SAIT POLYTECHNIC: SOUTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY
Petroleum Industry Project
Stratigraphy of the Nova Scotia Margin
This report provides analysis on the stratigraphy of the Nova Scotia margin building a stratigraphic
framework of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary record based on public domain well logs available.
Through the usage of biostratigraphy analyses of the province, sequence stratigraphy and lithology log
interpretation using gamma ray; a stratigraphic framework of the study area will be formed. This report
is mainly based on the sequence of how the infill of the Scotian basin formed. Findings on this report
are that the earliest deposition consisted of red continental clastics and evaporates during the Triassic
rifting. Clastics and carbonates filled the rift basins in the Early Jurassic when the transition to seafloor
spread. By Mid to Late Jurassic, an array of alluvial plain, deltaic, and carbonate facies developed.
Deltaic progradation and clastic deposits on the shelf formation deposited during the Early Cretaceous.
Late Cretaceous sedimentary deposits were dominated with transgressive shale, deltaic sands,
limestone, and chalk units. During the Paleogene and Neogene sea levels fluctuated creating a
combination of marine sandstones and shales interbedded with coarse clastics and marine carbonates.
Then by the Quaternary, these were covered by unconsolidated glacial till, glaciomarine silts and
marine sediments.
,Table of Contents
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Geological Setting....................................................................................................................................4
Lithostratigraphy Overview.........................................................................................................................5
Early Triassic deposits- Basement and preserved Carboniferous.........................................................6
Triassic.................................................................................................................................................6
The Breakup Unconformity..................................................................................................................6
Early to Middle Jurassic.......................................................................................................................7
Mid to Late Jurassic.............................................................................................................................7
Early Cretaceous..................................................................................................................................8
Aptian to Cenomania...........................................................................................................................8
Late Cretaceous to Eocene..................................................................................................................8
Late Eocene to Present........................................................................................................................9
Biostratigraphy Review..............................................................................................................................10
Seismic map...........................................................................................................................................11
Chronostratigraphy....................................................................................................................................12
Triassic sequence (syn-rift)....................................................................................................................12
Bajocian-Valanginian sequences (sequences 1 to 3)..............................................................................12
Valanginian-Aptian sequence (sequence 4)...........................................................................................12
Aptian-Cenomanian sequence (sequence 5).........................................................................................13
Turonian-Campanian sequence (sequence 6)........................................................................................13
Campanian-Ypresian sequence (sequence 7)........................................................................................13
Lutetian-Priabonian sequence (sequence 8)..........................................................................................13
Stratigraphic Chart of the Scotian Basin....................................................................................................14
Discussion..................................................................................................................................................15
Lithographic Cross-section.....................................................................................................................16
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................17
Appendix 1.................................................................................................................................................18
Appendix 2.................................................................................................................................................19
References.................................................................................................................................................20
Page 1
, Table of Figures
Figure 1: The location map showing the Scotian Basin with exploration wells shown as black dots. The
yellow-brown shading indicates depth to basement, with the actual depths indicated in kilometres (km)
[3]................................................................................................................................................................4
Figure 2: Generalized stratigraphy of the Scotian Margin [1]......................................................................5
Figure 3: Schematic 3D view of Scotian Basin from the west toward Sable Sub basin showing major
stratigraphic and structural relationships (after J; Wade, modified Grant 1986, CNSOPB, 2009). [2].........6
Figure 4: Pre-existing biostratigraphy data of two wells: Alma F-67 and Evangeline H-98.......................10
Figure 5: Seismic map of Cohasset L-97, Alma F-67..................................................................................11
Figure 6: Chronostratigraphic Cross-Section on the LaHave Platform, Western Scotian Margin...............12
Figure 7: List of seismic horizons...............................................................................................................13
Figure 8: Generalized Stratigraphic Column for the Scotian Basin, Offshore Nova Scotia (CNSOPB,
updated PFA project, 2011) [4]..................................................................................................................14
Figure 9: Reconstructed lithographic cross-section of three wells............................................................16
Figure 10: List of the 20 key wells selected for the stratigraphic study of the Scotian Basin.....................18
Figure 11: Seismic sequence of stratigraphic events in the Scotian Basin.................................................19
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Petroleum Industry Project
Stratigraphy of the Nova Scotia Margin
This report provides analysis on the stratigraphy of the Nova Scotia margin building a stratigraphic
framework of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary record based on public domain well logs available.
