Vermilion Formation makes up the basal unit of the Beaverhill Lake Group,
but is very thin and therefore difficult to pick, relying largely on identifying the presence of anhydrite on
wireline logs (Figure 5). The anhydrites of the Fort Vermilion Formation have a high density reading on
bulk-density logs and a very low density-porosity signature (Figure 5). If these logs are unavailable, then
the presence of the Fort Vermilion is difficult to determine without verification from core. The overlying
Swan Hills carbonates have a clean gamma-ray signature and, where they are limestone, a photoelectric
effect reading of 5 barns/electron (3 for dolomite) (Figure 5). The transition to the overlying argillaceous
carbonates of the Waterways Formation is typically sharp, with gamma-ray and neutron-porosity readings
increasing significantly.
The contact between the Waterways Formation (top of the Beaverhill Lake Group) and the overlying
Woodbend Group can be difficult to determine in the Swan Hills area. The sequence stratigraphic work of
Wendte and Uyeno (2005) aided in making this pick. In their study, the top of the Beaverhill Lake Group
was not picked explicitly, but rather formed part of a transgressive-regressive (T-R) sequence within the
Beaverhill Lake Sequence (Wendte and Uyeno, 2005). The top of the Beaverhill Lake Group (Waterways
Formation) falls within their T-R sequence H (Wendte and Uyeno, 2005, Figure 4), which includes the
lower portion of the Cooking Lake Formation. Where the Cooking Lake Platform is present, picking the
top of the Beaverhill Lake Group is straightforward, but where it is absent—such as in the Swan Hills
area—the pick is more difficult to make. Beyond the Cooking Lake Platform edge, which approximates
the eastern edge of the Waterways sub-basin, the upper portion of T-R sequence H of Wendte and Uyeno
(2005), is a conspicuous argillaceous carbonate considered equivalent to the lower part of the Cooking
Lake Formation. In central Alberta, the top of the Beaverhill Lake Group was picked at the base of this
unit, which has a distinctive high resistivity and low gamma-ray signature (Figure 5). Herein this ‘marker’
has been termed the ‘Cooking Lake equivalent.’

00/02-02-042-14W4/0
KB ELEV : 709 m
T D : 1,625 m
DT
500 100
GR MD RHOB RESD FORMATION
GROUP 0 150 (m) 2000 3000 0.2 2000 Member
-1360
WOODBEND -1370 COOKING LAKE

-1380
-1390
WATERWAYS
-1400 Mildred
-1410
-1420
Moberly
-1430
-1440
-1450
-1460
-1470
-1480
BEAVERHILL
-1490
LAKE
-1500
-1510
-1520 Christina
-1530 Calumet
-1540
-1550
-1560 Firebag
-1570
-1580
-1590
SLAVE POINT
ELK POINT
-1600
WATT MOUNTAIN
Figure 4. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in southern Alberta (see Figure 1). In
this location, the majority of the Beaverhill Lake succession comprises the Waterways Formation
and its constituent members. The Fort Vermilion Formation is absent this far south in the basin.
Abbreviations: KB ELEV, kelly bushing elevation; TD, total depth; GR, gamma ray (API units); MD,
measured depth; DT, sonic travel time (μs/m); RHOB, bulk density (g/cm3); RESD, deep resistivity
(ohm-m).

00/13-22-063-10W5/0
KB ELEV: 1,067 m
TD : 2,740 m
DCOR
950 -50
CAL DPSS SFL
125 375 0.45 -0.15 0.2 2000
GR NPSS MRES
0 150 0.45 -0.15 0.2 2000
SP MD PE RHOB RESD
GROUP -150 0 (m) 0 202000 3000 0.2 2000 FORMATION
-2540
DUVERNAY AND
WOODBEND -2550 IRETON
-2560 Cooking Lake

equivalent
WATERWAYS
-2570
-2580
-2590
-2600
-2610
-1620
BEAVERHILL -2630
LAKE
-2640
-2650
SWAN HILLS
-2660
-2670
-2680
-2690
-2700 FORT VERMILION

WATT MOUNTAIN
ELK POINT -2710
Figure 5. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Swan Hills area (see Figure
1). In this location, the Swan Hills Formation overlies a thin Fort Vermilion Formation. The Swan
Hills Formation comprises both the Swan Hills Platform and the overlying Swan Hills isolated
reef succession (Judy Creek). Abbreviations: KB ELEV, kelly bushing elevation; TD, total depth;
CAL, caliper (mm); GR, gamma ray (API); SP, spontaneous potential (mV); MD, measured depth;
DCOR, density correction (g/cm3); DPSS, density porosity (sandstone matrix, v/v); NPSS, neutron
porosity (sandstone matrix v/v); PE, photoelectric effect (barns/electron); RHOB, bulk density
(g/cm3); SFL, spherically focused log (shallow resistivity, ohm-m); MRES, medium resistivity
(ohm-m); RESD, deep resistivity (ohm-m).

