1887
Volume 27, Issue 4
  • ISSN: 1354-0793
  • E-ISSN:

Abstract

The Sea of Hebrides Basin and Minch Basin are late Paleozoic–Mesozoic rift basins located to the NW of the Scottish mainland. The basins were the target of small-scale petroleum exploration from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, with a total of three wells drilled within the two basins between 1989 and 1991. Although no commercially viable petroleum discoveries were made, numerous petroleum shows were identified within both basins, including a gas show within the Upper Glen 1 well in Lower Jurassic limestones. Organic-rich shales have been identified throughout the Jurassic succession within the Sea of Hebrides Basin, with one Middle Jurassic (Bajocian–Bathonian) shale exhibiting a total organic carbon content of up to 15 wt%. The focus of this study is to review the historical petroleum exploration within these basins, and to evaluate whether the conclusions drawn in the early 1990s of a lack of prospectivity remains the case. This was undertaken by analysis of seismic reflection data, gravity and aeromagnetic data, and sedimentological data from both onshore and offshore wells, boreholes and previously published studies. The key findings from our study suggest that there is a low probability of commercially sized petroleum accumulations within either the Sea of Hebrides Basin or the Minch Basin. Ineffective source rocks, likely to be due to low maturities (due to lack of burial) and the fact that the encountered Jurassic and Permian–Triassic reservoirs are of poor quality (low porosity and permeability), has led to our interpretation of future exploration being high risk, with any potential accumulations being small in size. While petroleum accumulations are unlikely within the basin, applying the knowledge obtained from this study could provide additional datasets and insight into petroleum exploration within other NE Atlantic margin basins, such as the Rockall Trough and the Faroe–Shetland Basin.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1144/petgeo2021-003
2021-07-28
2024-03-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Ainsworth, N.R. and Boomer, I
    . 2001. Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic stratigraphy from exploration well L134/5-1, offshore Inner Hebrides, west Scotland. Journal of Micropalaeontology, 20, 155–168, https://doi.org/10.1144/jm.20.2.155
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Ambler, J.
    1989. The Organic Geochemistry of the Minch Basin Jurassic Shales. PhD thesis, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Amiri-Garroussi, K.
    1978. Sedimentological and Palaeoenvironmental Studies in the Broadford Beds (Hettangian–Sinemurian) of North-West Scotland. DPhil thesis, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Anderson, F.W. and Dunham, K.C.
    1966. The Geology of Northern Skye. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Sheet 80 and parts of sheets 81, 90 and 91 (Scotland).
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Anderson, T.B., Parnell, J. and Ruffell, A.H
    . 1995. Influence of basement on the geometry of Permo-Triassic basins in the northwest British Isles. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 91, 103–122, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1995.091.01.06
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Andeskie, A.S., Benison, K.C., Eichenlaub, L.A. and Raine, R
    . 2018. Acid–saline–lake systems of the Triassic Mercia Mudstone Group, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 88, 385–398, https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2018.14
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Andrews, J.E
    . 1985. The sedimentary facies of a late Bathonian regressive episode: the Kilmaluag and Skudiburgh Formations of the Great Estuarine Group, Inner Hebrides, Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 142, 1119–1137, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.142.6.1119
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Andrews, J.E. and Walton, W
    . 1990. Depositional environments within Middle Jurassic oyster-dominated lagoons: an integrated litho-, bio-and palynofacies study of the Duntulm Formation (Great Estuarine Group, Inner Hebrides). Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 81, 1–22, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263593300005095
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Archer, S.G., Steel, R.J., Mellere, D., Blackwood, S. and Cullen, B
    . 2019. Response of Middle Jurassic shallow-marine environments to syn-depositional block tilting: Isles of Skye and Raasay, NW Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 55, 35–68, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg2018-014
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Austin, J.A., Cannon, S.J.C. and Ellis, D
    . 2014. Hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation West of Shetlands. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 397, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP397.13
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Badleys Geoscience
    2020. OCTek Project. Badleys Geoscience Ltd, Spilsby, UK, http://www.badleys.co.uk/octek.php [last accessed 18 August 2019].
  12. Barron, A.J.M., Lott, G.K. and Riding, J.B.
    2012. Stratigraphical Framework for the Middle Jurassic Strata of Great Britain and the Adjoining Continental Shelf. British Geological Survey Research Report, RR/11/06. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Bell, B.R. and Harris, J.W.
    1986. An Excursion Guide to the Geology of the Isle of Skye. Geological Society of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Bell, B.R. and Williamson, I.T.
    2002. Tertiary igneous activity. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. Geological Society, London, 371–407, https://doi.org/10.1144/GOS4P.14
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Benton, M.J., Cook, E. and Turner, P.
