Wiekert Visser

Sedimentary basin formation

Main questions in hydrocarbon exploration
Basin Shape: Area and thickness of sedimentary fill
Satellite image, gravity/magnetics, seismic mapping
Tectonic setting: what type of traps to expect
Plate tectonics, gravity/magnetics, satellite image
Hydrocarbon Charge: oil or gas?
Wells, seismic facies mapping, satellite image (seeps), plate
tectonics, paleoclimate, modelling,
Reservoir/seal: reservoir quality, seal risk
Seismic facies & depositional sequence mapping, wells, plate
tectonics, paleogeography, paleoclimate
Trapping style & size
Detailed seismic mapping, satellite, arial photography, models
Impact
Seismic stratigraphy
The main questions in an early exploration phase relate to the basin
formation processes. Seismic stratigraphy is a valuable tool in answereing
some of these questions
Basin evolution
Primary controls on basin evolution:
1. Type of substratum (continental, oceanic, transitional)
2. Proximity to plate boundary
3. Type of nearest plate boundary (active, passive, transform,
collision)
4. Geodynamic processes during basin evolution (rifting,
stretching, flexure, compression, extension, translation)
Unravelling the basin fill to predict/understand the
distribution of reservoirs, seals, and source rocks,
requires understanding of basin fomation processes
Break-up of continents
After H.H. Hess, 1962
Passive Margin development
Plate tectonics: the Wilson cycle
A: Stable Craton
B: Early Rifting
C: Full Ocean Basin
D: Subduction Zone
E: Closing Remnant
Ocean Basin
F: Collision Orogeny
G: Peneplaned Mountain
After T.Z. Wilson, 1970
0 MA
200 MA
400 MA
Ocean-Continent collision
Plate tectonics: the Wilson cycle
A: Stable Craton
B: Early Rifting
C: Full Ocean Basin
D: Subduction Zone
E: Closing Remnant
Ocean Basin
F: Collision Orogeny
G: Peneplaned Mountain
After T.Z. Wilson, 1970
0 MA
200 MA
400 MA
Continent-Continent collision
Basin type and plate tectonic setting
GROUP EXAMPLE
FORELAND
FORE-ARC
WRENCH
RI FT/SAG
PASSI VE
MARGI N
SUBSI DENCE
MECHANI SM
MECHAN-
I CAL
THERMAL
PLATE TECTONI C ENVI RONMENT
CRATONI C
C-C O-C O-O

Courtesy:
Distribution of basin types
FORE-ARC
FORELAND
PASSI VE MARGI N
WRENCH
RI FT/SAG
Courtesy:
Rift induced Intra-cratonic basin
Olmedo: Seismic crossection & interpretation
10 km
0
1
2
3
4
S
e
c
o
n
d
s

T
W
T
DS. I
Pre-rift
Paleozoic
DS. III
Post-rift
Tertiary
Courtesy Shell
Palinspastic reconstruction of Cratonic rift basin
Palinspastic reconstruction
of Cratonic rift basin
The Olmedo basin is a rift/sag basin,
which developed in a pure continental
domain. Most critical in the
exploration play is the mapping the
extent of the lacustrine facies (high
amplitude. High continuity), which
developed in the deeper part of the
basin. This sequence may contain
source rocks.
Courtesy Shell
North Sea, failed rift basin
Troll gas field
The North sea is a failed rift basin: the rifting did not result in the opening of a new ocean.
The basin developed as an intra-cratonic rift basin.
This rift/sag basin had extensive marine influence. Seismic stratigraphic mapping in this
basin has been critical in understanding the development of turbidite systems.
R
Courtesy Shell
Passive margin example, West Africa
Courtesy Shell
Suriname: play types
Onshore blocks offshore blocks
S
Mid Miocene
Base Tertiary
N
Turbidite Play
stratigraphic plays
Carbonate
Shelf-edge
canyon Play
Tambaredjo Oil
Field
CANJE FORMATION
SOURCE ROCK
CANJE FORMATION
SOURCE ROCK
Structural
traps
CONJECTURED LOWER
JURASSIC LACUSTRINE
SOURCE ROCK
CONJECTURED LOWER
JURASSIC LACUSTRINE
SOURCE ROCK
Hydrocarbon
migration path
LOWER CRETACEOUS
MARINE SOURCE ROCK
LOWER CRETACEOUS
MARINE SOURCE ROCK
Salt
Presence predicted based on
Takutu graben data
Understanding the passive margin basin development processed allowed
to predict that the synrift depositional sequence was missing from existing
geological models. Seismic stratigraphy in this basin is most relevant for
sand/shale distribution prediction and shelf-edge & turbidite mapping.
R
South China sea area
Luconia
Carbonate province
NE Borneo
active margin
R
e
d

R
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v
e
r

f
a
u
l
t
Baram delta area
Active margin
Stable shelf
Courtesy Shell
Cross section Baram delta
Carefull mapping of topsets, foreset, and bottomsets has resulted in a good
understanding of reservoir distributionin this area.
Courtesy Shell
Bram delta seismic cross section
SE NW
10 km
5 km -
R
Courtesy Shell
Foreland basin: Adriatic Sea
After: M. Pieri, 1983)
Po basin (Italy)
5 km
Courtesy Shell
Bacterial gas fields in turbidites (Adriatic basin)
Bacterial gas found in turbiditic sands
Best reservoirs found off-structure
Turbidites onlap against syn-sedimentary growing structures
Turbidites flow direction affected by compressional folds Transport direction of sediments
affected by syndepositional folding
Turbidites onlapping
growing structure
R
South China sea area
Luconia
Carbonate province
NE Borneo
active margin
R
e
d

R
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v
e
r

f
a
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l
t
Thailand satellite image during flood
Main strike-slip faults
Sirikit oilfield
Cross section Phitsanulok basin
In this lacustrine basin, the seismic facies mapping of the source rock
depositional sequence contributes to the exploration of the basin.
Courtesy Shell
Phitsanoluk basin, source rock facies
Lacustrine, source rock Lacustrine, source rock- -prone facies prone facies
(high continuity). Note poor display, (high continuity). Note poor display,
no amplitude variation information no amplitude variation information
Courtesy Shell
Seismic sections Sirikit field