4.3 Eastern Platform (07-31-074-12W4)
In east-central Alberta, east of the Swan Hills area, the Beaverhill Lake Group is similar to that shown in
the representative well from southern Alberta (Figure 4), with the exception of the presence of the Fort
Vermilion Formation. The Beaverhill Lake Group is 227 m thick in the representative well for the Eastern
Platform in east-central Alberta (Figure 6). In this area, the Fort Vermilion is recognized by its high bulk-
density and low density-porosity readings. In the absence of these logs, a high resistivity reading can also
be typical of the anhydrites of the Fort Vermilion (Figure 6).
The criteria used for identifying members within the Waterways Formation are similar to those used in
southern Alberta (Figure 4). The Firebag, Christina, and Mildred members are thicker in this area, such
that the Waterways Formation section contains significantly more argillaceous carbonates and calcareous
shales. This area was closer to the source and influx of terrigenous clastics during deposition of the
Waterways Formation (Wendte and Uyeno, 2005). This also results in a ‘dirtier’ gamma-ray signature
throughout the Calumet and Moberly members (Figure 6).
4.4 Peace River Arch Fringing Platform (08-24-087-13W5)

The representative well from the Peace River area is part of the Evi Field, which produces oil from a
Slave Point carbonate buildup flanking the PRA (Gosselin et al., 1989). A thin interval of Elk Point
Group strata separates the Beaverhill Lake Group from the Precambrian basement rock (Figure 7). The
Beaverhill Lake succession is 125 m thick in this well, nearly 67% of which comprises the combined
Slave Point and Fort Vermilion formations. The anhydrites of the Fort Vermilion are easily distinguished
from the overlying Slave Point carbonates by high bulk-density and density-porosity readings (Figure 7).
The contact between the Slave Point Formation and overlying Waterways Formation can be difficult
to identify in areas where carbonate-rich strata from the Eastern Platform downlap the Slave Point
carbonates. Generally, such Waterways strata are more argillaceous, resulting in higher neutron-porosity
and gamma-ray readings and lower resistivity readings (Figure 7). Determining the contact between the
Waterways Formation and the overlying Cooking Lake Formation of the Woodbend Group is challenging
in this area and usually requires detailed correlation from the Eastern Platform—where the Cooking Lake
carbonates are better developed—westwards towards the PRA.
4.5 Hay River Platform (10-15-103-08W6)

The representative well for the Hay River Platform is located west of the depositional edge of the Fort
Vermilion Formation and occupies an area of dense well distribution due to hydrocarbon production
from Elk Point Group carbonates in the area. The Beaverhill Lake Group is 209 m thick, 82 m of which
comprises Slave Point carbonates (Figure 8).
The Beaverhill Lake Group (Slave Point Formation) is underlain by a thin interval of Watt Mountain
Formation shale, which in turn is underlain by a thin interval of Sulphur Point Formation dolostone
(Figure 8). The Slave Point Formation in this area is predominantly limestone with a photoelectric effect
(PE) of 5, although associated dolostone, which in this well occurs as distinct beds towards the base of the
formation, exhibits a PE of 3 (Figure 8). Areas of dolomitization can also be determined from neutron-
density separation when these logs are run on limestone scales (such as in Figure 8). The contact of the
Slave Point Formation with the Waterways Formation is typically sharp in this area due to the Waterways
Formation becoming increasingly argillaceous this far north and west—abrupt changes in gamma-ray, PE,
and resistivity readings are evident (Figure 8). As mentioned, the Waterways Formation is typically quite
argillaceous in this area, but units with cleaner gamma-ray responses persist and can be traced east- and
southwards towards their source on the Eastern Platform. The contact between the Waterways Formation

00/07-31-074-12W4/0
KB ELEV: 684 m
TD: 864.7 m
SFL
0.2 2000
GR MRES
0 150 0.2 2000
CAL MD DCOR DT RESD FORMATION
GROUP 125 375 (m) 950 -50500 1000.2 2000 Member
WOODBEND
610
COOKING LAKE
620
WATERWAYS
630
Mildred
640
650
660
Moberly
670
680
690
700
710
720
BEAVERHILL
LAKE 730
Christina
740
750
760
Calumet
770
780
790 Firebag
800
810
820
830
840
SLAVE POINT
FORT VERMILION
850
ELK POINT WATT MOUNTAIN
Figure 6. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group in the Eastern Platform of east-central
Alberta (see Figure 1). In this location, the majority of the Beaverhill Lake succession comprises
the Waterways Formation and its constituent members. Abbreviations: KB ELEV, kelly bushing
elevation; TD, total depth; CAL, caliper (mm); GR, gamma ray (API); MD, measured depth; DCOR,
density correction (g/cm3); DT; sonic travel time (μs/m); SFL, spherically focused log (shallow
resistivity, ohm-m); MRES, medium resistivity (ohm-m); RESD, deep resistivity (ohm-m).

