Seal integrity in the uplifted basins in the greater Hoop area on the Northern Barents Shelf

Abstract

The geological evolution of the northern Barents Shelf is complex, and the area has undergone several phases of tectonic activity leading to a mosaic of several deep and shallow basins, platforms, salt-cored domes and structural highs. The area is highly gas prone with some very few commercial oil discoveries, and only two fields currently in production. Deep burial and subsequent Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic exhumation and isostatic rebound following the last glaciation have strongly influenced the petroleum system This have in particular lowered the cap rock integrity over large parts of the northern shelf. Thus, we wish to evaluate the regional cap-rock properties in the area in order to lower future geological exploration risk. Additionally we aim to establish a robust structural framework and sequence-stratigraphic models, highlighting the tectonic and stratigraphic evolution of regional cap-rock units on the northern Barents Shelf.