Abstract
In many petroleum-bearing, data-poor ‘frontier’ basins, source, reservoir and seal distribution is poorly constrained, making it difficult to identify petroleum systems and play models. However, 3D seismic reflection data provide an opportunity to directly map the 3D distribution of key petroleum system elements, thereby supplementing typically sparse, 1D sedimentary facies information available from wells. Here, we examine the Farsund Basin, an underexplored basin offshore southern Norway. Despite lying in the mature North Sea Basin, the Farsund Basin contains only one well; meaning there remains a poor understanding of its hydrocarbon potential. This east-trending basin is anomalous to the north-trending basins present regionally, having experienced a different tectonic, and most likely geomorphological, evolution. We identify a series of east-flowing rivers in the Middle Jurassic, the distribution of which are controlled by salt-detached faults. In the Middle Jurassic, a series of carbonate reefs, expressed as subcircular amplitude anomalies, developed. Within the Upper Jurassic we identify numerous curvilinear features, which correspond to the downlap termination of southwards-prograding deltaic clinoforms. We show how seismic-attribute-driven analysis can determine the geomorphological development of basins, offering insights into both the local and regional tectonostratigraphic evolution of an area, and helping to determine its hydrocarbon potential.
Highlights
Successful hydrocarbon exploration requires a knowledge of how sedimentary basins evolve in terms tectonic events and depositional patterns, and how this leads to the development of working petroleum systems and plays (e.g. Johannessen & Andsbjerg 1993; Posamentier 2004; Dreyer et al 2005; Holgate et al 2013)
The offshore continuation of this divide may be represented by the highs of the Eigerøy Horst, Stavanger Platform and Lista Nose Fault Blocks
In constraining the geomorphological evolution of the Farsund Basin, we have identified a series of potential carbonate and clastic reservoirs that may form part of viable petroleum systems
Summary
Successful hydrocarbon exploration requires a knowledge of how sedimentary basins evolve in terms tectonic events and depositional patterns, and how this leads to the development of working petroleum systems and plays (e.g. Johannessen & Andsbjerg 1993; Posamentier 2004; Dreyer et al 2005; Holgate et al 2013). Predicting the occurrence of source, reservoir and source rocks is a critical element of petroleum systems analysis, this is especially challenging in frontier or underexplored basins due to a lack of well data Even where available, these well data provide only one- to quasi-three-dimensional constraints on the distribution of various rock types in the subsurface. Johannessen & Andsbjerg 1993; Dreyer et al 2005; Holgate et al.2013; Mannie et al 2014) These issues are relevant in underexplored areas where a complex area, with a relatively localised geological evolution, may not be incorporated into regional models due to a lack of data and low resolution. We compare and contrast our observations of the geomorphological evolution of this area to the regional stratigraphic framework (Figure 1b), providing insights into and further constraining the tectonics, sedimentation history and hinterland character of the basin and wider region
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