Hydrocarbon development potential of the Early Jurassic Gordondale Member of the Fernie Formation, Alberta, Canada.

The Gordondale Member of the Nordegg Formation of west-central Alberta, Canada contains hydrocarbon resources. The analysis of borehole petrophysical data across Alberta is used to calculate the amount of hydrocarbon resources in the organically-enriched basinal marine mudrocks. Four petrofacies are identified: 1) calcareous strata with PE values ≥ 4 barns/electron 2) less calcareous strata with PE values < 4 barns/electron 3) organically enriched strata with TOC values ≥ 10 wt. % and 4) less organically enriched strata with TOC values < 10 wt. %. Petrofacies occur within three Gordondale units: the Upper Radioactive, Middle Silty, and Lower Radioactive. The Lower Radioactive unit has the greatest exploration and development potential and is characterized by TOC values exceeding 30 wt. % within the calcareous strata and organically enriched petrofacies. Of the 413 wells analyzed, four wells were identified to have the greatest reservoir quality and hydrocarbon production: 100/08-18-086-06W6/00, 100/10-09-079-05W6/00, 100/01-078-04W6/00, and 100/08-17-075-01W6/00.