Abstract: A Reservoir Model for the Lower Cretaceous Deep Marine Sandstones in the Maloy Fault Block Area, Norwegian North Sea

Anne Kloster, Edel Kristin Areklett, Nick Milton, Robert Young

The Maloy Fault Block area of the North Viking Graben forms a platform to the east of the Sogn Graben next to the coast of Norway.

This area is characterised by an unusual and thick Lower Cretaceous section containing a number of discrete sandstone packages. Wells drilled elsewhere in the Norwegian North Sea are in contrast dominated by a relatively thin mud and marl dominated section in the Lower Cretaceous. Two wells in block 35/3 (the Agat field) encountered gas bearing sandstones of Albian age interpreted to represent deposition in a deep marine environment.

An integrated sequence stratigraphic approach to the Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy in the Maloy Fault Block area has led to a new and more detailed understanding of controls on deposition in this area. This is based both on a regional dataset and good quality 3D seismic data.

A Valanginian-Hauterivian relict slope/shelf system is present along the eastern basin margin. It formed a long-lasting topographic feature and in some areas was not onlapped until the Campanian time. A dramatic change in the basin configuration took place most likely in the Aptian time. This was initiated by erosion of the slope/shelf system which cut multiple huge canyons along the basin-margin. The canyons focused sediment input to the basin along discrete and mappable transport routes, some of which are controlled by erosion features inherited from the Late Jurassic. A complex history of deposition and filling followed. This was controlled by a constantly changing basin floor topography and left a complex pattern of partly constrained fan deposition.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90956©1995 AAPG International Convention and Exposition Meeting, Nice, France