Abstract
In the last decade, the Faroese sector of the Faroe-Shetland Basin, northeast Atlantic margin,
has been an area of increased interest in terms of hydrocarbon exploration. During this time,
the main focus has been on sediments beneath the Palaeocene-Eocene flood basalts, which
cover most of the Faroese Continental Shelf. Discoveries have, however, been made in the
post-basalt succession in the UK sector of the Faroe-Shetland Basin. Consequently, this study
is focused on the predicted reservoir quality of the post-basalt sediments in the Faroese sector
of the basin.
The post-basalt sediments in the Faroese area of the Faroe-Shetland Basin are poorly understood,
especially in relation to their provenance.Most of the literature that exists about the
post-basalt sediments in the basin shows sediment being deposited from the S to SE (the NW
British shelf area). These sediments are of siliciclastic origin and have been shown to be of a
very good reservoir quality. However, this study shows that sediment has also been derived
from the Faroese Platform and the Munkagrunnur Ridge. Both of these structures are wholly
made up of basaltic material; this sediment derived from these source areas will be of volcaniclastic
composition.
Whereas siliciclastic material is known to have very good reservoir quality at the burial
depths of the post-basalt sequence, the reservoir quality of volcaniclastic sediments has been
reported to deteriorate faster than in siliciclastic deposits. We will discuss this issue, and
show what kind of depths we expect volcaniclastic rocks to be of useful reservoir quality in
relation to the burial depths of the post-basalt sequence in the Faroe Shetland Basin. By considering
the development of three prograding sediment sequences of Eocene toMiocene age,
we highlight the mixed provenance of the post-basalt infill of the Faroe-Shetland Basin, and
assess the kind of depths within the basin that we can expect volcaniclastic rocks to be of useful
reservoir quality. From this study we conclude that the post-basalt sandstone in the
Faroese area of the Faroe-Shetland Basin could be a prospective reservoir in the future.
has been an area of increased interest in terms of hydrocarbon exploration. During this time,
the main focus has been on sediments beneath the Palaeocene-Eocene flood basalts, which
cover most of the Faroese Continental Shelf. Discoveries have, however, been made in the
post-basalt succession in the UK sector of the Faroe-Shetland Basin. Consequently, this study
is focused on the predicted reservoir quality of the post-basalt sediments in the Faroese sector
of the basin.
The post-basalt sediments in the Faroese area of the Faroe-Shetland Basin are poorly understood,
especially in relation to their provenance.Most of the literature that exists about the
post-basalt sediments in the basin shows sediment being deposited from the S to SE (the NW
British shelf area). These sediments are of siliciclastic origin and have been shown to be of a
very good reservoir quality. However, this study shows that sediment has also been derived
from the Faroese Platform and the Munkagrunnur Ridge. Both of these structures are wholly
made up of basaltic material; this sediment derived from these source areas will be of volcaniclastic
composition.
Whereas siliciclastic material is known to have very good reservoir quality at the burial
depths of the post-basalt sequence, the reservoir quality of volcaniclastic sediments has been
reported to deteriorate faster than in siliciclastic deposits. We will discuss this issue, and
show what kind of depths we expect volcaniclastic rocks to be of useful reservoir quality in
relation to the burial depths of the post-basalt sequence in the Faroe Shetland Basin. By considering
the development of three prograding sediment sequences of Eocene toMiocene age,
we highlight the mixed provenance of the post-basalt infill of the Faroe-Shetland Basin, and
assess the kind of depths within the basin that we can expect volcaniclastic rocks to be of useful
reservoir quality. From this study we conclude that the post-basalt sandstone in the
Faroese area of the Faroe-Shetland Basin could be a prospective reservoir in the future.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Faroe Islands exploration conference |
| Subtitle of host publication | proceedings of the 2nd conference |
| Editors | Thomas Varming, Heri Ziska |
| Place of Publication | Tórshavn |
| Publisher | Fróðskapur |
| Pages | 227-240 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9789991865249 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Publication series
| Name | Annales Societatis Scientiarum Færoensis |
|---|---|
| Volume | 50 |
| ISSN (Print) | 0365-6772 |