    2002. The Triassic red beds of the western highlands and islands and arran. In: Benton, M., Cook, E. and Turner, P. (eds) Permian and Triassic Red Beds and the Penarth Group of Great Britain. Geological Conservation Review Series, 24. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, UK, 116–130.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. BGS
    BGS1980. IGS Boreholes of 1978. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 79/12. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK, http://pubs.bgs.ac.uk/publications.html?pubID=B01153
    [Google Scholar]
  17. BGS
    2020a. Geoindex Offshore. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK, https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex_offshore/home.html [last accessed 20 October 2020].
  18. 2020b. United Kingdom Onshore Geophysical Library (UKOGL). British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK, https://ukogl.org.uk/ [last accessed 17 December 2019].
  19. 2020c. Geology of Britain Viewer. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK, https://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html [last accessed 27 August 2020].
  20. Binns, P.E
    . 1974. The Geology of the Sea of Hebrides. PhD thesis, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Binns, P.E., McQuillin, R. and Kenolty, N.
    1974. The Geology of the Sea of Hebrides. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 73/14.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Bird, P.C.
    2014. Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the West Orkney Basin: implications for hydrocarbon exploration. Doctoral dissertation, Cardiff University.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Bishop, A.N. and Abbott, G.D
    . 1995. Vitrinite reflectance and molecular geochemistry of Jurassic sediments: the influence of heating by Tertiary dykes (northwest Scotland). Organic Geochemistry, 22, 165–177, https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(95)90015-2
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Blakey, R.
    2020. Paleogeography of Europe Maps. Deep Time Maps™, https://deeptimemaps.com/
  25. Bott, M.H.P. and Watts, A.B
    . 1970. Deep sedimentary basins proved in the Shetland–Hebridean continental shelf and margin. Nature, 225, 265–268, https://doi.org/10.1038/225265a0
    [Google Scholar]
  26. BP
    1989. 204/22-1 Composite Log. BP plc, London.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. 1990. L156/17-1 Well Evaluation Report. BP plc, London.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. 2020. BP Energy Outlook 2020 Edition. BP plc, London, https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/energy-outlook/bp-energy-outlook-2020.pdf [last accessed 16 September 2020].
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Bradshaw, M.J., Cope, J.C.W. et al.
    1992. Jurassic. Geological Society, London, Memoirs , 13, 107–129, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.MEM.1992.013.01.12
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Braley, S.M
    . 1990. The Sedimentology, Palaeoecology and Stratigraphy of Cretaceous Rocks in N.W. Scotland. PhD thesis., Polytechnic South West, Plymouth, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Broadley, L., Schofield, N., Jolley, D., Howell, J. and Underhill, J.R
    . 2020. UK Rockall prospectivity: re-awakening exploration in a frontier basin. Petroleum Geoscience, 26, 247–271, https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2019-098
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Bunce, J
    . 2018. The history of exploration and development of the Liverpool Bay fields and the East Irish Sea Basin. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 465, 95–118, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP465.6
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Butler, R.W.H. and Hutton, D.H.W
    . 1994. Basin structure and Tertiary magmatism on Skye, NW Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 151, 931–944, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.151.6.0931
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Butterworth, P., Holba, A., Hertig, A., Hughes, W. and Atkinson, C.
    1999. Jurassic non-marine source rocks and oils of the Porcupine Basin and other North Atlantic margin basins. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 5, 471–486, https://doi.org/10.1144/0050471
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Chesher, J.A., Smythe, D.K. and Bishop, P.
    1983. The Geology of the Minches, Inner Sound and Sound of Raasay. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 83/6.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Chevron
    1988. U.K. Onshore Northwest Scotland EXL-024 and EXL-095 – Evaluation of hydrocarbon potential for the Hebrides Basin. Chevron, Aberdeen, UK. Accessed through the United Kingdom Onshore Geophysical Library (UKOGL).
    [Google Scholar]
  37. 1991a. Composite Well Log L134/5-1. Chevron, Aberdeen, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. 1991b. Summary of the Results of Hebrides Well L134/5-1. Chevron, Aberdeen, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Cleal, C.J. and Thomas, B.A.
    1996. Scottish Basin. In: Cleal, C.J. and Thomas, B.A. (eds) British Upper Carboniferous Stratigraphy. Geological Conservation Review Series, 11. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, UK, 283–285.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Cooper, M.K.E
    . 1989. Biostratigraphic Analysis of the Upper Glen-1 Well, Onshore Skye. Report _0005. Accessed through IHS Markit.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Coward, M.P
    . 1995. Structural and tectonic setting of the Permo-Triassic basins of northwest Europe. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 91, 7–39, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1995.091.01.02
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Cox, B.M. and Sumbler, M.G.
