In the Peace River Arch (PRA), the Wabamun Group is commonly dolomitized where it overlies Leduc or Nisku patch reefs, grading from limestone to dolostone over relatively short distances. This suggests that fluid-flow accessed the porous carbonate buildups favored dolomitization in the overlying Wabamun. Differential compaction between the rigid reef framework and the surrounding shales (Ireton Formation) during Late Devonian to Early Mississippian is thought to be the trigger for the development of fault and fracture systems that ultimately allowed diagenetic fluids which favored the dolomitization of the Wabamun carbonates.

The present study is focused on understanding the dolomitization process in the Gold Creek Field, its relationship with the porosity evolution of the area, and the geochemical characterization of the fluids responsible for such dolomitization.

Petrophysical attributes of the Wabamun carbonates were studied with the aid of an innovative Image Analysis technique. Interesting correlations between hydrothermal fluid-flow and porosity evolution were observed in the Wabamun at Gold Creek Field.