Fractured basement play development on the UK and Norwegian rifted margins

Trice, Robert; Hiorth, Cecile; Holdsworth, Robert

Abstract

Fractured crystalline basement reservoirs (basement) on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) and the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) have been underexplored. Over the last 12 years, Hurricane Energy has deliberately set out to explore basement potential by exploring and appraising the Rona Ridge, West of Shetland; and the Rona Ridge Lancaster Field is now being progressed towards being the first UK basement field development. The Norwegian basement play is also recognized as a potentially material resource through serendipitous oil discoveries, with the 16/1-15 well, drilled in 2011, being the first successful full-scale basement test on the NCS. Building on this success, the 2018 Rolvsnes appraisal well (16/1-28 S) has demonstrated the significant basement potential of the extensive Utsira High and confirmed the materiality of a Norwegian basement play. The Rona Ridge and Utsira basement discoveries are used as a comparison with two other, yet to be evaluated, prospective basement plays on the NCS, with the objective of establishing technical subject areas where future UKCS and NCS collaboration would aid in accelerating understanding of the UKCS–NCS basement play.

Citation

Trice, R., Hiorth, C., & Holdsworth, R. (2022). Fractured basement play development on the UK and Norwegian rifted margins. Geological Society Special Publications, 495, 73-97. https://doi.org/10.1144/sp495-2018-174

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 1, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Sep 24, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 10, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 22, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 8, 2022
• Journal: Geological Society Special Publications
• Print ISSN: 0305-8719
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-4927
• Publisher: The Geological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 495
• Article Number: SP495-2018-174
• Pages: 73-97
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/sp495-2018-174
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1282707