A Reservoir Model for the Lower Cretaceous Deep Marine Sandstones in the Maloy Fault Block Area, Norwegian North Sea: ABSTRACT

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The Maloy Fault Block area of the North Viking Graben forms a platform to the east of the Sogn Graben next to the coast of Norway. This area is characterized by an unusual and thick Lower Cretaceous section containing a number of discrete sandstone packages. Wells drilled elsewhere in the Norwegian North Sea are in contrast dominated by a relatively thin mud and marl dominated section in the Lower Cretaceous. Two wells in block 35/3 (the Agat field) encountered gas bearing sandstones of Albian age interpreted to represent deposition in a deep marine environment. An integrated sequence stratigraphic approach to the Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy in the Maloy Fault Block area has led to a new and more detailed understanding of controls on deposition in this area. This is based both on a regional dataset and good quality 3D seismic data. A Valanginian-Hauterivian relict slope/shelf system is present along the eastern basin margin. It formed a long-lasting topographic feature and in some areas was not onlapped until the Campanian time. A dramatic change in the basin configuration took place most likely in the Aptian time. This was initiated by erosion of the slope/shelf system which cut multiple huge canyons along themore » basin-margin. The canyons focused sediment input to the basin along discrete and mappable transport routes, some of which are controlled by erosion features inherited from the Late Jurassic. A complex history of deposition and filling followed. This was controlled by a constantly changing basin floor topography and left a complex pattern of partly constrained fan deposition.« less