Through the usage of biostratigraphy analyses of the province, sequence stratigraphy and lithology log
interpretation using gamma ray; a stratigraphic framework of the study area will be formed. This report
is mainly based on the sequence of how the infill of the Scotian basin formed. Findings on this report
are that the earliest deposition consisted of red continental clastics and evaporates during the Triassic
rifting. Clastics and carbonates filled the rift basins in the Early Jurassic when the transition to seafloor
spread. By Mid to Late Jurassic, an array of alluvial plain, deltaic, and carbonate facies developed.
Deltaic progradation and clastic deposits on the shelf formation deposited during the Early Cretaceous.
Late Cretaceous sedimentary deposits were dominated with transgressive shale, deltaic sands,
limestone, and chalk units. During the Paleogene and Neogene sea levels fluctuated creating a
combination of marine sandstones and shales interbedded with coarse clastics and marine carbonates.
Then by the Quaternary, these were covered by unconsolidated glacial till, glaciomarine silts and
marine sediments.
,Table of Contents
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Geological Setting....................................................................................................................................4
Lithostratigraphy Overview.........................................................................................................................5
Early Triassic deposits- Basement and preserved Carboniferous.........................................................6
Triassic.................................................................................................................................................6
The Breakup Unconformity..................................................................................................................6
Early to Middle Jurassic.......................................................................................................................7
Mid to Late Jurassic.............................................................................................................................7
Early Cretaceous..................................................................................................................................8
Aptian to Cenomania...........................................................................................................................8
Late Cretaceous to Eocene..................................................................................................................8
Late Eocene to Present........................................................................................................................9
Biostratigraphy Review..............................................................................................................................10
Seismic map...........................................................................................................................................11
Chronostratigraphy....................................................................................................................................12
Triassic sequence (syn-rift)....................................................................................................................12
Bajocian-Valanginian sequences (sequences 1 to 3)..............................................................................12
Valanginian-Aptian sequence (sequence 4)...........................................................................................12
Aptian-Cenomanian sequence (sequence 5).........................................................................................13
Turonian-Campanian sequence (sequence 6)........................................................................................13
Campanian-Ypresian sequence (sequence 7)........................................................................................13
Lutetian-Priabonian sequence (sequence 8)..........................................................................................13
Stratigraphic Chart of the Scotian Basin....................................................................................................14
Discussion..................................................................................................................................................15
Lithographic Cross-section.....................................................................................................................16
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................17
Appendix 1.................................................................................................................................................18
Appendix 2.................................................................................................................................................19
References.................................................................................................................................................20
Page 1
, Table of Figures
Figure 1: The location map showing the Scotian Basin with exploration wells shown as black dots. The
yellow-brown shading indicates depth to basement, with the actual depths indicated in kilometres (km)
[3]................................................................................................................................................................4
Figure 2: Generalized stratigraphy of the Scotian Margin [1]......................................................................5
Figure 3: Schematic 3D view of Scotian Basin from the west toward Sable Sub basin showing major
stratigraphic and structural relationships (after J; Wade, modified Grant 1986, CNSOPB, 2009). [2].........6
Figure 4: Pre-existing biostratigraphy data of two wells: Alma F-67 and Evangeline H-98.......................10
Figure 5: Seismic map of Cohasset L-97, Alma F-67..................................................................................11
Figure 6: Chronostratigraphic Cross-Section on the LaHave Platform, Western Scotian Margin...............12
Figure 7: List of seismic horizons...............................................................................................................13
Figure 8: Generalized Stratigraphic Column for the Scotian Basin, Offshore Nova Scotia (CNSOPB,
updated PFA project, 2011) [4]..................................................................................................................14
Figure 9: Reconstructed lithographic cross-section of three wells............................................................16
Figure 10: List of the 20 key wells selected for the stratigraphic study of the Scotian Basin.....................18
Figure 11: Seismic sequence of stratigraphic events in the Scotian Basin.................................................19
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