LOWER CRETACEOUS LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY NE OF THE SOLE PIT AREA IN THE UK SOUTHERN NORTH SEA

Abstract

Seven boreholes from block 49, UK sector have been divided lithostratigraphically to illustrate the degree of comparison between the Dutch and British lithostratigraphical schemes for the Lower Cretaceous of the southern North Sea.The two schemes differ in scope and finesse, with the Dutch scheme offering more subdivisions. Both are applicable to boreholes in the British as well as the Dutch sectors of the southern North Sea. Borehole 49/25‐1 (Shell/Esso) is designated as the reference borehole in the British sector to illustrate the Dutch scheme.The Upper Holland Marl Member is considered to be equivalent to the Red Chalk formation while the Speeton Formation is divided into the equivalent of the Middle Holland Shale Member, Lower Holland Marl Member and the Vlieland Shale Member of the Dutch sector scheme.