1887
Volume 35, Issue 5
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2117
PDF

Abstract

[

Map of characterised internal structural facies of the Zechstein Supergroup in the South Permian Basin, Southern North Sea, United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

, Abstract

The internal structure and architecture of evaporite sequences is often overlooked, with attention frequently concentrating on the external geometries that salt bodies form. The availability of extensive 3D seismic data affords the opportunity to interpret the internal structures within these evaporite sequences and comprehensively characterise the different structural facies over large areas. This paper concentrates on the Zechstein Supergroup evaporite deposits within the Southern North Sea of the United Kingdom's Continental Shelf. This analysis of the internal structural complexity and stratigraphic heterogeneity utilises 26,000 km2 of 3D seismic data together with over 96 wells from the Southern North Sea. Characterisation of the different structural facies present was undertaken alongside mapping their spatial distribution to understand the relationship they have with one another and the structural evolution that may have been taken. This work has (1) characterised and mapped six different internal structural facies present within the Zechstein with increasing levels of deformation; (2) shown the internal lithological heterogeneity is indicative of variations in the vertical strength profile of layered evaporite sequences; (3) discontinuous high‐amplitude reflections within the Zechstein are as a result of the geometries being too steeply dipping for the seismic data to image; and (4) the ability to possibly predict the internal heterogeneity of areas of poorly imaged salt, such as within large diapiric salt structures, from surrounding structural facies. These findings suggest that there is significant internal complexity even within areas of the basin with minor mobilisation to the external salt geometry.

]
Basin Research © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists © 2023 The Authors. Basin Research published by International Association of Sedimentologists and European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12768
2023-09-10
2025-12-08

