Using Potential Field Data to Guide Structural Framework Interpretation in West Greenland

Leslie Nossaman, Bob Pawlowski, Chris Bexfield, Claire King, Alex Fordham, and Carlos Rivero
Chevron, Houston, TX.

West Greenland is a large area covering approximately 350,000 square kilometers with very few wells and limited seismic data. Furthermore, the interpretation of the seismic data is complicated by the presence of very thick volcanics in some areas. By incorporating and synthesizing different types of data an exploration story could be created. Potential field data can be modelled and interpreted to define oceanic and continental crust, volcanics thicknesses, and possible igneous centres. This data can also be used to guide seismic interpretations. Analyzing reverse magnetics, structural restorations, and crustal modelling can help develop a rifting story. These methods were used in West Greenland to develop the oceanic and continental crust boundaries, thickness of volcanics, rifting history, and various working geological scenarios. Limited heat flow data was available for interpretation and was combined with gravity and magnetics to assist in validating the oceanic and continental crust boundary. Modeling volcanic thicknesses was critical to determining top basement and what the upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleocene section might look like. The structural geometries, volcanic thicknesses, stratigraphic models, and temperature data were then used as inputs for the basin model.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90130©2011 3P Arctic, The Polar Petroleum Potential Conference & Exhibition, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 30 August-2 September, 2011.

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