Ole J. Martinsen¹, John Gjelberg¹

(1) Norsk Hydro Research Center ASA, Bergen, Norway

ABSTRACT: Paleocene Deep-Water Depositional Systems Along The Eastern Margin Of The Frontier Møre And Vøring Basins, Mid-Norway

Paleocene deep-water depositional systems along the eastern margin of the Møre and Vøring Basins, offshore Mid-Norway, are proven and potential reservoir-bearing units within the Cenozoic stratigraphic succession. The recent gas discovery in the giant Ormen Lange field shows the petroleum potential of the region related to the deposition of turbidites in submarine fans.

The distribution of confirmed Paleocene sandstones offshore Mid-Norway was profoundly controlled by tectonics, both on a local and on a regional scale. The change from a relatively mud-rich late Cretaceous system to sandier Paleocene system is considered to record uplift of the Norwegian mainland, which acted as the hinterland and sediment source. Major accumulations of reservoir sandstones occur to the south and north of the Trøndelag Platform, which acted as a wide shelf in the Paleocene. The northern and southern ends of the platform coincide with the landward extension of major, oceanic fracture zones which probably were of significance prior to the post-Paleocene breakup of the Norwegian Sea, controlling the location of deep-water feeder systems. On a more local scale, differential subsidence along older, originally Jurassic structural features caused fill-spill situations controlling supply of sands to the deep-water areas. In addition, the differential subsidence controlled the plan-view geometry of some submarine fans, such as the highly elongate Ormen Lange deep-water system by directing the flow of turbidity currents and forming topographic lows on the Paleocene sea floor.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado