Mesozoic Resource Potential in the Southern Permian Basin
CONTAINS OPEN ACCESS

The Southern Permian Basin, as its name suggests, is a historical heartland for hydrocarbon production from the Palaeozoic Rotliegend interval. However, in this mature basin the Mesozoic presents further possibilities to offer resource security to NW Europe. Such opportunities include increasing efficiency in the production of discovered hydrocarbons, exploration for further hydrocarbons (both conventional and unconventional) and efficient exploration for, and production of, geothermal energy. All these potential resources require a grounding in technically sound geoscience, via traditional scientific observation and the application of new technologies, to unlock their value.
The main aim of this volume is to bring together the work of academics and industry workers to consider cross-border geoscience including contributions on Poland, Germany, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and adjacent areas. The work presented intends to contribute to the development and discovery of further Mesozoic energy resources across the basin.
Lower Cretaceous reservoir development in the North Sea Central Graben, and potential analogue settings in the Southern Permian Basin and South Viking Graben
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Published:January 01, 2018
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CiteCitation
Frank Zwaan, 2018. "Lower Cretaceous reservoir development in the North Sea Central Graben, and potential analogue settings in the Southern Permian Basin and South Viking Graben", Mesozoic Resource Potential in the Southern Permian Basin, B. Kilhams, P. A. Kukla, S. Mazur, T. McKie, H. F. Mijnlieff, K. van Ojik
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Abstract
Much of the future hydrocarbon exploration potential in the North Sea lies in locating stratigraphic traps and discrete reservoir intervals. This study assesses the potential for Lower Cretaceous reservoirs, with particular focus on the Norwegian Central Graben and methods to identify future prospects over a wider area. Seismic interpretation and well data reveal the structure and sedimentology of the study area. Although the region was isolated from a large hinterland in the Early Cretaceous, potential local sediment sources, sediment transport routes and areas with possible reservoir development are identified. The greater Mandal High area, where Lower Cretaceous shoreface deposits and submarine fan systems are postulated, is suggested for primary focus. Similar deposits may have developed around the other exposed highs in the region, although several were drowned towards the end of the Early Cretaceous. Detailed seismic and stratigraphic analysis will be necessary to identify individual reservoir units. Since comparable settings may have occurred in the adjacent South Viking Graben and Southern Permian Basin regions during the Early Cretaceous, further reservoir assessment is recommended for the North Sea in general.
- Albian
- Aptian
- Arctic Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Central Graben
- clastic rocks
- coastal environment
- Cretaceous
- depositional environment
- Lower Cretaceous
- marine environment
- Mesozoic
- North Atlantic
- North Sea
- Norwegian Sea
- offshore
- Permian Basin
- petroleum
- petroleum exploration
- provenance
- reservoir rocks
- sandstone
- sediment transport
- sedimentary rocks
- stratigraphic traps
- submarine environment
- submarine fans
- transport
- traps
- Viking Graben