    2002. British Middle Jurassic Stratigraphy. Geological Conservation Review Series, 26. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Dancer, P.N., Kenyon-Roberts, S.M., Downey, J.W., Baillie, J.M., Meadows, N.S. and Maguire, K.
    2005. The Corrib gas field, offshore west of Ireland. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 6, 1035–1046, https://doi.org/10.1144/0061035
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Duncan, W.I., Green, P.F. and Duddy, I.R
    . 1998. Source rock burial history and seal effectiveness: key facets to understanding hydrocarbon exploration potential in the East and Central Irish Sea Basins. AAPG Bulletin, 82, 1401–1415.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Ebdon, C.C.
    and Jacovides, J. 1990. Stratigraphy of the Well L156/17-1, North Minch Sub-basin, The Hebrides. Report L156/17-1/W22/23. Accessed through IHS Markit.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Eden, R.A., Deegan, C.E., Rhys, G.H., Wright, J.E. and Dobson, M.R.
    1973. Geological Investigations with a Manned Submersible in the Irish Sea and off Western Scotland 1971. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 73/2.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Elf-Enterprise
    1991. Geological Composite Log – 202/18-1. Document ID 215420790. Accessed on the National Data Repository.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Emeleus, C.H. and Bell, B.R.
    2005. British Regional Geology: The Palaeogene Volcanic Districts of Scotland, 4th edn. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. England, R.W.
    1988. The early Tertiary stress regime in NW Britain: evidence from the patterns of volcanic activity. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 39, 381–389, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1988.039.01.33
    [Google Scholar]
  50. England, R.W
    . 1992. The role of Palaeocene magmatism in the tectonic evolution of the Sea of the Hebrides Basin: implications for basin evolution on the NW Seaboard. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 163–174, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.15
    [Google Scholar]
  51. England, R.W., Butler, R.W.H. and Hutton, D.H.W.
    1993. The role of Paleocene magmatism in the Tertiary evolution of basins on the NW seaboard. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series , 4, 97–105, https://doi.org/10.1144/0040097
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Evans, D.
    2013. Jurassic. In: Hitchen, K., Johnson, H. and Gatliff, R.W. (eds) Geology of the Rockall Basin and Adjacent Areas. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK, 67–70.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Evans, D., Wilkinson, G.C. and Craig, D.L
    . 1979. The Tertiary sediments of the Canna Basin, Sea of the Hebrides. Scottish Journal of Geology, 15, 329–332, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg15040329
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Evans, D., Chesher, J.A., Deegan, C.E. and Fannin, N.G.T.
    1982. The Offshore Geology of Scotland in Relation to the IGS Shallow Drilling Programme, 1970–1978. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 81/12.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Frogtech Geoscience
    2016. SEEBASE® Study of the Rockall Trough, Phase 3 Report and GIS. Frogtech Pty Ltd, Canberra, https://www.geognostics.com/
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Fyfe, J.A., Long, D. and Evans, D.
    1993. United Kingdom Offshore Regional Report: The Geology of the Malin–Hebrides Sea Area. HMSO for the British Geological Survey, London, http://pubs.bgs.ac.uk/publications.html?pubID=B01845
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Fyfe, L.C., Schofield, N., Holford, S.P., Heafford, A. and Raine, R
    . 2020. Geology and petroleum prospectivity of the Larne and Portpatrick basins, North Channel, offshore SW Scotland and Northern Ireland. Petroleum Geoscience, 26, 272–302, https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2019-134
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Fyfe, L.C., Schofield, N., Holford, S.P., Jerram, D.A and Hartley, A
    . 2021. Emplacement of the Little Minch Sill Complex, Sea of Hebrides Basin, NW Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 178, https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2020-177
    [Google Scholar]
  59. GarciaX., Monteys, X., Evans, R.L. and Szpak, M.
    2014. Constraints on a shallow offshore gas environment determined by a multidisciplinary geophysical approach: The Malin Sea, NW Ireland. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 15, 867–885, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GC005108
    [Google Scholar]
  60. Gehlen, M., Farrimond, P. and Copestake, P.
    2019. IS16/04 – Source rocks development in offshore Ireland in the context of the new standard lithostratigraphic framework. Presented at theAtlantic Ireland 2019 Conference, 29–30 October 2019, Dublin Ireland, https://www.pip.ie/download.php?fragment_id=9353&group_id=1291&page_id=412&requested_page_id=412 [last accessed 31 December 2020].
    [Google Scholar]
  61. Geological Survey of Ireland
    2014. Bedrock Geology of Ireland, 1:1000000 Scale. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, https://www.gsi.ie/documents/GSI_Bedrock_1million_EN_compressed.pdf [last accessed 19 September 2018].
  62. Gibb, F.G. and Gibson, S.A
    . 1989. The Little Minch Sill Complex. Scottish Journal of Geology, 25, 367–370, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg25030367
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Glennie, K.W.
