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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1995; v. 89; p. 201-222;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1995.089.01.10
© 1995 Geological Society of London

The application of samarium-neodymium (Sm-Nd) Provenance Ages to correlation of biostratigraphically barren strata: a case study of the Statfjord Formation in the Gullfaks Oilfield, Norwegian North Sea

A. Dalland1, E. W. Mearns2 & J. J. McBride2

1 Statoil, 5020 Bergen, N-5001 Bergen, Norway
2 Isotopic Analytical Services Ltd, Campus 3, Aberdeen Science and Technology Park, Balgownie Drive, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB22 8GW, UK

Samarium-neodymium (Sm-Nd) isotope analyses indicate that the Statjord Formation in the Gullfaks Oilfield was derived from two compositionally distinct clastic sediment source terrains. One provenance area produced sediment with ‘low’ Provenance Ages (< 1800 Ma), which are similar to those of numerous other North Sea formations. The sedimentary rocks of this group were deposited by palaeocurrents which flowed towards the NNE and it is likely that they were derived from Triassic, and possibly Devonian, strata to the southwest of the Gullfaks area (e.g. East Shetland Platform). The other provenance area produced sediment with anomalous ‘high’ Provenance Ages (> 1800 Ma). These sediments were transported predominantly towards the south and are compositionally less mature and have poorer reservoir properties than those with ‘low’ Provenance Ages. The source terrain for this provenance group is considered to lie to the north of the Gullfaks Oil Field area, where exposed Lewisian gneisses probably formed a major clastic sediment source terrain. Switching between these contrasting provenance areas gave rise to the interdigitating, low-to-high Provenance Age profile which characterizes the Statfjord Formation. The Provenance Age profiles are used in combination with conventional well logs and sedimentological core descriptions to construct a detailed reservoir zonation. The method has allowed confident correlation of channel sandstones with overbank mudstone deposits. The resulting correlation scheme has revealed the presence of intraformational erosional surfaces and normal faults that were previously undetected.





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 Geological Society, London, MemoirsHome page
G. Maxwell, R. E. Stanley, and D. C. White
The Strathspey Field, Block 3/4a, UK North Sea
Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 2003; 20: 355 - 368.
[Abstract] [PDF]