00/08-24-087-13W5/0
KB ELEV : 636 m
TD : 1,812 m
DCOR
950 -50
DPSS SFL
0.45 -0.15 0.2 2000
GR NPSS DT MRES
0 150 0.45 -0.15500 1000.2 2000
CAL PE RHOB RESD
MD
GROUP 125 375 (m) 0 202000 3000 0.2 2000 FORMATION
-1590
WOODBEND -1600
MUSKWA AND
-1610
FORT SIMPSON
WATERWAYS
-1620
-1630
-1640
-1650
-1660
-1670
-1680
BEAVERHILL -1690
LAKE
SLAVE POINT
-1700
-1710
-1720
-1730
FORT VERMILION
-1740
WATT MOUNTAIN
ELK POINT MUSKEG
-1750
PRECAMBRIAN
Figure 7. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group on the Peace River Arch fringing
platform of the Peace River area of Alberta (see Figure 1). In this location the Slave Point forms
a shallow-water carbonate buildup and is part of the oil-producing Evi Field. The yellow and red
colouration on the logs represent an area of significant density correction (DCOR), possibly due
to borehole washout. Abbreviations: KB ELEV, kelly bushing elevation; TD, total depth; CAL,
caliper (mm); GR, gamma ray (API); MD, measured depth; DCOR, density correction (g/cm3);
DPSS, density porosity (sandstone matrix, v/v); NPSS, neutron porosity (sandstone matrix v/v);
PE, photoelectric effect (barns/electron); DT; sonic travel time (μs/m); RHOB, bulk density (g/cm3);
SFL, spherically focused log (shallow resistivity, ohm-m); MRES, medium resistivity (ohm-m);
RESD, deep resistivity (ohm-m).

00/10-15-103-08W6/0
KB ELEV: 710 m
TD : 2,143 m
DCOR
950 -50
DPOR SFL
0.45 -0.15 0.2 2000
GR NPOR DT MRES
0 150 0.45 -0.15500 100 0.2 2000
CAL MD PE RHOB RESD
GROUP 125 375
(m) 0 202000 3000 0.2 2000 FORMATION
-1860
-1870
WOODBEND -1880
-1890
MUSKWA AND
FORT SIMPSON
-1900
WATERWAYS
-1910
-1920
-1930
-1940
-1950
-1960
-1970
-1980
-1990
-2000
-2010
BEAVERHILL -2020
LAKE
-2030 SLAVE POINT
-2040
-2050
-2060
-2070
-2080
-2090
-2100
-2110
WATT MOUNTAIN
-2120 SULPHUR POINT
ELK POINT
-2130
MUSKEG
Figure 8. Representative well for the Beaverhill Lake Group on the Hay River Platform of
northwestern Alberta (see Figure 1). In this location, the Slave Point Formation forms a thick
shallow-water carbonate buildup that is an eastern extension of the Presqu’ile Barrier Reef to
the northwest (Figure 3). Abbreviations: KB ELEV, kelly bushing elevation; TD, total depth; CAL,
caliper (mm); GR, gamma ray (API); MD, measured depth; DCOR, density correction (g/cm3);
DPOR, density porosity (limestone matrix, v/v); NPOR, neutron porosity (limestone matrix v/v);
PE, photoelectric effect (barns/electron); DT; sonic travel time (μs/m); RHOB, bulk density (g/cm3);
SFL, spherically focused log (shallow resistivity, ohm-m); MRES, medium resistivity (ohm-m);
RESD, deep resistivity (ohm-m).

and the overlying Woodbend Group is sharp in this area due to the development of radioactivity in the
shales of the Muskwa Formation; however, further north, the top of the Beaverhill Lake Group occurs at
some depth below the first significant radioactive response within the Muskwa Formation.
5 Results: Stratigraphic Cross-Sections

Seven regional stratigraphic cross-sections are shown below to illustrate the correlation of Beaverhill
Lake Group strata within the study area. The location of the lines of cross-section can be found on
Figure 1, and the reader is referred to Figure 3 for the various depositional realms during deposition of the
Beaverhill Lake Group covered by the cross-sections. Colours within the cross-sections do not represent a
specific lithology, but rather they are employed to emphasize specific formations within the section.
5.1 Cross-Section A–A′

Cross-section A–A′ (Figure 9) is strike oriented and runs along the length of the study area in the east,
just west of the subcrop edge (Figure 1). South of well 10-11-067-12W4, the Fort Vermilion Formation
is unrecognizable on logs and is considered to depositionally pinch out (Figure 9). The unit thickens
considerably northwards of this well, reaching a thickness of up to 31 m in well 07-29-101-01W5
(Figure 9). This well is located within a depocentre for Fort Vermilion evaporites, which begins roughly
north of Township 93.
The Slave Point Formation is consistently less than 5 m thick and is usually closer to 3 m thick in
the eastern portion of the study area. It thickens appreciably northwards beginning at Township 107
(Figure 9). The Slave Point Formation is more readily differentiated from the overlying Waterways
Formation where the Waterways Formation comprises a higher proportion of shale (e.g., well 10-11-067-
12W4, Figure 9). In the south, the Slave Point Formation can be more difficult to differentiate from the
overlying clean carbonates, where the Eastern Platform is well developed (e.g., well 07-23-048-11W4,
Figure 9).
The Waterways Formation is uniformly thick throughout Figure 9. Therein a marked increase in
argillaceous carbonates and calcareous shales can be observed from the south towards the north,
marking the transition from the Eastern Platform into the Waterways sub-basin (Figure 3). The top of the
Waterways Formation is typically easy to differentiate from the overlying Cooking Lake Formation of
the Woodbend Group; however, beyond the edge of the Cooking Lake Platform, the correlation relies on
recognition of the Cooking Lake equivalent (Figure 9).
5.2 Cross-Section B–B′

The strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section B–B′ (Figure 10) runs north–south through the middle
of the study area (Figure 1). The Fort Vermilion Formation is absent south of well 10-06-061-24W4,
beyond which it was not deposited. Much like in cross-section A–A′, the Fort Vermilion Formation
thickens appreciably northwards towards an evaporite depocentre (well 10-03-101-15W5) and then thins
northwards where the Slave Point Formation thickens in a reciprocal manner (Figure 10).
The Slave Point Formation is thin along the majority of cross-section B–B′ but thickens up to 34 m in
well 15-17-113-21W5 (Figure 10). This location corresponds to the northeastern-most part of the Hay
River Platform (Figure 3).
The Waterways Formation thins slightly over the eastern axis of the PRA (Figure 3) and again in the
far north over the Hay River Platform (Figure 10). The Waterways Formation becomes much more

North South
A A′
4 4
W5
5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 9W 4 4 4 2W 4
-07
5W 1W 2W 0W 7W 8W 2W 2W 1W 5-0 1W 3W 5W 6-0 1W
3 7-0 1-0 5-2 9-2 4-1 6-1 4-1 7-1 2-1 -05 8-1 5-0 0-0 -03 1-0
-11 -10 -10 -09 -08 -08 -07 -07 -06 -06 -11 -04 -04 -04 -08 -03
-12 -28 -29 -08 -16 -34 -24 -31 -11 -01 /07 -23 -07 -13 /11 -09
08 01 07 11 10 09 07 07 10 08 02 07 07 10 02 06
Sonic Neutron Sonic NPHI-DPHI Sonic Neutron Neutron
Cooking Duvernay/
Woodbend Group
Lake Duvernay/ Ireton Leduc
equivalent Leduc
Ireton
Cooking
Lake
DPHI
NPHI

PE
Waterways
Waterways
Slave Point
Slave
Fort Vermilion Point
Watt Mountain Watt Mountain
Elk Point
Group
Prairie Evaporite Prairie Evaporite
100 m
Datum: Watt Mountain Formation
Horizontal scale: equal spacing
Vertical exaggeration: 133.3x
Figure 9. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section A-A′. See Figure 1 for location.
North South
B B′
5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4
W5 0W
5 W5 5W 0W 9W 6W 6W W5 1W 3W 4W 1W 2W 1W 7W
4 W4 3W
4
-21 1-2 -17 1-1 5-1 1-0 7-0 2-0 -02 1-0 7-2 1-2 5-2 0-2 5-2 9-1 -17 0-1
-11
3
-11 06 0 -09 -09 -08 -08 78 -07 -06 -06 -05 -05 -04 34
5-1 3-1 7-0 -03 5-0 -03
-17 -13 -1 -0 -16 -13 -07 -22 -1 -19 -17 -06 -34 -30 -29 -11 -3 -20
15 16 11 10 05 02 02 02 11 10 13 10 07 07 06 14 14 11
Sonic Neutron Sonic NPHI-DPHI
Leduc Leduc Duvernay/
Ireton Leduc
Woodbend Group
Leduc
Muskwa/ Duvernay/
Ireton Cooking
Fort Simpson Lake PE
DPHI
NPHI
Cooking
Lake
equivalent

Waterways
Waterways
Bulk Density
Slave Point
Slave Point
Fort Vermilion
Watt Mountain
Elk Point
Muskeg
Group
Prairie Evaporite
100 m
Figure 10. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section B–B′. See Figure 1 for location.
argillaceous north of well 10-19-071-01W5 (Figure 10) and is characterized by increasingly higher
gamma-ray counts, which correspond roughly to the transition from the Eastern Platform to the
Waterways sub-basin (Figure 3). The contact between the Waterways Formation (Beaverhill Lake
Group) and the overlying Woodbend Group depends on the presence or absence of the Cooking Lake and
Muskwa formations along this cross-section. In the south, the carbonates of the Cooking Lake Formation
are marked by a cleaner gamma-ray response, which transitions to the Cooking Lake equivalent north
of the Cooking Lake Platform edge (Figure 10). Where the Cooking Lake equivalent pinches out,
the Waterways is overlain by argillaceous shales of the Fort Simpson Formation (Ireton Formation
equivalent). Further north and west, the Waterways Formation is overlain by the radioactive bituminous
shales of the Muskwa Formation (e.g., well 16-13-111-20W5, Figure 10).
5.3 Cross-Section C–C′

The strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section C–C′ (Figure 11) runs north–south along the western
portion of the study area (Figure 1). This section traverses the PRA, over which the Beaverhill Lake
Group is missing. Sediments of the Beaverhill Lake Group thin perceptibly over the arch and eventually
onlap the structure, which was an emergent landmass during the Devonian (Figure 11). The PRA was an
asymmetrical feature with a more steeply dipping northern flank (O’Connell, 1994), which is evidenced
by a thicker Beaverhill Lake Group succession (Figure 11).
Cross-section C–C′ runs along the western limit of the Fort Vermilion Formation, resulting in what
appears to be localized distributions north and south of the PRA (Figure 11). The Fort Vermilion
Formation is absent south of well 16-27-063-09W5.
The cross-section runs through the Swan Hills area where the shallow-water carbonates of the Swan Hills
Formation formed (Figure 3). The three wells that traverse the carbonate buildups fall within the platform
succession of the lower Swan Hills Formation. The platform is intersected by an embayment separating
the area where the isolated Judy Creek and Swan Hills bioherms nucleated from the area where the Snipe
Lake bioherm nucleated (well 10-22-066-12W5, Figure 11). Where the Swan Hills platform and overlying
bank and isolated bioherms developed, the Swan Hills Formation is undifferentiated from the Slave
Point Formation, the latter of which is considered to comprise a more open-marine facies succession in
interplatform areas surrounding the Swan Hills platform (Oldale and Munday, 1994). This open-marine
facies changes once again to the shallow-water facies of the Slave Point Formation fringing the PRA. The
Swan Hills Formation represents a thicker—and longer lived—succession of shallow-water carbonates
than the Slave Point Formation buildups flanking the PRA (Oldale and Munday, 1994). East of the Swan
Hills area, the Slave Point Formation is represented by a thin carbonate recognizable by a relatively clean
gamma-ray signature. North of the PRA, the Slave Point Formation thickens significantly where it forms
the Hay River Platform (Figure 3 and Figure 11).
In the south, the Waterways Formation is differentiated from the overlying Cooking Lake Formation of
the Woodbend Group by a sharp decrease in gamma-ray counts where the Cooking Lake Platform or the
Cooking Lake equivalent is developed. Towards the southern flank of the PRA, the Waterways Formation
is overlain by bituminous or argillaceous shales of the Duvernay Formation. Here, the Waterways
Formation thins as it onlaps the Slave Point carbonates and eventually the PRA (Figure 11). North of the
PRA, the Waterways Formation is overlain by the bituminous shales of the Muskwa Formation (Duvernay
Formation equivalent). The Waterways Formation thins again northwards where it onlaps the Hay River
Platform (Figure 11).

North South
C C′
5
6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 W5 5 3W 5 4
9W 6W 4W 4W 4W 2W -16W 7W -16W 4W 2W 0W 9W 9W -08 0W 8-0 2W -24W
2-0 0-0 5-0 9-2 5-2 9-2 1 9-1 3 0-1 6-1 4-1 3-0 9-0 52 5-1 -03 3-0 0
-11 -11 -10 -09 -09 -08 -06 -07 -07 -07 -06 -06 -06 -05 -04 -04 -16 -03 1-03
-25 -03 -30 -32 -09 -10 -22 -12 -03 -04 -22 -07 -27 -26 -18 -25 /06 -14 -3
10 08 10 05 01 14 10 04 14 06 10 16 16 10 03 06 03 06 06
Woodbend Group
Sonic Sonic Sonic Sonic Sonic Sonic Sonic Sonic Sonic
Leduc Leduc
Duvernay/ Cooking
Muskwa/ Cooking Lake
Lake Ireton
Fort Simpson
equivalent

Waterways
Waterways
Duvernay/
Ireton
Slave Point Slave
Point Slave
Swan Hills Swan Hills Point
Fort Vermilion
Watt Mountain
Sulphur Point Watt Mountain
Elk Point
Group
Muskeg
inset
5 5 5 5
Peace River Arch 4W 2W 6W 7W
5-2 9-2 1-1 9-1
-09 -08 -06 -07
-09 -10 -22 -12
100 m 01 14 10 04
Sonic
Muskwa/ Duvernay/
Fort Simpson Ireton
Horizontal scale: equal spacing Waterways
Waterways Slave Point
Watt Mountain
Peace River
100 m
Slave Point Arch
Onlap
Watt
Mountain
Datum: Top Waterways Formation
Figure 11. Strike-oriented stratigraphic cross-section C–C′. See Figure 1 for location.
5.4 Cross-Section D–D′
The dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section D–D′ (Figure 12) runs west–east through the northern part
of the study area, north of the PRA (Figure 1). The section runs directly through the centre of the Fort
Vermilion Formation depocentre in the north of the study area, where the Fort Vermilion Formation can
be more than 44 m thick (well 10-03-101-15W5, Figure 12). The Fort Vermilion Formation eventually
interfingers with and pinches out in the Slave Point Formation carbonates in the Hay River Platform. The
Slave Point Formation is thin in the eastern portion of cross-section D–D′ and thickens at the expense of
the Fort Vermilion Formation towards the Hay River Platform.
The Waterways Formation thins westwards towards the Hay River Platform, which it onlaps and
eventually buries west of the study area in British Columbia. The Waterways Formation is overlain by a
thin Cooking Lake Platform succession in the east, by argillaceous shales of the Ireton Formation and its
equivalent Fort Simpson Formation in the west, and eventually by the bituminous shales of the Muskwa
Formation overlying the Hay River Platform (Figure 12).
5.5 Cross-Section E–E′

The dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section E–E′ (Figure 13) runs west–east in the study area, traversing a
portion of the southern flank of the PRA (Figure 1). In the east, the Waterways Formation is truncated by
the sub-Cretaceous unconformity, which is overlain by siliciclastics of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville
Group (Figure 13).
The Fort Vermilion Formation is uniform in thickness across the cross-section until it pinches out west of
well 03-20-083-10W5 (Figure 13). Overlying the Fort Vermilion Formation, the Slave Point Formation
carbonates are thin but increase in thickness towards the PRA, where they reach nearly 50 m in thick
(well 12-16-082-12W5, Figure 13). Here the Slave Point Formation forms the PRA fringing platform
(Figure 3). The Slave Point Formation thins again westwards where accommodation decreases and
eventually onlaps the PRA beyond the line of section.
Strata of the Waterways Formation thin dramatically westwards towards the PRA, where they onlap
and eventually bury the Slave Point Formation. Waterways Formation strata thin due to decreased
accommodation space over the PRA (Figure 13). Tracing of individual markers (tops of T-R cycles)
within the Waterways Formation reveals downlap of the Slave Point Formation in the Waterways sub-
basin and onlap of the Slave Point Formation where it forms the PRA fringing platform (Figure 3). The
Waterways Formation is overlain by the Cooking Lake Formation in the east (west of the subcrop), by
the Cooking Lake equivalent west of the Cooking Lake Platform edge, by the Ireton Formation west
of the Cooking Lake equivalent, and eventually by the bituminous shales of the Duvernay Formation
(Figure 13).
5.6 Cross-Section F–F′

The dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section F–F′ (Figure 14) runs roughly west–east through the centre
of the study area, from the Swan Hills region towards the Eastern Platform and Beaverhill Lake subcrop
(Figure 1). In the east, the Waterways Formation is truncated by the sub-Cretaceous unconformity, which
is overlain by siliciclastics of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group.
At the base of the Beaverhill Lake Group, the Fort Vermilion Formation forms a thin unit that pinches out
westwards beneath the Swan Hills Formation buildups (well 02-28-063-11W5, Figure 14). East of these
buildups, the Fort Vermilion Formation is overlain by a thin unit of Slave Point Formation carbonates.
West of well 10-15-063-04W5, the Slave Point Formation grades into similar open-marine carbonates

West East
D D′
6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
3W 1W6 4W W6 3W 4W 1W 8W 5W 2W 8W 5W W5 1W
4-1 5-1 5-2 -05 8-0 9-2 0-2 0-1 1-1 1-1 3-0 4-0 -03 5-0
-09 -09 -09 96 -09 -09 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 04 -10
-14 -01 -04 -25-0 -14 -32 -18 -24 -03 -24 -32 -22 -21-1 -17
03 10 06 11 13 05 06 10 10 07 06 16 11 08
Sonic Sonic Sonic
Woodbend Group
Duvernay/
Ireton
Cooking Lake
Muskwa/
Fort Simpson

Waterways
Waterways
Slave
Point
Slave Point
Fort Vermilion
Watt Mountain
Elk Point
Group
Prairie Evaporite
100 m
Figure 12. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section D–D′. See Figure 1 for location.
West East
E E′
5 W5 5 W5 5 5 5 W4 W4 W4 4 4
6W 2W 8W W5 3W 2W 6W 2W
1-1 -14 2-1 3-1
0
4-0 -06 4-0 5-0 -23 -21 -18 8-1 9-1
-08 81 8 -08 -08 84 -08 -08 85 86 87 -08 -08
-22 -19-0 -16-0 -20 -08 1-0 -22 -20 -32-0 -07-0 -03
-0
-28 -32
-2
10 14 12 03 15 11 06 13 04 03 14 07 02
Sonic Sonic
Woodbend Group
Duvernay/
Mannville Group
Ireton Cooking Lake
Cretaceous
Cooking
Lake
equivalent
Sub-Cretaceous
unconformity
Duvernay/
Ireton

