Permeability and source rock evaluation of the Cambrian Mount Clark and Mount Cap formations, Northwest Territories

拟议的研究重点是诺曼韦尔斯(NWT)附近的寒武纪克拉克山和卡普山地层，这是一个石油和天然气勘探区。这些单元目前不是油气生产区段，但它们具有潜在的经济意义。克拉克山组在其他地方拥有已探明的资源，当地具有良好的孔隙度特征，可能是油气生产过程中产生的水的处理区。帽山组以页岩为主，部分地区有机质含量较高，可能代表了该区的烃源岩。 将从诺曼威尔斯西南偏西的构造山脊露出的露出地面来研究克拉克山和卡普山的建造。每一种形式都是提出一篇硕士论文(即两篇硕士论文)的基础，每一项研究的目标都不同。 对于克拉克山组，其主要目标是：(1)利用沉积学和遗迹化石数据，确定沉积环境，以便了解砂体的分布；(2)进行微观调查，以了解孔隙度的分布；(3)确定生物扰动与孔隙度/渗透率之间是否存在关系；以及(4)测试样品的机械强度，以评估岩石类型的可碎性。 山帽组研究的重点是：(1)建立沉积环境；(2)采集样品以测量有机质含量，评价单元矿物学，并评价单元的某些成分；(3)在层序地层框架内确定高TOC的背景水平；以及(4)评价岩石类型的可碎性。

The proposed research is focused on the Cambrian Mount Clark and Mount Cap formations near Norman Wells (NWT), an area of oil and gas exploration. These units are not presently oil or gas producing intervals, but they have potential economic significance. The Mount Clark Formation contains proven resources elsewhere, and locally has good porosity characteristics and may be a water-disposal zone for water produced during gas and oil production. The Mount Cap Formation is shale-dominated and in some areas has a high organic content, so it may represent a hydrocarbon source rock for the area. The Mount Clark and Mount Cap formations would be studied from outcrops exposed in structural ridges west-southwest of Norman Wells. Each formation is the basis for a proposed MSc thesis (i.e. 2 MSc theses) and the goals of each study are different. For the Mount Clark Formation the primary goals are: (1) to use sedimentological and trace-fossil data, determine the sedimentary environment so that the distribution of sand bodies can be understood; (2) to conduct microscopic investigations to understand the distribution of porosity; (3) establishing if there is a relationship between bioturbation and porosity/permeability; and (4) testing the mechanical strength of samples to assess the fracability of rock types. The Mount Cap Formation research focuses on: (1) establishing the sedimentary environment; (2) collecting samples to measure the organic content, assess the units mineralogy, and assess some compositional aspects of the unit; (3) contextualizing levels of high TOC within a sequence stratigraphic framework; and (4) assessing the fracability of rock types.