Reef Formations in the West Canada Basin and Their Oil and Gas Potential

Devonian reefs are widespread in the West Canada Basin in three regions: lower Givetian in the north (Elk Point subbasin), upper Givetian and middle Frasnian in the central part (framing of the Peace River Arch), and middle Frasnian (southern end of the basin). Each stage of reef formation ended with regression, and the last reefs terminated long before the Frasnian/Famennian biotic crisis and mass extinction. Reefs of this basin are petroliferous. Moreover, the structure of reservoirs is determined by the reef type, and the highest reservoir properties are related to bioherm varieties in reefs.