Waterways
Waterways
Slave
Slave Point Point
Fort Vermilion
Watt Mountain
Elk Point
Group
inset
Prairie Evaporite
W5 W5 W5 W5 W5 -06W5
1-16 1-14 2-12 3-10 4-08 4
2-08 9-08 6-08 0-08 8-08 1-21-08
10-2 14-1 12-1 03-2 15-0 1
Duvernay/Ireton
100 m
Waterways
Watt Mountain
Peace Slave
Rive r
Datum: Watt Mountain Formation Arc Point
h
Vertical exaggeration: 133.3x 100 m Fort V.
Datum: Waterways Formation Prairie Evaporite
Figure 13. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section E–E′. See Figure 1 for location.
West East
F F′
W5 W5 8W
5
6W
5
1W
5
0W
5
1W
5
0W
5 W5 8W
5
4W
5
2W
5
3W
4
9W
4
6W
4
1W
4
6W
4
-19 2-1
9
2-1 3-1 3-1 4-1 6-1 7-1 -08 4-0 3-0 7-0 9-2 9-1 0-1 2-1 4-0
61 -06 -06 -06 -06 -06 -06 64 -06 -06 -06 -06 -07 -07 -07
-0 -06 9-0 -06
-30 -16 -25 -11 -28 -07 -12 -10 -1 -20 -15 -14 -08 -11 -09 -26 -09
07 04 12 06 02 16 12 10 10 10 10 12 06 06 05 06 10
Sonic Neutron Sonic Sonic Neutron Neutron Gamma Ray Sonic
Woodbend Group
Cretaceous
Duvernay/
Ireton
Mannville Group
Cooking Lake
Duvernay/
Ireton Cooking
Lake
equivalent
Sub-
Cretaceous
unconformity
Waterways
Beaverhill Lake
Waterways
Group
1 3 6
Swan Hills 2 Swan Hills
5
Slave
4 Fort Vermilion
Slave 7 Point
Point
Watt Mountain Watt Mountain
Elk Point
Group
Prairie Evaporite
Swan Hills field nomenclature:
100 m 1 Kaybob South 5 Swan Hills South
2 Kaybob embayment 6 Swan Hills North
3 Fox Creek 7 Ethel Lake
Horizontal scale: equal spacing 4 Judy Creek West
Figure 14. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section F–F′. See Figure 1 for location.
recognized as the basal part of the Swan Hills Formation (Figure 14). As mentioned previously,
Fischbuch (1968) recognized nine divisions within the Swan Hills Formation. Fischbuch interpreted
Division I as being biostromal, not having much relief, and therefore likely depositionally similar to
the equivalent open-marine, biostromal Slave Point Formation. The shallow-water carbonates of the
Swan Hills Formation comprise a thick and complex succession of platform, bank, and isolated bioherm
deposits (Fischbuch, 1968) that accumulated in an overall transgressive setting, resulting in aggradation
and backstepping (Wendte and Uyeno, 2005). Numerous reefal elements at various stratigraphic levels
host producible hydrocarbons (Figure 14). In the west, the Swan Hills platform and overlying bank
are intersected by an open-marine incursion that separates the Kaybob South and Fox Creek fields, in
which open-marine carbonates assigned to the Slave Point Formation were deposited (well 04-16-062-
19W5, Figure 14). The Swan Hills Formation carbonates are onlapped by, and eventually buried by, the
argillaceous carbonates and shales of the Waterways Formation.
East of the Swan Hills region, the Waterways Formation is a thick succession of argillaceous carbonates
and shales in the Waterways sub-basin, which transition eastwards into the biostrome carbonates of
the Eastern Platform (Figure 3). In the eastern portion of the cross-section, the Waterways Formation
is overlain by the platform carbonates of the Cooking Lake Formation. West of this platform edge, the
Waterways Formation is overlain by the Cooking Lake equivalent, which becomes unrecognizable past
well 02-28-063-11W5 (Figure 14). West of this well the Waterways Formation is overlain by bituminous
shales of the Duvernay Formation.
5.7 Cross-Section G–G′

Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section G–G′ (Figure 15) runs west–east in the southern part of the
study area (Figure 1), from Swan Hills Formation buildups in the west, flanking the West Alberta Ridge
(Figure 3), to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Wendte and Uyeno (2005) referred to these buildups as
the southwest Swan Hills Platform and bank.
The anhydrites of the Fort Vermilion Formation are missing this far south in the basin, such that either the
Slave Point or the Swan Hills Formation make up the basal unit of the Beaverhill Lake Group. The Slave
Point Formation is a thin open-marine carbonate resting on the Watt Mountain Formation of the Elk Point
Group. West of well 03/06-16-038-03W5, the Slave Point transitions into the shallow-water carbonates of
the Swan Hills Formation in the southwest Swan Hills platform and overlying bank (Figure 15).
The Waterways Formation is much less argillaceous this far south in the basin, with a large portion of
the cross-section in the east comprising the platform carbonates of the Eastern Platform (Wendte and
Uyeno, 2005). Similar to the Swan Hills area to the north, the Waterways Formation onlaps and buries the
Swan Hills Formation carbonates in the west, seen on cross-section G–G′ (Figure 15). The Cooking Lake
Platform of the overlying Woodbend Group is well developed this far south in the basin, which makes
identifying the contact between the Beaverhill Lake and Woodbend groups straightforward. The contact
is characterized by argillaceous carbonates with higher gamma-ray counts, grading upwards to platform
carbonates with lower gamma-ray counts. The contact can be abrupt or gradational (Figure 15).

