Colophon, contents, abstract, introduction, geological setting, previous work and material and methods

Poul Schiøler,Jan Andsbjerg,Lars Hamberg,Iain Prince,Lars E Kristensen,Gregers Dam,Claus Heilmann-Clausen,Jan A Rasmussen,Karen Dybkjær,Erik P Johannessen,Ole R Clausen

doi:10.34194/geusb.v12.4932

Abstract

As a result of a lithological, sedimentological and biostratigraphic study of well sections from the Danish sector of the North Sea, including some recently drilled exploration wells on the Ringkøbing–Fyn High, the lithostratigraphic framework for the siliciclastic Palaeogene to Lower Neogene sediments of the Danish sector of the North Sea is revised. The sediment package from the top of the Chalk Group to the base of the Nordland Group is subdivided into seven formations containing eleven new members. The existing Våle, Lista, Sele, Fur, Balder, Horda and Lark Formations of previously published lithostratigraphic schemes are adequate for a subdivision of the Danish sector at formation level. Bor is a new sandstone member of the Våle Formation. The Lista Formation is subdivided into three new mudstone members: Vile, Ve and Bue, and three new sandstone members: Tyr, Idun and Rind. Kolga is a new sandstone member of the Sele Formation. Hefring is a new sandstone member of the Horda Formation. Freja and Dufa are two new sandstone members of the Lark Formation. Danish reference sections are established for the formations, and the descriptions of their lithology, biostratigraphy, age and palaeoenvironmental setting are updated.

Highlights

Intense drilling activity following the discovery of the Siri Field in 1995 has resulted in an improved understanding of the siliciclastic Palaeogene sediment package in the Danish sector of the North Sea (Fig. 1)
The existing lithostratigraphy was established on the basis of data from a generation of wells that were drilled with deeper stratigraphic targets, with little or no interest in the overlying Palaeogene sedimentary succession
In order to improve the understanding of the distribution, morphology and age of the Palaeogene sediments, in particular the economically important sandstone bodies, a detailed study of this succession in the Danish sector has been carried out

Summary

Introduction

Intense drilling activity following the discovery of the Siri Field in 1995 has resulted in an improved understanding of the siliciclastic Palaeogene sediment package in the Danish sector of the North Sea (Fig. 1). The existing lithostratigraphy was established on the basis of data from a generation of wells that were drilled with deeper stratigraphic targets, with little or no interest in the overlying Palaeogene sedimentary succession This means that this early scheme does not include Palaeogene sandstone units in the Danish sector. Many of the sandstone bodies recently discovered in the Danish sector have a limited spatial distribution and are derived from sources different from those of most of the contemporaneous sandstone bodies in the Norwegian and UK sectors; the Danish sandstone bodies probably neither overlap nor are in contact with the Norwegian/UK sandstones These units have been established as new in the Danish sector, and have been assigned Danish type and reference sections.

41.3 Lutetian

Material and methods

14.8 Langhian