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1111/bre.12768
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/bre/35/5/bre12768.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12768&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Adamuszek, M., Tămaş, D. M., Barabasch, J., & Urai, J. L. (2021). Rheological stratification in impure rock salt during long‐term creep: Morphology, microstructure, and numerical models of multilayer folds in the Ocnele Mari salt mine, Romania. Solid Earth, 12, 2041–2065.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Agile‐Scientific . (2012). Polarity cartoon [Online]. Agile‐Geoscience. https://subsurfwiki.org/wiki/Polarity_cartoon (Accessed 16th February 2023).
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Al‐Siyabi, H. A. (2005). Exploration history of the Ara intrasalt carbonate stringers in the South Oman Salt Basin. GeoArabia, 10, 39–72.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Amthor, J. E., Ramseyer, K., Faulkner, T., & Lucas, P. (2005). Stratigraphy and sedimentology of a chert reservoir at the Precambrian‐Cambrian boundary: The Al Shomou Silicilyte, South Oman Salt Basin. GeoArabia, 10, 89–122.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Archer, S. G., Alsop, G. I., Hartley, A. J., Grant, N. T., & Hodgkinson, R. (2012). Salt tectonics, sediments and prospectivity: An introduction. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 363, 1–6.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Bailey, J. B., Arbin, P., Daffinoti, O., Gibson, P., & Ritchie, J. S. (1993). Permo‐carboniferous plays of the silver pit basin (Vol. 4, pp. 707–715). Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series). The Geological Society of London.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Baniak, G. M., Sayer, Z., Patterson, H., Gooder, R., Laing, N., & Love, A. (2020). The Mungo field, blocks 22/20a and 23/16a, UK North Sea. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 52, 537–549.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Blaich, O. A., Tsikalas, F., & Faleide, J. I. (2008). Northeastern Brazilian margin: Regional tectonic evolution based on integrated analysis of seismic reflection and potential field data and modelling. Tectonophysics, 458, 51–67.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Bordenave, M. L., & Hegre, J. A. (2010). Current distribution of oil and gas fields in the Zagros Fold Belt of Iran and contiguous offshore as the result of the petroleum systems. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 330, 291–353.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Bourke, L., Delfiner, P., Felt, T., Grace, M., Luthi, S., Serra, O. & Standen, E. (1989). Using formation microscanner images: The (Schlumberger) technical review. Schlumberger.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Burliga, S. (1996). Kinematics within the Kłodawa salt diapir, Central Poland. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 100, 11–21.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Butler, R. W. H., Maniscalco, R., Sturiale, G., & Grasso, M. (2015). Stratigraphic variations control deformation patterns in evaporite basins: Messinian examples, onshore and offshore Sicily (Italy). Journal of the Geological Society, 172, 113–124.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Cartwright, J., Jackson, M., Dooley, T., & Higgins, S. (2012). Strain partitioning in gravity‐driven shortening of a thick, multilayered evaporite sequence. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 363, 449–470.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Cartwright, J., Stewart, S., & Clark, J. (2001). Salt dissolution and salt‐related deformation of the forth Approaches Basin, UK North sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 18, 757–778.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Clark, J. A., Stewart, S. A., & Cartwright, J. A. (1998). Evolution of the NW margin of the north Permian Basin, UK North sea. Journal of the Geological Society, 155, 663–676.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Dale, M. S., Marín‐Moreno, H., Falcon‐Suarez, I. H., Grattoni, C., Bull, J. M., & Mcneill, L. C. (2021). The Messinian salinity crisis as a trigger for high pore pressure development in the Western Mediterranean. Basin Research, 33, 2202–2228.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Davison, I., Alsop, I., & Blundell, D. (1996). Salt tectonics: Some aspects of deformation mechanics. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 100, 1–10.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Duffy, O., Hudec, M., Peel, F., Apps, G., Bump, A., Moscardelli, L., Dooley, T., Bhattacharya, S., Wisian, K. & Shuster, M. (2023). The role of salt tectonics in the energy transition: An overview and future challenges. Tektonika, 1, 18–48.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Edgell, H. S. (1996). Salt tectonism in the Persian Gulf Basin. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 100, 129–151.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Erratt, D., Thomas, G. M., & Wall, G. R. T. (1999). The evolution of the Central North Sea rift. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series, 5, 63–82.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Evans, N., Macleod, J. A., Macmillan, N., Rorison, P., & Salvador, P. (2004). The Banff field, blocks 22/27a, 29/2a, UK North sea. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 20, 497–507.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Evans, S. L., & Jackson, C. A. L. (2021). Intra‐salt structure and strain partitioning in layered evaporites: Implications for drilling through Messinian salt in the eastern Mediterranean. Petroleum Geoscience, 27. https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2020‐072
