Abstract: Deformation bands significantly alter the local petrophysical properties of sandstone reservoirs, although it is not known how the intrinsically variable characteristics of sandstones (e.g. grain size, sorting and mineralogy) influence the nature and distribution of deformation bands. To address this, cataclastic deformation bands within fine- and coarse-grained Triassic Sherwood Sandstone at Thurstaston, UK were analysed, for the first time, using a suite of petrographical techniques, outcrop studies, helium porosimetry and image analysis. Deformation bands are more abundant in the coarse-grained sandstone than in the underlying fine-grained sandstone. North- and south-dipping conjugate sets of cataclastic bands in the coarse-grained sandstone broadly increase in density (defined by number/m 2 ) when approaching faults. Microstructural analysis revealed that primary grain size controls deformation band density. Deformation bands in both coarse and fine sandstones led to significantly reduced porosity, and so can represent barriers or baffles to lateral fluid flow. Microstructural data show preferential cataclasis of K-feldspar grains within the host rock and deformation band. The study is of direct relevance to the prediction of reservoir quality in several petroleum-bearing Lower Triassic reservoirs in the near offshore, as deformation band development occurred prior to Carboniferous source-rock maturation and petroleum migration.

Abstract The Douglas Field, on stream in February 1996, is the first oil field to be developed in the East Irish Sea Basin, with an estimated STOIIP of 202 MMBBL. The field structure consists of three tilted fault blocks formed during extensional faulting in Triassic-early Jurassic times, and later readjusted by contractional movements during Tertiary inversion. The oil is trapped in the Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone Formation, which comprises moderate to high porosity aeolian and fluvial sandstones. The reservoir depth is shallow (2140 ft) with a maximum oil column of 375 ft. The reservoir can be divided into several laterally extensive units based on vertical facies variations. The reservoir quality is principally controlled by primary depositional processes, and authigenic clay minerals are not important. However, bitumen is formed extensively in specific areas of the field causing significant permeability reduction. The hydrocarbon filling history of the field was complex, with the occurrence of at least two phases of oil generation and migration. The field contains a relatively ‘dead’ oil with a low GOR (170 scf/bbl). Pressure maintenance is achieved through sea water injection, and to date ten production and six injection wells have been drilled. The crude is light (44° API) and contains high levels of H 2 S (0.5mol%) and mercaptans, which are removed during processing offshore.

Abstract The Douglas Field is located in Block 110/13b in the East Irish Sea. It was the first oilfield to be discovered and produced in the region, having been found in 1990 and brought on stream in January 1996. The field structure comprises a series of north–south-trending, tilted, extensional fault blocks. The reservoir interval is the Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone Formation comprising good quality aeolian and fluvial sandstones. The field is relatively shallow, with the top reservoir at c. 2120 ft true vertical depth subsea. The hydrocarbon is a light oil of 44°API gravity with a maximum column height of c. 400 ft. The Douglas Field contains an estimated stock tank oil in place of 248 MMbbl and was developed with 22 wells: 15 producers, six water injectors and a single sour gas and condensate disposal well. Electric submersible pumps are installed in oil producers for artificial lift and water injection was utilized from field start-up for pressure maintenance. A water-alternating-gas pilot was implemented on the field in 2017 as an enhanced oil recovery scheme. The field currently produces at a rate of c. 4000 bopd, with approximately 90% water cut. The field has produced 103 MMbbl to date, giving a current oil recovery of c. 41%.

Abstract The collision of Siberia and the Kazakstan microplate with the eastern side of the Fennoscandia continent in the Permian amalgamated the last major continental fragments to produce the supercontinent Pangaea, which persisted into the Jurassic ( Fig. 13.1 ). During the last phases of this collision, during the latest Permian–Early Triassic, extrusion of massive amounts of flood basalts occurred in Siberia, to the east of the Urals ( Otto & Bailey 1995 ). Some have proposed this event as one of the key processes controlling the largest extinction in Earth’s history at the Permian–Triassic boundary ( Wignall 2001 a ; Benton & Twitchett 2003 ). During the Triassic, England and Wales lay beyond the western termination of the Tethys Ocean, which was divided into a northern part, the Palaeotethys, and a southern part, the Neotethys ( Fig. 13.1 ). Between these oceans occurred the Cimmerian terrains; several now widely separated continental fragments which had rifted from the northern fringe of Gondwana in the Permian ( Stampfli & Borel 2002 ). The Triassic witnessed the northward drift of these Cimmerian terrains, and the northward subduction of the Palaeotethys, which was mostly completed by the Late Triassic.

