Paleobiology as a Driver In Exploration and Production Activities: Two Examples of
Enhanced Exploration Potential from the Dutch “Upper Jurassic” Offshore
(Best of EAGE)
Abbink, Oscar A.1, Harmen F. Mijnlieff1, Dirk K. Munsterman1,
Roel M.C.H. Verreussel1 (1) TNO-NITG,
The Upper-Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous
strata have been a target for the oil and gas exploration in The Netherlands
for several decades. During the initial stages of the Dutch offshore
exploration history, various oil fields and some gas fields were discovered.
Only the F3-FB field proved to be economic. However, in recent years, new biostratigraphic techniques and newly-acquired stratigraphic data have renewed interest in the uppermost
Middle Jurassic (Callovian) – lowermost Cretaceous (Ryazanian) strata of the Central Graben
and
New biostratigraphic
techniques and newly-acquired stratigraphic data have
led to the identification of a series of events which can be related to the
tectonic, climatic, environmental and stratigraphic
development of the “Upper Jurassic”. Three tectono-stratigraphic
sequences (1, 2, and 3) are recognized. These insights have direct impact on
the exploration potential. For sequence 1, stratigraphic
traps in the deeper part along the basin axis are formed within paralic and fluvial deposits. In sequence 3, sponge reefs,
growing due to special paleoenvironmental conditions,
form reservoir units along the basin edges and on intra-basinal
highs within structural traps. In these two examples, the existence of only one
economic oil field and the (mis)placement of
exploration wells will be explained. The paleoenvironmental
understanding is essential for future exploration potential.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California