Palaeogene clinoform succession on Svalbard expressed in outcrops, seismic data, logs and cores

Abstract

The mountainsides along Van Keulenfjorden on Svalbard show excellent exposure of the Palaeogene succession. We report the results of an integrated scientific programme of well drilling and seismic acquisition that was initiated to supplement outcrop studies of clinoform development for educational and research purposes. The well, drilled in 2008, is 1085 m deep and a complete clinoform section of Eocene age has been cored. In 2009, 48 km of 2D seismic lines were acquired on the glaciers in the area using snowstreamer technology, with two of the seismic lines crossing the well location. The energy in the shallow window is dominated by direct waves, airwaves, and surface waves. Careful processing integrated with geological interpretation was necessary to image the Palaeogene clinoforms. Based on well and outcrop information and seismic facies, the Palaeogene clinoform succession may be divided into four main units: basin floor shales, sandy bottomsets, slope to basin floor clinoforms, and topsets. We now have a complete dataset containing outcrops, cores, wireline logs, and seismic data for research, education, and to build geological models in a basin floor to shelf setting. It can be used as an analogue for exploration worldwide.