Heather K. Boyd

1998 C.I.M. Student Essay Competition (Petroleum Society)
1994 - Michael J. Keen Memorial Award

B. Sc. Honours Thesis

Modeling of a Paleocene submarine canyon, Jeanne d'Arc Basin, offshore Newfoundland, to determine canyon fill lithology

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The Hibernia Paleocene Canyon, located in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin, offshore Newfoundland, was modeled using the BasinMod 1D and BasinMod 2D software packages to determine the lithology of the canyon fill. Petroleum industry 3D seismic reflection data shows positive relief in sediments directly overlying the canyon in the western portion of the 3D survey area; the relief is approximately 70 milliseconds in height and can be seen for over 0.5 seconds (two-way time). The relief gradually decreases easternward until it becomes negative in sediments overlying the widest downslope portions of the canyon. No wells have penetrated the canyon fill. Modeling results suggest that the canyon fill is composed of 60% sandstone and 40% shale, in areas showing positive relief. The positive relief results from differential compaction of the relatively incompressible canyon fill and surrounding shales. Knowledge of the canyon fill lithology is useful in understanding the Early Tertiary sedimentary system in Jeanne d'Arc Basin. A canyon fill composed of a large proportion of sandstone is indicative of a terrestrial origin, i.e. the canyon did not simply fill with shale during a period of transgression.

Keywords: differential compaction, submarine canyon, BasinMod, canyon fill, Hibernia, Jeanne d'Arc Basin
Pages: 58
Supervisors:  K. Coflin / J. Shimeld