Arctic Geology and Petroleum Potential (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Arctic Geology and Petroleum Potential 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 14
Foreword 6
List of Contributors 8
Part I: General 18
Chapter 1. Mesozoic hydrocarbon source-rocks of the Arctic region 18
Introduction 18
Triassic 20
Upper Jurassic 25
Other potential source-rock units 34
Conclusions 39
Acknowledgements 39
References 39
Chapter 2. Natural gas hydrates: Arctic and Nordic Seapotential 44
Introduction 44
Tectono-sedimentary framework of theArctic-Atlantic Polar oceans 46
Heat flow 48
Hydrocarbon sources and mechanisms ofconcentration 49
Hydrate and the hydrate stability zone 52
Gas productivity 53
Distribution of hydrates 54
Likelihood of g a s generation 58
Areal estimates of gas and hydrate 59
Thickness of the hydrate stability zone 61
Volumetric estimates of g a s and hydrate 62
Stability of hydrate reservoirs 63
Economic aspects of hydrate-gas extraction 65
Implications of hydrate distribution 65
The impact of g a s hydrate energy resources 65
Acknowledgements 66
References 66
Part II: Greenland 72
Chapter 3. The southern West Greenland continental shelf — waspetroleum exploration abandoned prematurely 72
Introduction 72
Geothermal gradients and source rockmaturity 74
Lithostratigraphy and structure at t he wellsdrilled in 1976 and 1977 75
Summary of the wells 78
Further prospectivity 78
New seismic acquisition 82
Acknowledgements 82
References 82
Chapter 4. Depositional history and petroleum geology of theCarboniferous to Cretaceous sediments in the northern partof East Greenland 84
Introduction 84
Regional setting 84
Depositional history 85
Petroleum geology 97
Summary and conclusions 102
Acknowledgements 102
References 102
Chapter 5. Evidence for wrenching during mid-Permian extension incentral East Greenland 106
Introduction 106
Regional setting 106
Surface geology 107
Seismic interpretation 111
LANDSAT interpretation 111
Regional considerations 112
Summary 113
Acknowledgements 114
References 114
Chapter 6. Moscovian bryozoan-dominated build-ups, northernAmdrup Land, eastern North Greenland 116
Introduction 116
Geological setting 117
Depositional facies 118
Diagenesis 121
Summary and conclusions 123
References 123
Chapter 7. Sedimentology and diagenesis of the Upper PermianWegener Halvo Formation carbonates along the margins ofthe Jameson Land Basin, East Greenland 124
Introduction 124
Geological setting and stratigraphy 124
Depositional patterns 126
Diagenesis 131
Reservoir evaluation 134
Implications for the North Atlantic 134
Acknowledgements 134
References 136
Part III: North American Arctic 138
Chapter 8. T-R sequence stratigraphy, facies analysis and reservoirdistribution in the uppermost Triassic-Lower Jurassicsuccession, western Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada 138
Introduction 138
Stratigraphy 139
Facies analysis 144
Paleogeographic evolution 156
Sequence origin 160
Acknowledgements 162
References 162
Chapter 9. Evaluation of maturity and source rock potentialin the Lougheed Island area of the central Sverdrup Basin,Arctic Canada 164
Introduction 164
Experimental 165
Results and discussion 165
Conclusion 173
Acknowledgments 174
References 174
Chapter 10. The source-rock potential and thermal maturity of thesedimentary succession in the Drake and Hecla hydrocarbonfields, Melville Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago 176
Introduction 176
Experimental 177
Results and discussion 178
Conclusion 187
Acknowledgments 187
References 187
Chapter 11. Hydrocarbon potential of the St. George Basin,Bering Sea, Alaska 190
Introduction 190
Background 191
Results of modeling wells 194
1-D modeling and sensitivity analysis 199
2-D modeling 203
Hydrocarbon potential 209
Conclusions 210
Acknowledgments 210
References 210
Chapter 12. Hydrocarbon loss from oil and gas fields of the SverdrupBasin, Canadian Arctic Islands 212
Introduction 212
Oil and g a s fields 213
Hydrocarbon loss 214
Origin and implications of hydrocarbon loss 220
Acknowledgements 220
References 221
Chapter 13. Crockerland — the northwest source area for theSverdrup Basin, Canadian Arctic Islands 222
Introduction 222
Northwestern Sverdrup Basinpaleogeography 223
Reconstruction of Crockerland 229
Origin of the Sverdrup R i m 230
Summary 232
Acknowledgements 232
References 232
Chapter 14. Carboniferous and Permian reefs of Sverdrup Basin,Canadian Arctic: an aid to Barents Sea exploration 234
Introduction 234
Geologic setting 235
Upper Paleozoic reefs of Sverdrup Basin 237
Conclusions 256
References 256
Part IV: Soviet Arctic 260
