Structural characterization offshore Newfoundland
Understanding tectonic evolution through geologic time informs future oil
and gas exploration in this frontier area

Date:
September 28, 2021
Source:
Southwest Research Institute
Summary:
Geologists completed research characterizing the complex geological
evolution of the Orphan Basin, offshore Newfoundland and Labrador,
using an extensive database of newly available, modern 2D and 3D
broadband seismic reflection data. These data allow geologists to
visualize and understand the subsurface.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Southwest Research Institute completed research characterizing the
complex geological evolution of the Orphan Basin, offshore Newfoundland
and Labrador, using an extensive database of newly available, modern 2D
and 3D broadband seismic reflection data. These data allow geologists
to visualize and understand the subsurface.


==========================================================================
"By incorporating seismic interpretations of rock structures and layers,
along with regional gravity and magnetic data and estimates of crustal thicknesses, we were able to generate structural interpretations of the
Earth's crust," said SwRI's Dr. Adam Cawood, who led the research and
is lead author of two recent papers. "Integrating multiple datasets is
critical for understanding complex structural development in frontier oil
and gas exploration regions." The Orphan Basin and Flemish Pass region
on the Newfoundland continental margin is a frontier area for oil and
gas exploration. The region has historically been poorly understood in
terms of structural and tectonic evolution, with few exploration wells
and, until recently, sparse seismic data coverage.

"We characterized the region using 2D and 3D seismic data, interpreting structural geometries and basin evolution through time. These analyses
provide the context for upcoming assessments of location and distribution
of source rock, reservoir and seal strata for exploration in the area,"
said SwRI's Dr.

David Ferrill, who co-authored the papers.

"By using defined protocols for cross-section construction and
restoration, we tested multiple scenarios, generating robust models for
the geologic evolution of the Orphan Basin, Flemish Pass and Flemish
Cap region," Cawood said. "By doing this, we can better understand the
tectonic evolution and related sediment accumulation during the formation
of the North Atlantic, as the supercontinent of Pangea broke up and land
masses drifted apart. These results are important for interpreting the
oil and gas potential in this frontier area." Cawood is presenting
on the "Tectonostratigraphic Evolution of the Orphan Basin, Offshore Newfoundland: Results from Coupled Structural Restoration and Crustal
Area Balancing" Wednesday, September 29, at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Energy (SEG/AAPG IMAGE) in Denver. This presentation
will summarize the results from two companion papers recently published
by SwRI staff in collaboration with the Oil and Gas Corporation of
Newfoundland and Labrador.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Southwest_Research_Institute. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal References:
1. Adam J. Cawood, David A. Ferrill, Alan P. Morris, David Norris,
David
McCallum, Erin Gillis, Kevin J. Smart. Tectonostratigraphic
evolution of the Orphan Basin and Flemish Pass region - Part 2:
Regional structural development and lateral variations in rifting
style. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2021; 133: 105219 DOI:
10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105219
2. Adam J. Cawood, David A. Ferrill, Alan P. Morris, David Norris,
David
McCallum, Erin Gillis, Kevin J. Smart. Tectonostratigraphic
evolution of the Orphan Basin and Flemish Pass region - Part
1: Results from coupled kinematic restoration and crustal area
balancing. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2021; 128: 105042 DOI:
10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105042 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210928102245.htm

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