Debolt Formation

Debolt Formation
Debolt Formation
Stratigraphic range: Meramecian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Rundle Group
Sub-units	Upper Debolt; Lower Debolt
Underlies	Golata Formation
Overlies	Shunda Formation
Thickness	up to 366 metres (1,200 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Limestone, dolomite
Other	Shale, anhydrite
Location
Coordinates	55°18′21″N 117°53′46″W / 55.3057°N 117.8961°W
Region	Alberta, British Columbia
Country	Canada
Type section
Named for	Debolt, Alberta
Named by	G. Macauley, 1958

The Debolt Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Meramecian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

It takes the name from the hamlet of Debolt, Alberta, and was first described in the Amerada Crown GF23-11 well near Debolt by G. Macauley in 1958.^[2]

Lithology

The Debolt Formation is commonly subdivided into a lower and upper unit. Lower Debolt rocks are bioclastic limestones deposited on a stable carbonate ramp. These lower Debolt rocks are rarely dolomitized and therefore have little porosity or commercial use. Upper Debolt sedimentation is characterized by a number of shallowing upwards facies. At the base of the Upper Debolt is distal and medial ramp argillaceous limestone facies with limited laminations and thin bedding. These argillaceous facies rarely contain clean carbonate interbeds in the medial ramp setting, predominantly wackestones and packstones. These facies are followed by a capping proximal ramp/shoal facies with abundant skeletal packstones and grainstones.^[3]

Distribution

The Debolt Formation is present in the sub-surface in the Peace River Country in northern Alberta and north-eastern British Columbia. The formation is 366 metres (1,200 ft) thick close to the Rocky Mountains, and thins out northward and eastward. It has a thickness of 244 metres (800 ft) at its type locality near Debolt, Alberta.^[1]

Relationship to other units

The Debolt Formation is the upper most component of the Rundle Group. It rests conformably on the Shunda Formation, resting on shale and carbonates. It is overlain conformably by the Golata Formation of the Stoddart Group in the west, and the upper contact becomes unconformable with gradually newer formations to the east and north (Permian, Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous beds).

References

^ ^a ^b Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Debolt Formation". Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
^ Macauley, G., 1958. Late Paleozoic of Peace River area, Alberta. In: Jurassic and Carboniferous of western Canada; Goodman, A.J. (Ed.), p. 289-308. American Association of Petroleum Geologists
^ Petrel Robertson Consulting (December 2014). "Characterization of Belloy and Debolt Water Disposal Zones in the Montney Play Fairway, Northeast B.C." (Geoscience BC Report 2015-03). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[lexicon-1] Lexicon of Canadian Geologic Units. "Debolt Formation". Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2009-02-10.

[2] Macauley, G., 1958. Late Paleozoic of Peace River area, Alberta. In: Jurassic and Carboniferous of western Canada; Goodman, A.J. (Ed.), p. 289-308. American Association of Petroleum Geologists

[3] Petrel Robertson Consulting (December 2014). "Characterization of Belloy and Debolt Water Disposal Zones in the Montney Play Fairway, Northeast B.C." (Geoscience BC Report 2015-03). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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v t e Western Canada Sedimentary Basin
Hydrocarbon history	Oil sands and heavy oil Frontier exploration and development Natural gas liquids Natural gas
Depositional regions	Southern Alberta Central Alberta Northwestern Alberta Plains South-central Canadian Rockies foothills North-east Plains North-central foothills Liard River Fort Nelson Northern Rocky Mountains Fort St. John Saskatchewan Western Manitoba
Liard River area	Wapiti GRP Kotaneelee FM Dunvegan FM Ft. St. John GRP Sully FM SikanniFM Lepine FM Buckinghorse FM Scatter FM Garbutt FM Liard FM Toad FM Grayling FM Ishbel GRP Fantasque FM Kindle FM Mattson FM Golata FM Debolt FM Prophet FM Besa River FM Dunedin FM Stone FM Wokpash FM Muncho-McConnell FM Nonda FM Kechica FM Atan FM Canadian Shield
Northwest plains	Paskapoo FM Scollard FM Wapiti GRP Smoky GRP Puskwaskau FM Badheart FM Muskiki FM Cardium FM Kaskapau FM Pouce Coupe MBR Doe Creek MBR Dunvegan FM Fort St. John GRP Shaftesbury FM Peace River FM Spirit River FM Bullhead GRP Bluesky FM Gething FM Cadomin FM Nikanassin FM Fernie GRP Rock Creek MBR Poker Chip Shale Nordegg MBR Schooler Creek GRP Baldonnel FM Charlie Lake FM Halfway FM Doig FM Montney FM Belloy FM Stoddart GRP Taylor Flat FM Kiskatinaw FM Golata FM Rundle GRP Debolt FM Shunda FM Pekisko FM Banff FM Exshaw FM Wabamun FM Trout River FM Kakisa FM Redknife FM Jean Marie MBR Woodbend GRP Irteton FM Fort Simpson FM Leduc FM Duvernay FM Cooking Lake FM Beaverhill Lake GRP Waterways FM Swan Hills FM Fort Vermilion FM Elk Point GRP Watt Mountain FM Gillwood MBR Presqu’ile FM Sulphur Point FM Pine Point FM Muskeg FM Zama MBR Black Shale Keg River FM Rainbow MBR Chinchaga FM Cold Lake FM Ernestina FM Basal Red Beds Granite Wash Canadian Shield