Exploring for “Giants” in Offshore West Greenland: Recent activities and Hydrocarbon Prospectivity in a Developing Frontier Basin

Robert I. Gardner, Neil D. Ethier, and Mark A. Cooper
EnCana Corporation, Calgary, AB

Exploration activities in offshore West Greenland were initiated in the early seventies and resulted in five exploration wells, which primarily tested the Tertiary section. Minor amounts of hydrocarbons were detected in only one of these wells (Kangamiut-1) and resulted in a hiatus in exploration activities. In 2000 Statoil drilled the exploration well Qulleq-1 which proved the presence of a Santonian sandstone reservoir overlain by a thick Campanian shale seal. The key geological risk in the basin remains the presence of source rocks, however the recent discovery of widespread onshore seeps in the Nuussuaq Basin in combination with satellite identified slicks in the offshore basin areas provides evidence of a working petroleum system. Detailed geochemical studies undertaken by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) have recognised five distinct oil types. The most significant of these is the “Itilli” type, which originates from a marine (Type II) oil prone Cenomanian-Turonian source rock. These findings, in combination with the interpretation of an extensive modern seismic grid have revealed all the required ingredients for a potential “World Class” petroleum basin. As a result there has been significant renewed industry interest in the petroleum prospectivity of offshore West Greenland.

EnCana has developed a regional exploration model, which unravels the basin development, evaluates facies distribution and identifies viable source kitchens. Prospective areas have been high-graded by utilizing a Common Risk Segment Mapping technique that incorporates all pertinent engineering and geological exploration risks. Within the areas of reduced risk, numerous structural and stratigraphic leads have been identified with individual recoverable resources calculated to be in excess of 1000 mmbo.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005