Geo History, Thermal History and Hydrocarbon Generation History of the Northern North Sea Basin

Abstract

A one-dimensional, fluid flow/compaction model has been developed for petroleum explorationists to make quantitative studies of sedimentary basins. The following results can be obtained from the model: (1) basement subsidence (sediment load and tectonic effect); (2) structural evolution; (3) determination of erosion thickness of an unconformity; (4) changes of porosity, permeability, fluid flow rate and pore pressure with time and depth; (5) heat flow history; (6) temperature change with time and depth; (7) the value of thermal maturity indicators which change with time and depth; (8) hydrocarbon generation history including time and depth of peak hydrocarbon generation; and (9) prediction of possible directions of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation with time. The model is applicable to both frontier basins where only a few wells have been drilled and also to well-developed basins. The input data for the model are based mainly on commonly used geological and geochemical data from one well in a frontier basin or on similar data from many wells in a well-developed basin. Fifty-eight wells in the northern North Sea Basin have been used to reconstruct the geohistory, thermal history and hydrocarbon generation and migration history of the northern North Sea. The results accurately conformed to the well data, allowing determination of hydrocarbon generation amounts, migration times and accumulation sites, which are helpful for further hydrocarbon exploration in the northern North Sea Basin.