Aspects of the sedimentology, ichnology, stratigraphy, and reservoir character of the McMurray Formation, northeast Alberta

The McMurray Formation in the surface-mineable Athabasca Oil Sands was studied in order to better define the strata surrounding the Ells River and develop a facies scheme that effectively links seven outcrops and forty nearby core sections into cohesive facies associations. Incorporation of sedimentological, ichnological, and stratigraphic analysis suggest initial deposition during the Lower Cretaceous was fluvially controlled evolving into a complex estuarine fill. Ichnological analysis confirmed the presence of brackish water conditions during the bulk of McMurray deposition with an increase in the biological carrying capacity of the environment up-section.; The presence of an oil-water contact exposed in outcrop along the Steepbank River allowed analysis of the relationship between the high-viscosity oil and formation water that can be extrapolated into the subsurface. The contact undulates up to five vertical meters over a forty meter lateral interval. This has implications to reservoir evaluation and well placement for in-situ recovery techniques such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).