Abstract The Hamilton and Hamilton North Fields are located in Block 110/13a in the East Irish Sea, and contain 627 BCF and 230 BCF GIIP, respectively. First gas was produced from the Hamilton North Field in December 1995. The fields are being developed with four producers in the Hamilton Field and three in the Hamilton North Field. The Hamilton Field structure consists of a N-S trending horst block with dip closure to the north and south, while the Hamilton North structure is defined by major faults to the north and west with dip closure to the east and south. The gas is trapped in the highly productive Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone Formation. The reservoir comprises high porosity aeolian and fluvial sandstones. Depth to reservoir is shallow (2300-2600 ft) with the gas-water contact being at 2910ft in the Hamilton Field and 3166 ft in the Hamilton North Field. Reservoir quality is principally controlled by primary depositional processes and no significant diagenetic effects are observed. The hydrocarbon filling history was complex, with at least two phases of hydrocarbon generation. Hamilton North gas is sweet whereas the Hamilton gas contains up to 1100ppm H 2 S, which is removed during processing at the Douglas complex and at the Point of Ayr gas terminal. Cumulative gas production to May 1999 was 180 BCF and no water-cut has been observed to date.

Abstract The Lennox Field, located in blocks 110/15 and 110/14, was the second oil field to be developed in the East Irish Sea Basin. It contains 184 MMBBL of oil in-place within a 143 ft thick oil rim overlain by a large gas cap up to 750 ft thick. The GIIP is estimated to be 497 BCF. The field came on stream in February 1996, and it is now being developed with seven horizontal oil producers, including two multi-lateral wells and two crestal gas injectors. Production from the field can be divided into two distinct phases; the oil rim development phase, and the gas cap blow-down phase. The latter phase is currently anticipated to commence in 2004. The field structure consists of a roll-over anticline formed in the hanging wall of the Formby Point Fault during extensional faulting in Triassic-early Jurassic times, and later readjusted by contractional movements during Tertiary inversion. The oil and gas are trapped in the highly productive Triassic Ormskirk Sandstone Formation. The reservoir comprise high porosity aeolian and fluvial sandstones occurring at a shallow depth (c. 2500 ft) with a maximum gas column of 750 ft above an oil rim of 143 ft. The reservoir quality is principally controlled by primary depositional processes as no significant adverse diagenetic effects are observed. The hydrocarbon filling history was complex, with at least three phases of oil and gas generation. The field contains a light, saturated oil (45° API) with a GOR of 650 SCF/BBL. The crude contains high levels of H 2 S (0.1 mol%) and mercaptans (450 ppm), which are removed during processing at the Douglas complex. Water cut from the field is currently around 2-5%, and no free gas production has been observed to date. Gas production from Lennox is anticipated to start in 2004.

Abstract Hydrocarbon exploration in the East Irish Sea Basin began with the identification of surface oil seeps in peat beds in Lancashire, UK. This precipitated the drilling of the first onshore exploration wells. The discovery of the Formby Field in west Lancashire at the end of the 1930s triggered a wave of further drilling. Wells drilled in west Lancashire had limited success, with only minor hydrocarbon shows, whilst the production from the Formby Field was modest. Nonetheless, the invaluable geological information taken from onshore wells and the ratification of the Continental Shelf Act led to a shift in focus to the offshore and a period of significant interest in the East Irish Sea. Two key periods of oil and gas exploration activity stand out in the history of the offshore basin, the first headed by the Gas Council during the 1970s resulted in the discovery of the gas giants of Morecambe Bay, whilst the second fronted by Hamilton Oil during the 1990s heralded the discovery of oil with the Douglas and Lennox fields in Liverpool Bay. Exploration in the basin has waned during the last decade; however, to date, this mature hydrocarbon province has yielded estimated hydrocarbon reserves of over 1.8 BBOE (billion barrels of oil equivalent).

Abstract The Kish Bank Basin lies in the western Irish Sea c. 20 km east of Dublin. It is one of a number of remnants of a larger Permo-Triassic basin system that may have extended across the whole of the Irish Sea. It has a geological history similar to that of the East Irish Sea Basin, initially developing by the reactivation of Caledonian faults that controlled subsequent deposition during Dinantian and Namurian time, with Westphalian deposition in a sag-basin that overstepped the adjacent basement highs. Variscan dextral transpression resulted in the formation of the Codling and Bray faults, and Permian to Jurassic extension formed a set of north-south-trending faults. Liassic outliers are preserved in the hanging walls of the basin margin faults. Early Cretaceous uplift was followed by chalk deposition. Tertiary movements reactivated older faults, isolating the Kish Bank Basin, and producing 9 km of dextral strike-slip along the Codling Fault Zone. The main reservoir in the hydrocarbon play is provided by the Sherwood Sandstone Group, as successfully exploited in the East Irish Sea. Three wells have been drilled to test this reservoir. These encountered high-quality Sherwood Sandstone reservoirs beneath the good potential seal of the Mercia Mudstone Group (which included thick halites). Source rock potential is from either the Westphalian Coal Measures, as penetrated in well 33/22-1, or from inferred Dinantian to Namurian basinal shales. There is good evidence of an active source system, with oil shows in wells 33/17-1 and 33/22-1, data from geochemical analysis of sea-bed cores, a ‘Seepfinder’ survey, sea-bed mounds and seismic evidence of shallow gas. The main risks of the play are the migration pathway and the timing of trap formation with respect to migration. Migration favours the eastern side of the basin, and many of the tilted fault blocks that formed during Permian to Jurassic time have been modified by Early Cretaceous inversion and by Tertiary strike-slip compression. ALL of the structures that have been drilled to date have been either formed or modified after the time of peak hydrocarbon generation and migration.