Fault Activity Control on Upper Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Wedges in the Snorre Fault Block and its Surrounding Area

Abstract

In this study, the question” how fault activity controlled the infill and geometry of the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous wedges in the Snorre Fault Block and surrounding area” is addressed. To achieve the goal, three-dimensional seismic data, core description and well log data are used. The study improves the understanding of the tectonostratigraphy evolution of the wedges in the Snorre Area. The result of the study shows that two wedges are present in the hanging wall of main faults in the study area. The main wedge is located in a large area along the hanging wall of Inner Snorre Fault. Well correlation shows that the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy of the wedges includes the Heather Formation, the Draupne Formation and the Cromer Knoll Group. Seismic facies analysis, time-thickness and time-structural maps reveals that development of the initially segmented major faults of the study area greatly influenced the internal character, the thickness and the geometry of the wedges along their strike and in perpendicular direction to the strike. In addition, fault activity led to rotation and tilting of hanging wall and footwall areas. The study shows that the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous succession of the wedges have possible potential for the hydrocarbon exploration purposes.