Abstract The reservoir rock of the Schoonebeek oil field is formed by the sandstones of the Bentheim Sandstone Member. The sedimentology and depositional environment of this sandstone have been extensively studied, but the relationship between the geometry of the sandstone and tectonic activity in the Schoonebeek area remains poorly understood. 355 boreholes and two three-dimensional (3D) seismic surveys were used to study this relationship. An eroded zone in the west of the field and an area where the original depositional thickness is still intact were identified. Using the ezValidator software package it can be seen that uplift of a local anticline played an important role in the erosion of the sandstone. Deposition of the sands of the Bentheim Sandstone Member and the overlying Vlieland Sandstone and Claystone formations occurred on an unstable changing palaeotopography, whereby the instability was probably driven by halokinetic movement of the underlying Late Permian Zechstein salt. Syndepositional tectonic movements affected local thickness variations in the Bentheim Sandstone Member in the west of the field, leading to westwards thinning.

ABSTRACT Due to the nature of the depositional environment and most importantly the lack of (bio) stratigraphic control, it remains difficult to establish a robust and reliable stratigraphic framework for the Upper Rotliegend which can be used as a guideline to better understand the internal architecture. The most important challenges encountered are the identification of the large-scale basin architecture and basin fill, the identification of a sequence stratigraphic model for (semi-) arid continental deposits, and the relationship between the distribution of Upper Rotliegend sediments and the underlying Variscan structural framework. Based on the present-day knowledge and status of particular stratigraphic aspects, it can be concluded that a single “silver bullet” solution does not exist for providing a more profound understanding of the depositional model. It is evident that none of the methods available should be used in isolation but rather integrated in the framework of sequence stratigraphy providing the petroleum geologist a genetic and predictive geological model.

ABSTRACT The Southern Permian Basin (SPB) formed a large, elongated saucer-shaped inland depression extending from the UK to Poland and from Belgium to Denmark. During the Middle to early Late Permian the SPB was filled progressively by playa sediments from its centre in northwestern Germany before it was flooded at the onset of the Zechstein. The Netherlands were situated at the southern part of the saline playa lake. The sediment fill has an onlap configuration upon the underlying Carboniferous and Lower Rotliegend strata. Although regional contour maps suggest a fairly gradual thinning of the Upper Rotliegend interval towards the basin edge, more careful examination reveals that there are prominent steps in thickness and facies. It can be concluded that these steps are defined by steps in the palaeotopography of the basin. These topographic steps are related to pre-Variscan and Variscan structural elements. During deposition of the Upper Rotliegend these large-scale topographic steps defined the location of the main fluvial fairways towards the basin centre, extensive (mud)flat areas, and the relative highs on which the dune fields developed. Next to these large topographic elements relief inversion, differential erosion, and faults caused smaller-scale topographic relief elements. This relief exerted prominent influence on the sediment dispersal patterns and sediment type both laterally and vertically. This holds especially true for the basal Rotliegend sandstones and in the pinch-out area near the playa margin.