West East
G G′
Mannville Group
5 6W5 3W
5
5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
6W 6-0 8-0 1W 6W 4W 1W 5W 4W 1W 4W
4-0 -03 -03 1-0 0-2 1-2 5-2 6-1 9-1 8-1 1-0
-03 -27 -16 -04 -04 -04 -04 -04 -04 -04 -05
-02 /08 /06 -04 -14 -20 -29 -35 -09 -23 -01
16 02 03 06 12 06 06 06 10 07 07
Sonic Sonic Sonic Sonic
Sub-Cretaceous
Duvernay/ Cretaceous unconformity
Ireton
Leduc
Woodbend Group
Duvernay/ Leduc
Ireton
Leduc Cooking
Lake
Duvernay/
Ireton
Cooking
Lake

Waterways
Waterways
Swan Hills
Slave Point
Watt Mountain
Elk Point
Group
Prairie Evaporite
100 m
Figure 15. Dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-section G–G′. See Figure 1 for location.
6 Summary
Strata of the Middle to Upper Devonian Beaverhill Lake Group in the subsurface of Alberta represent
an economically important succession of carbonates, argillaceous carbonates, calcareous shales,
evaporites, and lesser, areally restricted sandstones. A number of distinct and economically important
paleogeographic domains occur within the study area. These domains are characterized by the growth of
shallow-water carbonates that nucleated on antecedent topographic highs in a number of locations within
the basin: (1) the Swan Hills Formation carbonate complex on the West Alberta Ridge, (2) the Slave Point
Formation carbonate complex fringing the PRA, and (3) the Slave Point Formation of the Hay River
Platform that forms an eastern extension of the Presqu’ile barrier complex—a long-lived barrier to the
open ocean to the northwest (Figure 3).
Concomitant with the growth of shallow-water carbonate complexes in the northwestern part of the study
area (northern flank of the PRA and Hay River Platform), evaporites of the Fort Vermilion Formation
accumulated in restricted settings to the south and east of the carbonate complexes. Restricted conditions
ceased during a period of accelerated relative sea-level rise, during which time carbonate complexes on
the southern flank of the PRA and in the Swan Hills area began to accumulate, and an extensive, but thin,
blanket of open-marine carbonates of the Slave Point Formation developed outboard of the carbonate
complexes.
The introduction of large volumes of very fine terrigenous clastics terminated Slave Point Formation
carbonate accumulation outboard of the carbonate complexes. Progradational clinoforms of the
Waterways Formation began to fill the Waterways sub-basin from the east towards the west (Figure 3).
The landward expression of these clinoforms is part of another distinct carbonate complex known as the
Eastern Platform, which developed during this time on the eastern side of the basin (Wendte and Uyeno,
2005; Figure 3). Part of the Eastern Platform developed coeval with the carbonate complexes of the
western side of the basin (Keith, 1990; Wendte and Uyeno, 2005). Eventually the argillaceous carbonates
of the Waterways Formation buried all but a very few of the components of the western carbonate
complexes as the basin began to fill. Continued transgression resulted in the deposition of the thick
overlying Woodbend Group succession.
Correlation of Beaverhill Lake Group stratigraphy in the study area covers all the aforementioned
depositional realms in the form of strike- and dip-oriented stratigraphic cross-sections. A number of
representative wells from distinct geographic areas detail criteria used for correlation of the Beaverhill
Lake Group strata. The associated picks from the cross-sections are included in an associated data release,
DIG 2014-0024.

7 References
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Survey of Canada, Paper 52-27, 66 p.
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AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05

Regional Correlation of the

Regional Correlation of the Beaverhill Lake

Alberta Energy Regulator

Published July 2014 by:

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • iii

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • iv

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • v

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • vi

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 1

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 2

Muskwa and Fort Simpson WB Ireton WB Led. Duvernay

Beaverhill Lake Group

Beaverhill Lake Group

Ft. V. Fort Vermilion Ft. V. Slave Point

Elk Point Gp.

Elk Point Gp.

G.W. Muskeg Muskeg/Prairie Evaporite Prairie Evaporite

Crystalline basement Carbonate Sandstone Shale Evaporites

Figure 2. Schematic lithostratigraphic column showing the distribution of upper Givetian to

2.1 Watt Mountain Formation, Elk Point Group

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 4

2.3 Slave Point Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group

2.4 Swan Hills Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 5

2.5 Waterways Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 6

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 7

4 Results: Representative Wells

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 8

4.2 Swan Hills (13-22-063-10W5)

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 9

WOODBEND -1370 COOKING LAKE

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 10

-2560 Cooking Lake

-2700 FORT VERMILION

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 11

4.4 Peace River Arch Fringing Platform (08-24-087-13W5)

4.5 Hay River Platform (10-15-103-08W6)

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 12

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 13

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 14

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 15

5 Results: Stratigraphic Cross-Sections

5.1 Cross-Section A–A′

5.2 Cross-Section B–B′

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 16

Beaverhill Lake Group

Beaverhill Lake Group

5.3 Cross-Section C–C′

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 19

Beaverhill Lake Group

5.5 Cross-Section E–E′

5.6 Cross-Section F–F′

AER/AGS Open File Report 2014-05 (July 2014) • 21

Beaverhill Lake Group

Beaverhill Lake Group

5.7 Cross-Section G–G′