New Concepts and Data Concerning yet-to-find Petroleum Resources in Greenland

Flemming Christiansen

Assessments of yet-to-find petroleum resources in frontier regions such as the Arctic are highly dependent on available data and local knowledge. When USGS made their Arctic Petroleum Appraisal a few years back, there were many discussions and transfer of data and knowledge between scientists from GEUS and USGS, and several joint papers were published in addition to the standard USGS Fact Sheets. Especially risks and uncertainties of critical play elements and choice of analogues for considerations on maximum field size and field size distribution have been important. Similarly the discussions have been of great value for recommending new themes of research by GEUS and planning new data acquisition by geophysical companies and licence operators. The completed assessments reflect a level of knowledge from ca. 2005. With the high level of research and exploration activities since then, it can be expected that future updated assessment will include some modifications in evaluation of risk and uncertainties and also in choice of analogues. Since 2005 the level of activities has been high in both West and North-East Greenland but many data are still confidential or for restricted use only. However, some information has been released for promotion of licensing rounds by authorities or marketing by companies. As preparation for licensing rounds West of Disko and in Baffin Bay, and as subsequent licence work throughout the West Greenland region, extensive 2D and 3D seismic acquisition has taken place in 2007-2012; seabed sampling in 2009, exploration drilling (8 wells by Cairn) in 2010-2011; and offshore core drilling in 2012, all data still confidential. Onshore research has focussed on provenance of sands and age, petrology and distribution of volcanics. As preparation for licensing rounds in North-East Greenland, extensive airborne magnetics and gravity data acquisition has taken place in 2007, 2008, 2012; 2D seismic acquisition in 2008-2012; seabed sampling in 2011-2012; and offshore core drilling in 2008, all data remain confidential for yet some years. Onshore research has also been very intense since 2008 with large field campaigns every summer and shallow core drilling of Upper Jurassic, Cretaceous, Triassic and Permian mudstone intervals; provenance studies; studies of uplift and thermal history; detailed studies of the Cretaceous succession - and systematic GIS compilations of all available on- and offshore data. The presentation will highlight some of the new exploration concepts that have been developed in recent years with particular focus on revised concepts of risks and uncertainties in both West and East Greenland.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90177©3P Arctic, Polar Petroleum Potential Conference & Exhibition, Stavanger, Norway, October 15-18, 2013