The sub-Cretaceous unconformity is a major component of the three-dimensional geological model of Alberta. This dataset is a two-and-a-half dimensional (2.5D) grid surface of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity elevation for the Peace River and Slave Lake regions of Alberta. The study area boundary covers NTS map sheets 83N, 83O, 84C, and 84B.
To create this grid, stratigraphic picks of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity were geostatistically analyzed and interpolated to model the unconformity surface elevation. The grid was then clipped by the study area boundary.
The vertical positional error in the sub-Cretaceous unconformity elevation 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 that are 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 through geostatistical evaluation to identify and remove outliers.
Step 1: (Input) 4919 original stratigraphic picks of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity were made. 4175 of the picks are located within the study area boundary, and an additional 744 picks are located outside the study area boundary to account for edge effects. The points were geostatistically analyzed for the presence of outliers, defined as points with an elevation value that differed more than 25 m from the predicted value of the modelled surface. The analysis identified 95 data points that differed by more than 25 m from the predicted value. These data points were reviewed and adjustments were made where necessary to ensure all of the 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.
The following Method Report and Prediction Errors provide information about the parameters used to create the grid, and any errors associated with the gridding process.
Method Report:
Method: Kriging
Type: Ordinary
Output type: Prediction
Variogram: Semivariogram
Number of lags: 16
Lag size: 700
Nugget: 0
Measurement error percentage: 0
Model type: Spherical
Range: 5,620.57
Anisotropy: No
Partial sill: 109.75
Prediction Errors:
Total points: 4918
Mean: 0.118
Root mean square error: 8.98
Mean standardized: 0.008
Root mean square error, standardized: 1.307
Average standard error: 8.08
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.