Organic facies and hydrocarbon distributions in the Norwegian North Sea

Abstract

Significant hydrocarbon accumulations have been found in North Sea reservoirs ranging in age from Devonian (Buchan Field) to Eocene (Frigg area). In Norwegian waters, the oldest reservoirs are at present Rhaeto—Liassic Statfjord Formation sands. Source rock development in the northern North Sea is restricted almost entirely to the Jurassic. Rich oil-prone source rocks occur mainly in the Humber Group, and particularly within the Kimmeridge Clay Equivalent (Upper Jurassic ‘Hot Shale’). In basinal settings within the Viking and Central Grabens, Kimmeridge source rock sections may be over 1000 m thick. Net source rock thicknesses exceeding 400 m are documented in several wells.