Abstract
The basal progradational Falher is comprised of five northward accreting wave-dominated deltaic shoreline parasequence sets within this study area. Well and core based sequence stratigraphy reveals broad facies belts and sharp-based shoreline parasequence sets, reflecting progradation into shallow water; and, an initial strongly progradational to subsequently dominantly aggradational parasequence set stacking pattern within the Spirit River Formation clastic wedge. Thin sections revealed the low porosity and permeability of the sandstone due to high degree of mechanical compaction, and precipitation of cements and clays. Locally, enhanced permeability is related to early ferroan dolomite cement, even though pore filling, reduced the effects of plastic deformation of ductile grains.
Insights from this thesis provides a core and well based subsurface approach to studying ancient shoreline successions, which prograde into an epeiric sea within an active foreland basin; and, a thin section based approach to studying such tight sandstone intervals for various petrographic responses.
