Seismic characterization of lower cretaceous clastic wedges in the Tromsø Basin

Abstract

In this study, seismic reflection, well logs and core data has been used to characterize Lower Cretaceous marine to deep marine syn-rift clastic wedges in the southwestern Barents Sea. The study area is situated on a faulted terrace towards the Tromsø Basin away from the Finnmark Platform. The terrace is confined an intersection between three major fault zones which confines the structure. The structure is heavily segmented, generating sub-terraces and along strike depocenters towards the Tromsø Basin. Three main fault families are controlling the paleodrainage, in which two are controlling the sediment dispersal into the structure and one is controlling the distribution of sediments. Seismic characterization reveals three seismic facies, from chaotic low amplitude to continuous high amplitude reflections. Characterization from the seismic reveals several depositional environments, in which one of the seismic facies penetrated and controlled by well data. Three main lithofacies have been distinguished in core, and consists of heterolithic mudstones, debris flows and high density turbidites.