The sub-Cretaceous unconformity is a major component of the three-dimensional geological model of Alberta. This dataset is a two-and-a-half (2.5D) dimensional grid surface of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity paleotopography in west-central Alberta.
To create this grid, stratigraphic picks of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity were geostatistically analyzed and interpolated to model the unconformity surface elevation. A grid of the dominant regional trend was created and subtracted from the elevation grid, creating a residual grid that is a representation of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity paleotopography.
This grid has been clipped by the study area boundary. The study area covers NTS map sheets 83G, 83J, 83K, and parts of 83F. The southwestern limit of the study area is defined by the approximate limit of the main Cordilleran deformation.
The vertical positional error in the paleotopography grid is a function of the quality of the formation top pick set, including data density, the surface complexity (i.e., topographic variability), and the removal of points from the pick set identified as outliers.
Error in the formation pick elevation has two sources, error in the kelly bushing (KB) elevation, from which the pick elevation is derived, and actual errors in the making of the stratigraphic pick. Combined, these two sources of error are likely to have the largest impact on the grid’s vertical accuracy. The occurrence and magnitude of these errors are difficult to quantify. However, they were mitigated in the creation of this grid by geostatistical evaluation to identify and remove outliers.
Step 1: (Input) 4023 picks of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity were geostatistically analyzed for the presence of outliers, defined as points with an elevation value that differs more than 20 m from the predicted value of the modelled surface. All outliers were reviewed, and adjustments were made where necessary to ensure all 4023 picks represented the sub-Cretaceous unconformity as accurately as possible.
Step 2: (Modelling the surface) The sub-Cretaceous unconformity picks were brought into ESRI’s ArcMap software. These data were used to model a regional trend surface which was removed prior to interpolation of the 2.5D surface. The ordinary kriging algorithm was then used in the ArcMap Geostatistical Analyst extension to interpolate the residual elevation values and create a grid of the structure top of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity.
Step 3: (Creating the grid) The regional trend was added back to the residual elevation values to create the final geostatistical layer and then converted into an ArcGIS ASCII grid file.
Step 4: (Modelling the trend surface) The paleotopographic surface of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity can only be evaluated once the predominant regional trends throughout the study area are subtracted from the structural elevation surface. A second order regional polynomial trend surface was determined to provide the optimal surface to capture the predominant regional trend. The second order trend was modelled in ArcMap using the original data point set in order to capture the regional trends of the study area.
Step 5: (Creating the paleotopography grid) The paleotopography of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity was produced by subtracting the regional trend surface from the structural elevation surface. The grid subtraction process was completed in ArcMap and resulted in an ArcGIS ASCII grid file.