Chapter 15. Main results of oil and gas prospecting in the Barents andKara Sea inspire optimism 260
General 260
Source rocks 268
Conclusions 269
References 269
Chapter 16. Main petroliferous Mesozoic complexes of the Arcticregions of western Siberia 270
The weathered crust of t he Paleozoic 270
Discussion 272
Chapter 17. The Jurassic complex is an object of oil and gas prospectingin the Barents Sea 274
References 277
Chapter 18. The geology of Palaeozoic hydrocarbons in the easternEuropean USSR and their relevance to the Barents Shelf 278
Introduction 278
Stratigraphy of t he eastern European craton 278
Palaeozoic stratigraphy of the Barents S e aregion 280
Main aspects of the petroleum geology of theeastern European U S S R 284
The case for hydrocarbons in Palaeozoic strataof the Barents Shelf 285
Conclusion 286
Acknowledgements 286
References 287
Part V: Barents Sea : Overview 290
Chapter 19. Hydrocarbon potential in the Barents Sea region:play distribution and potential 290
Introduction 290
Exploration status 290
Data, methods and previous work 292
Geologic evolution 294
Hydrocarbon plays 319
Conclusions 332
Acknowledgements 335
References 335
Chapter 20. Hydrocarbon potential of the Norwegian Barents Sea basedon recent well results 338
Introduction 338
Exploration history 338
Geological evolution 339
Play potential 341
Resource potential 347
Conclusions 347
Acknowledgements 347
References 348
Chapter 21. Hydrocarbon potential of the Central Spitsbergen Basin 350
Introduction 350
The Store Norske/Hydro licence group 352
Geological setting 354
Hydrocarbon prospectivity 360
Discussion 373
Acknowledgements 377
References 377
Chapter 22. Svalbard-Barents Sea correlation: a short review 380
Introduction 380
Geological setting 380
Discussion 390
Acknowledgements 390
References 390
Part VI: Barents Sea : Palaeozoic 394
Chapter 23. Late Palaeozoic bioherm occurrences of theFinnmark Shelf, Norwegian Barents Sea: analoguesand regional significance 394
Introduction 394
Geological setting and stratigraphierelationship 394
Palaeogeography and f a c i es development ofthe Late Palaeozoic carbonate succession 396
Bioherm distribution and morphology 400
An integrated model for biohermdevelopment 402
Conclusions 408
References 408
Chapter 24. Exploration of the Late Palaeozoic carbonates in thesouthern Barents Sea — a seismic stratigraphiestudy 410
Introduction 410
Regional setting 410
The Upper Palaeozoic carbonatesuccession 410
Carbonate platform development 412
Summary 416
Acknowledgements 416
References 419
Chapter 25. Eastern Barents Sea Late Palaeozoic setting andpotential source rocks 422
Introduction 422
Setting 422
Palaeogeography and source rocks 428
Conclusions 432
Acknowledgements 432
References 432
Chapter 26. Carbonate sequence stratigraphy: application to thedetermination of play-models in the Upper Paleozoicsuccession of the Barents Sea, offshore northern Norway 436
Introduction 436
Geologic setting and depositional history 436
Carbonate sequence stratigraphy 438
Methods 438
Sequence evolution and relatedplay-models 440
Conclusions 452
Acknowledgements 453
References 453
Part VII: Barents Sea : Mesozoic 456
Chapter 27. Use of sequence stratigraphy to define a semi-stratigraphicplay in Anisian sequences, southwestern Barents Sea 456
Introduction 456
Methods 456
Anisian depositional sequences 460
Depositional model 464
Systems tract prospectivity and playconcept 464
Prospect in blocks 7222/6, 7223/4and 7223/5 467
Conclusions 467
Acknowledgements 468
Appendix 468
References 469
Chapter 28. Triassic rocks in Svalbard, the Arctic Soviet islands and the Barents Shelf: bearing on their correlations 472
Introduction 472
Stratigraphy 473
Lithostratigraphical correlations 481
Biostratigraphy 482
Conclusions 490
Acknowledgements 490
References 490
Chapter 29. Apparent changes in clastic mineralogy of theTriassic-Jurassic succession, Norwegian Barents Sea:possible implications for palaeodrainage and subsidence 496
Introduction 496
Stratigraphy 497
Methodology 497
Results 498
Discussion 504
Acknowledgements 507
References 507
Chapter 30. Dinoflagellate biostratigraphy of the Toarcian to LowerOxfordian (Jurassic) of the Barents Sea region 510
Introduction 510
Ju r a s s i c (Toarcian-Oxfordian) lithostratigraphyof the Barents S e a Shelf and adjacent onshoreareas 511
Middle Toarcian-Early Oxfordian dinoflagellatecyst stratigraphy 512
Comparisons with zonations forArctic Canada 518
Comparisons with zonations forEast Greenland 520
Comparisons with zonations for the BritishJurassic 523
A palynological "definition" of the Middle-Upper J u r a s s i c boundary 524
The dinoflagellate zonation applied tosome selected sections 525
