Abstract
Hydrocarbon exploration in the Norwegian Central Trough is hampered by the lack of a consistent Upper Jurassic stratigraphic framework. During Late Jurassic times, the area was split into structural elements by several phases of tectonic movement. In both shallow- and deep-water environments the sedimentary response to tectonic episodes occurred simultaneously, but differed in lithology and intensity, resulting in a highly varied facies development through time. Traditional lithostratigraphic methods have not succeeded in giving a consistent basis for understanding the geology.
We have established a division of the Upper Jurassic in the area into five “chronosequences” which we believe are largely generated by tectonic events. The base of Sequence A represents a regional unconformity that marks the Callovian/Oxfordian initial marine transgression in the Central Trough. A major, tectonically controlled flooding event of Late Kimmeridgian age (eudoxus ammonite zone) marks the base of Sequence B. Different sedimentary facies within this sequence constitute rich hydrocarbon source-rock shales in the Feda Graben and important reservoir sandstones on the Cod Terrace. The Sequence B/C1 transition (late Early Volgian) represents a change in structural style. Direction of main faults changed from N-S and E-W to WNW-ESE and a pronounced rotation of individual fault blocks occurred. Sequence C1 was deposited during this very active tectonic period which culminated in late Middle Volgian times. Erosion on footwall blocks gave rise to the major unconformity that separates Sequence C1 from Sequence C2. Sequence C2 shows significant thickness increases in local depocentres. The sediments represent a largely upward-fining transition between the oxic, hemipelagic to shallow marine facies of the underlying Sequence C1 and the anoxic, pelagic sediments of the overlying Sequence D. Despite its long range in time, from Late Volgian to Late Ryazanian, recorded thicknesses of Sequence D vary only between 0 and 50 m which reflects a period of sediment starvation in the Central Trough area.
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Forsberg, A., Gowers, M.B., Holtar, E. (1993). Multi-Disciplinary Stratigraphic Analysis of the Upper Jurassic Strata of the Norwegian Central Trough. In: Spencer, A.M. (eds) Generation, Accumulation and Production of Europe’s Hydrocarbons III. Special Publication of the European Association of Petroleum Geoscientists, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77859-9_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77859-9_4
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