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Fraser, S., Robinson, A., Johnson, H., Underhill, J. R., & Kadolsky, D. (2002). Upper Jurassic. In D.Evans, C.Graham, & P.Bathurst (Eds.), The Millenium atlas: Petroleum geology of the central and northern North Sea. The Geological Society of London.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Geluk, M. (2007). Permian. In T. E.Wong, D. A.Batjes, D. A.Batjes, & J.de Jager (Eds.), Geology of The Netherlands. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Giles, K. A., & Rowan, M. G. (2012). Concepts in halokinetic‐sequence deformation and stratigraphy. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 363, 7–31.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Glennie, K. W. (1998). Petroleum geology of the North Sea: Basic concepts and recent advances. Blackwell Science.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Glennie, K. W., & Underhill, J. R. (1998). Origin, development and evolution of structural styles. In Petroleum geology of the North Sea. John Wiley and Sons.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Glennie, K. W., Higham, J., & Stemmerik, L. (2003). Chaper 8 Permian. In D.Evans, C.Graham, A.Armour, & P.Bathurst (Eds.), The Millenium atlas. The Geological Society of London.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Grant, R. J., Underhill, J. R., Hernández‐Casado, J., Barker, S. M., & Jamieson, R. J. (2019). Upper Permian Zechstein Supergroup carbonate‐evaporite platform palaeomorphology in the UK southern North Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 100, 484–518.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Gudmundsson, A. (2012). Rock fractures in geological processes. Cambridge Univserity Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Hanafi, B. R., Withjack, M. O., Durcanin, M. A., & Schlische, R. W. (2022). The development of the eastern Orpheus rift basin, offshore eastern Canada: A case study of the interplay between rift‐related faulting and salt deposition and flow. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 139, 105629.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Hodgson, N. A., Farnsworth, J., & Fraser, A. J. (1992). Salt‐related tectonics, sedimentation and hydrocarbon plays in the central graben, North Sea, UKCS. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 67, 31–63.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Hudec, M. R., & Jackson, M. P. A. (2007). Terra infirma: Understanding salt tectonics. Earth‐Science Reviews, 82, 1–28.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Jackson, C. A. L., Jackson, M. P. A., Hudec, M. R., & Rodriguez, C. (2014). Internal structure, kinematics, and growth of a salt wall: Insights from 3‐D seismic data. Geology, 42, 307–310.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Jackson, C. A. L., Jackson, M. P. A., Hudec, M. R., & Rodriguez, C. R. (2015). Enigmatic structures within salt walls of the Santos Basin—Part 1: Geometry and kinematics from 3D seismic reflection and well data. Journal of Structural Geology, 75, 135–162.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Jackson, C. A. L., & Stewart, S. A. (2017). Composition, tectonics, and hydrocarbon significance of Zechstein Supergroup salt on the United Kingdom and Norwegian continental shelves: A review. In J. I.Soto, J.Flinch, & G.Tari (Eds.), Permo‐Triassic salt provinces of Europe, North Africa and the Atlantic margins. Elsevier.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Jackson, M. P. A., & Hudec, M. R. (2017). Salt tectonics. Cambridge University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Jenyon, M. K. (1989). Plastic flow and contraflow in superposed Zechstein salt sequences. Journal of Petroleum Geology, 12, 477–486.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Johnson, H., Warrington, G., & Stoker, S. J. (1993). Lithostratigraphic Nomenclature of the UK North Sea: Permian and Triassic of the Southern North Sea v. 6. British Geological Survey.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Jones, I. F., & Davison, I. (2014). Seismic imaging in and around salt bodies. Interpretation, 2, SL1‐SL20.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Lippolt, H. J., Hautmann, S., & Pilot, J. (1993). 40 Ar/39 Ar‐dating of Zechstein potash salts: New constraints on the numerical age of the latest Permian and the P‐Tr boundary. EUG (European Union of Geosciences) Vii, Terra Abstract. Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Luangthip, A., Wilalak, N., Thongprapha, T., & Fuenkajorn, K. (2017). Effects of carnallite content on mechanical properties of Maha Sarakham rock salt. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 10, 149.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Maynard, J. R., & Gibson, J. P. (2001). Potential for subtle traps in the Permian Rotliegend of the UK southern North Sea. Petroleum Geoscience, 7, 301–314.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Menning, M. (1995). A numerical time scale for the Permian and Triassic periods: An integrated time analysis. In The Permian of Northern Pangea. Springer.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Pancost, R. D., Crawford, N., & Maxwell, J. R. (2002). Molecular evidence for basin‐scale photic zone euxinia in the Permian Zechstein Sea. Chemical Geology, 188, 217–227.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Patruno, S., Kombrink, H., & Archer, S. G. (2022). Cross‐border stratigraphy of the northern, central and southern North Sea: A comparative tectono‐stratigraphic megasequence synthesis. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 494, 13–83.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Peryt, T., Geluk, M., Mathiesen, M., Paul, J., & Smith, K. (2010). Chapter 8 Zechstein. In H.Doornenbal & A.Stevenson (Eds.), Petroleum geological atlas of the south Permian Basin area. European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE).
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Pharaoh, T., Dusar, M., Geluk, M., Kockel, F., Krawczyk, C., Krzywiec, P., Scheck‐Wenderoth, M., Thybo, H., Vejbaek, O. & Van Wees, J. (2010). Chapter 3: Tectonic evolution. In J. C.Doornenbal & A. G.Stevenson (Eds.), Petroleum geological atlas of the southern Permian Basin (pp. 25–58). European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE).