References 526
Chapter 31. Triassic sequence stratigraphy in the Barents Sea 530
Introduction 530
Seismic and sequence stratigraphy 533
Significance of supersequences 543
Correlation to Svalbard 545
Sediment supply 548
Eustatic sealevel changes 548
Conclusions 549
Acknowledgements 549
References 549
Part VIII: Barents Sea : Cenozoic 551
Chapter 32. Mid-Late Miocene sedimentation on the southwesternBarents Shelf margin 551
Introduction 551
Seismic interpretation 556
Sequences, systems tracts and depositionalsystems within unit TeC 564
Discussion 575
Conclusions 580
Acknowledgements 581
References 581
Chapter 33. Late Miocene-Pleistocene sequence stratigraphy andmass-movements on the western Barents Sea margin 585
Introduction 585
Late Miocene-Pleistocene sequencestratigraphy 588
The slide 599
Summary and conclusions 614
Acknowledgements 616
References 616
Chapter 34. Restoration of the eroded section in the westernBarents Sea 619
Introduction 619
Data base and approach 619
Timing of erosion 619
Pattern and amount of erosion 621
Summary and conclusions 629
Acknowledgements 629
References 629
Chapter 35. An outline of the northwestern Svalbard continental margin 631
Introduction 631
Sjubrebanken 632
Southern Yermak Plateau 634
Danskoya Basin 636
Norskebanken 637
Nordaustlandet margin 637
Volcanism and heat flow 638
Discussion 639
Conclusions 640
References 640
Chapter 36. Reactivation of fault complexes in the Loppa High area,southwestern Barents Sea 643
Introduction 643
Descriptions 643
Discussion 646
Conclusions 651
References 651
Chapter 37. Cenozoic uplift and erosion of the Barents Sea — evidencefrom the Svalis Dome area 655
Introduction 655
The Svalis Dome 656
Structural evolution of the S v a l i s Dome 657
Methods and estimates of the Cenozoicerosion 659
Discussion 670
Conclusion 673
Acknowledgements 673
References 674
Part IX: Saltdynamics 677
Chapter 38. Multiphase halokinesis in the Nordkapp Basin 677
Introduction 677
Salt in seismic profiles 677
Halokinetic wavelength analysis in t h eNordkapp Basin 677
Physical modelling 679
Discussion 679
References 680
Chapter 39. Salt dynamics: simulation of mushroom cap on a salt diapirin Barents Sea, Norway 681
Introduction 681
Review of methods 681
The method applied to a mushroom salt diapir 683
A synthetic test 683
A case history in Barents Sea, Norway 684
Conclusions 686
Acknowledgements 686
Appendix 687
References 690
Part X: Methods 693
Chapter 40. Application of horizontal stress directions interpreted fromborehole breakouts recorded by four-arm dipmeter tools 693
Introduction 693
Borehole breakouts theory 695
Application in exploration 696
Method for interpreting borehole breakouts 697
Borehole breakouts data from "Gas Field X "wells 699
Conclusions 702
References 702
Chapter 41. A method on classification of oil traps based on heavy oilcontent in cores with relevance to filling and drainage ofBarents Sea oil-bearing structures 703
Introduction 703
Theory of C 1 5+ oil saturation 704
Experimental 706
Results and discussion 707
Conclusions 713
Acknowledgements 714
References 714
Chapter 42. The Snowstreamer — a new device for acquisition ofseismic data on land 715
Introduction 715
General settings 715
The snowstreamer 717
Seismic exploration onshore Svalbard 718
Data processing 720
Conclusion 720
References 721
Chapter 43. Effects on hydrocarbon potential caused by Tertiary upliftand erosion in the Barents Sea 723
Introduction 723
Assumptions and input 723
The model — basic calculations 725
The model — volume calculations 726
A case history 726
Applications 727
Regional use of the model 729
Conclusions 730
Acknowledgements 731
References 731
Chapter 44. International law and its application in the Arctic 733
The fundamental problems of law 733
The sources of law In the internationalsociety 733
The interplay between unratified treaty law,general or customary law, State practice andformal ratification of a LOS treaty 733
The extent of the territorial s e a 734
Problems of a general nature versus problemsin the Arctic specifically 734
The continental shelf 734
The legal situation of Spitsbergen(Svalbard) 735
The 200 mile economic zone (EEZ) or specialfishery zone 735
Do the rights accorded to other States underthe Spitsbergen Treaty apply to thecontinental shelf 736
Do treaty rights earlier accorded apply to theeconomic zone 736
Delimitation of the continental shelf and of the200 mile economic zone or fishery zonebetween adjacent or oppositecoastal States 737
"The sector principle" 738
Questions concerning ice-covered areas 739
Environment protection on t he high seas 739
Addendum (August 1991) 743
References index 745
Subject index 755