High resolution characterization of a core from the Lower Jurassic Gordondale Member, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

The Gordondale Member is a hydrocarbon source rock and potential unconventional reservoir that extends across northeastern British Columbia and central-northwestern Alberta. It is an organic-rich, calcareous, fossiliferous mudstone with a median total organic carbon value of 6.0 wt%. A total of 230 samples were collected from approximately 25 m of Gordondale Member core for organic matter analysis using Rock-Eval 6 analysis and organic petrology. Detailed core logging provides sedimentological context for organic matter characterization. The predominant organic material in the samples is solid bitumen and liptinite with lesser zooclast and inertinite. Most kerogen is Type II, autochthonous marine biomass, with minimal dilution by inert organic carbon. Rock-Eval Tmax values and random reflectance measurements of solid bitumen indicate the samples are within the oil generation window. Solid bitumen contributes a substantial amount of hydrocarbon potential to the interval. A micro-reservoir structure within the core is produced by thin intervals of impermeable displacive calcite that act as barriers to the upward migration of free hydrocarbons. These free hydrocarbon accumulations could make excellent targets for horizontal wells within the Gordondale Member.