Paleozoic structural frameworkin the northern Dutch offshore• Recent 2D and 3D seismic data allow for a more
detailed interpretation of Paleozoic strata.
• This has led to a new structural framework which is used to assess the hydrocarbon potential at Paleozoic levels.
A 5
A 8A 7
A 9
A 1 2
A 1 1
A 1 0 B 1 0
B 1 4
B 1 3
A 1 5
A 1 4
A 1 3
B 1 8
B 1 7B 1 6
A 1 8A 1 7A 1 6
F 3
F 2F 1
E 3E 2
E 1
F 6
F 5F 4
E 6
E 5
E 4
D 6
F 9F 8
F 7
E 9
E 8E 7
D 9 G 7
F 1 1
F 1 0E 1 2
E 1 5F10-03
E12-04
F04-02-A
A15-01
B17-04
F07-02
A14-01
E12-02
A16-01
E02-01
F04-03
E12-03
A11-01
E06-01
F10-02
E09-01
A17-01
E02-02
5°E
5°E
4°E
4°E
3°E
3°E
55°N55°N
0 10 20 30 40 505
Kilometers
SS tt ee pp GG rr aa bb ee nn CC ee nntt rr aa ll GG
r raab b
e en n
EE ll bb oo ww SS pp ii tt HH ii gg hh
Coordinate System: ED 1950 UTM Zone 31N
Unite
d Ki
ngdo
mTh
e Ne
ther
land
s
Germany
The Netherlands
DEF 3D SurveyPublic 3D Survey2D Seismic Survey
13-5-2015 13:09:45
LegendFault activity
Jurassic - PalaeogenePermian - JurassicDevonian - CarboniferousWell into pre-PermianNon-NL WellDEFAB areaInternational Border
Saalian unconformity-1500-2500-3500 ms TWT-4500-5500
5°E
5°E
4°E
4°E
3°E
3°E
2°E
2°E
56°N 56°N
55°N 55°N
0 20 40 60 80 100
Kilometers
Map datum/projection: ED 1950 UTM Zone 31N
8-5-2015 9:59:51
LegendCarboniferous HighCarboniferous LowLower Carboniferous presentDEFAB areaInternational Border
A B
D E F
31
3837
4443
3029
E l b o w S p i t
E l b o w S p i tH i g hH i g h
D o g g e rD o g g e rH i g hH i g h
A u k - F l o r aA u k - F l o r aR i d g e
R i d g eNorway
Denmark
Germany
The Netherlands
United KingdomM i d - N o r t h S e a
M i d - N o r t h S e a
C a r b o n i f e r o u s B a s i n
C a r b o n i f e r o u s B a s i n
39
Devonian – Carboniferous
• Two clear fault trends; N120E and N040E• Extension less intensive above basement highs (e.g.,
Elbow Spit High). • North and South of the high: significant basins.• The two trends seem to have been activated during
multiple phases, prior to the Permian. The N120E-trend-ing faults were predominantly active during the Devoni-an and Dinantian, the N040E-trending afterwards.
• Most of these faults show no offset in post-Carboniferous strata.
• Again, Paleozoic basement highs (e.g., Elbow Spit High) are less strongly affected by extension.
• Deformation ‘avoids’ the Elbow Spit High. This results in the ‘stepping’ of the Step Graben.
• Stepping is accomodated along pre-existing (Devonian-Carboniferous) faults, now reactivated as oblique slip (transfer) faults.
• Predominantly dextral strike-slip faulting along N060-N080 trending faults.
• Timing: Jurassic-Cretaceous. Minor activity during the Upper Cretaceous, and possibly the Paleogene.
• Clearly expressed only below Zechstein salt, or where salt is absent.
• Locally, Carboniferous faults were reactivated, result-ing in the formation of pop-up structures/pull-apart basins.
(Permian) Triassic – Jurassic Jurassic – Palaeogene
N of high: extension in wide zone
E of high: extension in narrower zone
Basin configuration of the Mid North Sea High area during the Dinantian (Early Carboniferous), with selected Paleozoic
structural elements (UK interpretation after Milton-Worssell et al., 2010). During the Dinantian sediment influx was
from the north, and the Mid-North Sea Carboniferous Basin was the main sediment sink. The transition to deeper
water environments occurred south of the Elbow Spit High. Deposition occurred both on the highs and in the lows,
and Lower Carboniferous deposits have since been preserved in a significant part of the Dutch northern offshore.
Structural map of the Dutch northern offshore. Shown are faults that affect pre-Permian strata, on top of a surface
that shows the two way travel time to the Saalian unconformity (~Base Permian). Where the Permian is absent the
base of the oldest post-Carboniferous deposits is shown.
Presentation of the project in the Exploration - plays, Prospects and Prospects Evaluation session, We 03-06 / 12:20 / N103.
