Exploration Results and Petroleum Potential of Arctic Shelf Areas Offshore Norway and USSR: ABSTRACT

Abstract

Exploration is in its very early stages in arctic shell areas offshore Norway and the Soviet Union. The first well was spudded in 1980 in the Norwegian Barents Sea and in 1982 in the Soviet Union. Giant discoveries of gas and significant oil discoveries have been made. The only production so far is that of oil onshore the island of Kolguyev. Reservoir rocks are clastic Triassic and the field has an offshore extension. Reservoir rocks with proven hydrocarbons are Permian carbonates, Triassic, Jurassic, and Lower Cretaceous clastic rocks. Widespread rich oil-prone source rocks have been demonstrated in Carboniferous, Triassic, and Jurassic rocks. Frequent registration of residual oil indicates that leakage, possibly related to young uplift might represent a risk factor. Successful exploration may be related to the understanding of the relation between the distribution of source rocks, their maturity and primary/secondary migration and young tectonic movement. Limited amounts of seismic and two to three wells have been drilled in the Kara Sea. In the Laptev and Eastern Siberian Sea farther to the east, no wells have been drilled and only limited seismic has been acquired.