SHALLOWGAS

Elev

atio

n (ft

)

-6,000

-7,000

-8,000

-9,000

-10,000

-11,000

-12,000

FLUID TYPE:

OIL WATER

GASMUD

> 5000< 100 feet > 5.0< 0.1 MMCF/d > 1500< 30 meters

Pressure (psig)3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

-5,000

> 142< 3 106m3/d x FLUID AMOUNT:

DST Recovery Symbols

Approximate Lithostatic Gradient

Approximate Minim

um Principal Stress

Approximate P/D = 0.5 psi/ft

Approximate P/D = 0.44 psi/ft

www.canadiandiscovery.comHGUS-V02-2010.10.25

Contact Cheryl Wright300, 706 – 7 Avenue SW, Calgary AB, T2P 0Z1 T 403.269.3644 E cwright@canadiandiscovery.com

CanadianDiscoveryLtd.

Introduction

RPCL introduces the first comprehensive basin scale hydrodynamic study ever conducted in the Williston Basin. This international study (see location map) includes 17 zones from the Upper Cretaceous to the Cambrian (see stratigraphic column, next page).

Importance of Williston Basin Hydrodynamics

A compelling reason for conducting this study is the discrepancy between the huge volume of oil generated in the basin versus the relatively minor volume of booked reserves. For example, recent work indicates that the vast majority of the oil expelled from the Bakken and Yeoman source rocks remains undiscovered (Burrus et al, 1995). Where did this oil go?

The presence of a dynamic water flow field in the Williston Basin has been documented by a number of studies published in the literature. Our investigation shows that hydrodynamic gradients and water flow commenced during Laramide uplift coinciding with peak oil expulsion. Thus hydrocarbon migration in regional aquifers has been strongly influenced by water flow. Present day hydrodynamic influence has been documented for the Mission Canyon oil fields along the Nesson, Little Knife and Billings anticlines. All major pools are shifted east of structural crests and oil/water contacts are tilted in the direction of water flow (DeMis, 1996).

This Study

RPCL’s Dynamic Migration Modelling software is used to determine oil migration patterns and reveals focussed charge fairways for all major reservoir units. TRAP-MAP software is used to determine the magnitude and orientation of tilted oil/water contacts for selected horizons.

Hydrogeology of the Williston Basin

The study provides a regional hydrodynamic framework for the Williston Basin. This includes mapping water salinity and hydraulic head, density modified water flow patterns, source rock maturity, geothermics, hydrocarbon migration/charge fairways, the direction and magnitude of tilted oil/water contacts, pressure continuity analysis, show maps, pool distribution maps and a series of thematic studies including shallow gas.

Phase I - Pressure Continuity and Shows

Specific products for the US part of the Williston Basin (Montana and North Dakota) include:• PenetrationMaps• ReservoirStructureMaps• DSTRecoveryMaps• PressureversusElevationGraphs• InitialHydraulicHeadMaps

Phase I Sample - The overall alignment of PE graph data shows the regional continuity of the Red River dolomite across the basin. It suggests there are no regional barriers to the expulsion and migration of Red River oil, supporting long-distance migration. Analysing this graph with the DST recovery map reveals subtle local pressure breaks. These breaks may corre-spond to previously undetected stratigraphic traps for Red River oil.

North Dakota, Montana, Canada Cambrian to Cretaceous

Montana

Upper Colorado

Cre

tace

ous

Jura

ssic

Mis

siss

ippi

anD

evon

ian

Silu

-ria

nO

rdov

icia

n

CharlesFm.

Upp

er M

issi

onC

anyo

n Fo

rmat

ion

Tria

ssic

Per

mia

nP

enns

yl-

vani

an

Newcastle

Dakota

Upper Jurassic

Lower Jurassic

Amsden Formation

Tyler Formation

Heath Formation

Otter Formation

Kibbey Formation

LodgepoleFormation

Bakken Fm.

Three Forks Fm.

Birdbear Fm.

Duperow Fm.

Souris River Fm.

Dawson Bay Fm.

Prairie Fm.

Winnipegosis Fm.

Ashern Fm.

Interlake Fm.

Stonewall Fm.

Stony Mountain Fm.

Red River Fm.

Winnipeg Fm.

Deadwood Fm.

LowerMission Canyon

Formation

Minnekata Formation

Opeche Formation

Minnelusa Formation

SpearfishFormation

MidaleLimestone

Frobisher MarkerState A Marker

Sherwood Orgillaceous Marker

K-1 Marker

K-2 Marker

K-3 Marker

Landa Marker

Mc-2 Evaporite

BluellBeds

RivalLimestone

SherwoodBeds

MohallBeds

GlenburnBeds

WayneBedsLandaBeds

Cam

bria

n

Cedar CreekAnticline

BillingsAnticline

N

104°

105°

47°

46°

47°104°

103°

46°

0

0

20 km

10 miles

Red River Oil FieldOil Force VectorRed River HeadRed River TDS (g/L)

www.canadiandiscovery.comHGUS-V02-2010.10.25

Contact Cheryl Wright300, 706 – 7 Avenue SW, Calgary AB, T2P 0Z1 T 403.269.3644 E cwright@canadiandiscovery.com

CanadianDiscoveryLtd.

Phase II - Dynamic Migration Analysis

Specific products for the entire Williston Basin (Montana, N. Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) include:• PenetrationMaps(allformations)• GeothermalGradientMap• SourceRockMaturityMaps• WaterChemistryMaps(TDSandmajorions)• PotentiometricSurfaceMaps• DynamicWaterMigrationMaps• DynamicOilMigrationMaps• Oil/WaterContactTiltMaps

A full text report with interpretation and discussion of underdeveloped exploration fairways is included.

Phase II Sample - A detail taken from the Dynamic Water Migration Map for the Red River Formation, shows water flow paths in the direction of the small vector arrows. The colour fill on this figure is for water salinity, which increases from less than 100 g/L in the southwest to over 300 g/L in Billings County. Water flows downdip (to the NE) on the eastern flank of the Cedar Creek Anticline across the Dolomite ‘B’ play area of Bowman and Slope counties. Downdip water flow enhances stratigraphic trap efficiency. Our TRAP-MAP for the Red River shows oil/water contact tilts for this play trend ranging from 15 to 20 m/km which closely approximates regional dip of the reservoir. The tilted contacts therefore greatly increase the capacity of structural traps in this play.

Phase III - Thematic Studies Series

FiveseparatestudiesinvestigatehydrogeologicthemesidentifiedinPhaseII.Theyare:• SummaryMontagePosters• ShallowGasintheWesternPlains• PresentandPaleoOilMigrationPatterns,OrdovicianPetroleumSystems• CaseStudiesofTiltedOil/WaterContactsintheWillistonBasin• MississippianOilMigrationModellingintheWesternPlainsRegion

Hydrogeology of the Williston Basin