Late Devonian stratigraphy of Peel Plateau and Plain is comprised of the upper portion of Hare Indian Formation, Canol Formation, and Imperial Formation. Imperial Formation is overlain unconformably by Martin House Formation at the base of the sub-Cretaceous unconformity.

Field work conducted in 2006 consisted of measuring stratigraphic sections to collect detailed data on sedimentology. Samples were collected from Imperial Formation for analysis of permeability, porosity, palynology, and Rock-Eval/TOC. Stratigraphic sections were measured on Imperial River, Powell Creek, an Elbow Creek tributary as well as an Arctic Red River tributary; these sections occur on NTS map sheets 96 E/1, 106 H/5 and H/7, and 106 G/7. Basinal environment samples of Imperial Formation from the Snake River map area have yielded TOC values in the 4-5% range. The eastern, shallower water environment samples (Imperial River section) have yielded porosity in the 10-22% range.

Imperial Formation is a turbidite sequence that can be coarsely described as three, thick resistant cliff-forming sandstone units, which are separated by less resistant to recessive thick silty shale packages. The sandstones are very fine to fine grained and show abundant bioturbation near the base of the beds; both horizontal tracks and traces as well as vertical burrows. Bioturbation decreases up section as sedimentary structures are better preserved. Imperial Formation sandstone is locally fossiliferous containing rugose horn corals, colonial corals, and brachiopods. Sandstone units within Imperial River section are locally petroliferous.

Initial Rock-Eval/TOC, porosity, permeability, stratigraphic section analysis, and petrography will be presented in open report format.