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Pichat, A. (2022). Stratigraphy, paleogeography and depositional Setting of the K–Mg salts in the Zechstein Group of Netherlands—Implications for the development of salt caverns. Minerals, 12, 486.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Rouillard, P., Bagley, G., Moseley, D., Myers, K., & Harding, A. (2020). UKCS exploration: 50 years and counting. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 52, 32–42.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Rowan, M. G., Urai, J. L., Fiduk, J. C., & Kukla, P. A. (2019). Deformation of intrasalt competent layers in different modes of salt tectonics. Solid Earth, 10, 987–1013.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Sarg, J. F. (2001). The sequence stratigraphy, sedimentology, and economic importance of evaporite–carbonate transitions: A review. Sedimentary Geology, 140, 9–34.
     [Google Scholar]
  53. Schulmann, K., Catalán, J. R. M., Lardeaux, J. M., Janoušek, V., & Oggiano, G. (2014). The Variscan orogeny: Extent, timescale and the formation of the European crust. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 405, 1–6.
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Słowakiewicz, M., Blumenberg, M., Więcław, D., Röhling, H.‐G., Scheeder, G., Hindenberg, K., Leśniak, A., Idiz, E. F., Tucker, M. E., Pancost, R. D., Kotarba, M. J., & Gerling, J. P. (2018). Zechstein Main Dolomite oil characteristics in the southern Permian Basin: I. Polish and German sectors. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 93, 356–375.
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Smith, D. B. (1979). Rapid marine transgressions and regressions of the Upper Permian Zechstein Sea. Journal of the Geological Society, 136, 155–156.
     [Google Scholar]
  56. Stewart, S. A., & Coward, M. P. (1995). Synthesis of salt tectonics in the southern North Sea, UK. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 12, 457–475.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Stewart, S. A., & Harvey, M. J. (1998). Influence of salt on the structural evolution of the Channel Basin. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 133, 241–266.
     [Google Scholar]
  58. Stewart, S. A., Harvey, M. J., Otto, S. C., & Weston, P. J. (1996). Influence of salt on fault geometry: Examples from the UK salt basins. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 100, 172–202.
     [Google Scholar]
  59. Strozyk, F., Reuning, L., Schweck‐Wenderoth, M., & Tanner, D. C. (2017). Chapter 10 – the tectonic history of the Zechstein Basin in The Netherlands and Germany. In J.Soto, J. F.Flinch, & G.Tari (Eds.), Permo‐Triassic salt provinces of Europe, North Africa and the Atlantic Margins. Elsevier.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. Strozyk, F., Urai, J. L., Van Gent, H., de Keijzer, M., & Kukla, P. A. (2014). Regional variations in the structure of the Permian Zechstein 3 intrasalt stringer in the northern Netherlands: 3D seismic interpretation and implications for salt tectonic evolution. Interpretation, 2, SM101–SM117.
     [Google Scholar]
  61. Strozyk, F., Van Gent, H., Urai, J. L., & Kukla, P. A. (2012). 3D seismic study of complex intra‐salt deformation: An example from the upper Permian Zechstein 3 stringer, western Dutch offshore. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 363, 489–501.
     [Google Scholar]
  62. Thomas, D. W., & Coward, M. P. (1996). Mesozoic regional tectonics and South Viking graben formation: Evidence for localized thin‐skinned detachments during rift development and inversion. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 13, 149–177.
     [Google Scholar]
  63. Van Dalfsen, W., Doornenbal, J. C., Dortland, S., & Gunnink, J. L. (2016). A comprehensive seismic velocity model for The Netherlands based on lithostratigraphic layers. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences – Geologie en Mijnbouw, 85, 277–292.
     [Google Scholar]
  64. Van Gent, H., Urai, J. L., & de Keijzer, M. (2011). The internal geometry of salt structures – A first look using 3D seismic data from the Zechstein of The Netherlands. Journal of Structural Geology, 33, 292–311.
     [Google Scholar]
  65. Wen, Z., Jiang, S., Song, C., Wang, Z., & He, Z. (2019). Basin evolution, configuration styles, and hydrocarbon accumulation of the South Atlantic conjugate margins. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, 37, 992–1008.
     [Google Scholar]
  66. Wong, T. E., DE Lugt, I. R., Kuhlmann, G., & Overeem, I. (2007). Tertiary. In T. E.Wong, D. A. J.Batjes, & J.de Jager (Eds.), Geology of The Netherlands. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
     [Google Scholar]
  67. Zanella, E., & Coward, M. P. (2003). Chapter 4 structural framework. In The Millennium Atlas: Petroleum geology of the central and northern North Sea. The Geological Society of London.
     [Google Scholar]
  68. Ziegler, P. A. (1990). Geological Atlas of Central and Western Europe. Shell International Petroleum Maatschappij B.V.
     [Google Scholar]
  69. Ziegler, P. A. (1992). North Sea rift system. Tectonophysics, 208, 55–75.
     [Google Scholar]
  70. Zulauf, J., & Zulauf, G. (2005). Coeval folding and boudinage in four dimensions. Journal of Structural Geology, 27, 1061–1068.
     [Google Scholar]
  71. Zulauf, J., Zulauf, G., Hammer, J., & Zanella, F. (2011). Tablet boudinage of an anhydrite layer in rock‐salt matrix: Results from thermomechanical experiments. Journal of Structural Geology, 33, 1801–1815.
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12768
Loading
Characterising the internal structural complexity of the Southern North Sea Zechstein Supergroup Evaporites
Basin Research 35, 1651 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12768
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12768
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.12768
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): 3D seismic; energy transition; evaporites; hydrogen storage; salt cavern; structural geology; Zechstein

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error