Triassic oil families and possible source rocks, Peace River embayment area, Alberta, Canada

Twenty eight oils were collected from Triassic reservoirs of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin and analyzed. Thirteen source rock samples from the Montney Formation, Doig Phosphate Zone, Pardonet Formation and Gordondale Member were also analyzed.; Based on gross composition and biomarker characteristics, three oil families were identified; X, Y and Z. Oil to source correlation suggests a Middle Triassic Phosphate Zone (Doig Formation) source for Family X and a Lower Jurassic Gordondale source for Families Y and Z. Compositional and molecular differences between Families Y and Z are attributed to facies variation within the Gordondale Member. A sub family of X (Family Xi) was also identified. Family X i could potentially be derived from the Lower Triassic Montney Formation. However, the effects of high thermal maturity on the samples prevent conclusive determination of this possibility.; Thermal maturity of the oil samples increase towards the southwest of the study area, implying an up-dip northeast direction for oil migration.