Karstens, Jens , Müller, P., Berndt, Christian and Patruno, S. (2019) Deep-seated focused fluid migration as indicator for hydrocarbon leads in the East Shetland Platform, North Sea Province. In: Cross border themes in petroleum geology I: The North Sea. , ed. by Patruno, S., Archer, S. G., Chiarella, D., Howell, J. A., Jackson, C. A.-L. and Kombrink, H.. Geological Society London Special Publications, 494 . Geological Society, London, Chapter 26. DOI 10.1144/SP494-2019-26.

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Abstract

Hydrocarbon exploration in the North Sea Basin has revealed a multitude of focused fluid conduits, which manifest in seismic data as pipe or chimney structures that in some instances are connected to underlying hydrocarbon reservoirs. 3D seismic data from the eastern margin of the East Shetland Platform (ESP) reveal the presence of more than 450 focused fluid conduits. Most of these initiate at the Base Tertiary Unconformity (BTU) and crosscut the overlying sediments. The focused fluid conduits correlate with intra-platform basin structures beneath the BTU and with permeable sediments lobes, channels and deltaic units in the overlying Paleocene to Eocene successions, which include known hydrocarbon reservoirs (e.g. Bressay, Bentley, Skipper or Piper). Clusters of pipes associated with other channels and deltaic units may indicate the presence of additional prospects at the eastern margin of the ESP. Our study highlights the potential of using seismically imaged focused fluid system analyses in hydrocarbon exploration in platform areas on both sides of the Viking Graben and other frontier areas as they reveal the presence of working hydrocarbon charge pathways.

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