    2002. Permian and Triassic. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. Geological Society, London, 45–80, https://doi.org/10.1144/GOS4P.10
    [Google Scholar]
  64. GOV.UK
    2019. News story: UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, London, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-becomes-first-major-economy-to-pass-net-zero-emissions-law [last accessed 31 December 2020].
  65. Green, P.F.
    1996. West of Scotland: Thermal and Tectonic Development and Hydrocarbon Generation History Assessed using Apatite Fission Track Analysis And Vitrinite Reflectance. Geotrack Report 523. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
    [Google Scholar]
  66. Harker, S.D.
    2002. Cretaceous. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. Geological Society, London, 351–360, https://doi.org/10.1144/GOS4P.12
    [Google Scholar]
  67. Harris
    , J.P.1984. Environments of Deposition of Middle Jurassic Sandstones in the Great Estuarine Group, NW Scotland. PhD thesis, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  68. Harris, J.P
    . 1989. The sedimentology of a Middle Jurassic lagoonal delta system: Elgol Formation (Great Estuarine Group), NW Scotland. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 41, 147–166, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1989.041.01.12
    [Google Scholar]
  69. . 1992. Mid-Jurassic lagoonal delta systems in the Hebridean basins: thickness and facies distribution patterns of potential reservoir sandbodies. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 111–144, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.11
    [Google Scholar]
  70. Harris, J.P. and Hudson, J.D
    . 1980. Lithostratigraphy of the Great Estuarine Group (Middle Jurassic), Inner Hebrides. Scottish Journal of Geology, 16, 231–250, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg16020231
    [Google Scholar]
  71. Hesselbo, S.P. and Coe, A.L.
    2000. Jurassic sequences of the Hebrides Basin, Isle of Skye, Scotland. In: Graham, J.R. and Ryan, A. (eds) Field Trip Guidebook. International Sedimentologists Association Meeting, Dublin. International Association of Sedimentologists, 41–58.
    [Google Scholar]
  72. Hesselbo, S.P. and Jenkyns, H.C.
    1998. British lower Jurassic sequence stratigraphy. SEPM Special Publications , 60, 561–581.
    [Google Scholar]
  73. Hesselbo, S.P., Oates, M.J. and Jenkyns, H.C
    . 1998. The lower Lias group of the Hebrides Basin. Scottish Journal of Geology, 34, 23–60, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg34010023
    [Google Scholar]
  74. Hitchen, K., Stoker, M.S., Evans, D. and Beddoe-Stephens, B
    . 1995. Permo-Triassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks in basins to the north and west of Scotland. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 91, 87–102, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1995.091.01.05
    [Google Scholar]
  75. Holford, S.P., Green, P.F., Hillis, R.R., Underhill, J.R., Stoker, M.S. and Duddy, I.R
    . 2010. Multiple post-Caledonian exhumation episodes across NW Scotland revealed by apatite fission-track analysis. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 167, 675–694, https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-76492009-167
    [Google Scholar]
  76. Holmes, A.J.
    , Griffith, C.E. and Scotchman, I.C. 1999. The Jurassic petroleum system of the West of Britain Atlantic margin – an integration of tectonics, geochemistry and basin modelling. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 5, 1351–1365, https://doi.org/10.1144/0051351
    [Google Scholar]
  77. Howarth, M.K
    . 1956. The Scalpa Sandstone of the Isle of Raasay, Inner Hebrides. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, 30, 353–370, https://doi.org/10.1144/pygs.30.4.353
    [Google Scholar]
  78. Hudson, J.D
    . 1962. The stratigraphy of the Great Estuarine Series (Middle Jurassic of the Inner Hebrides). Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society, 19, 139–165, https://doi.org/10.1144/transed.19.2.139
    [Google Scholar]
  79. . 1983. Mesozoic sedimentation and sedimentary rocks in the Inner Hebrides. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences, 83, 47–63.
    [Google Scholar]
  80. Hudson, J.D. and Trewin, N.H.
    2002. Jurassic. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. Geological Society, London, 323–350, https://doi.org/10.1144/GOS4P.11
    [Google Scholar]
  81. IGS
    1982a. IGS Boreholes 1980. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 81/11.
    [Google Scholar]
  82. 1982b. IGS Boreholes 1981. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 82/11.
    [Google Scholar]
  83. Imber, J., Strachan, R.A., Holdsworth, R.E. and Butler, C.A.
    2002. The initiation and early tectonic significance of the Outer Hebrides Fault Zone, Scotland. Geological Magazine , 139, 609–619, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756802006969
    [Google Scholar]
  84. Isaksen, G.H., Wilkinson, D.R. and Hitchen, K
    . 2000. Geochemistry of organic-rich Cretaceous and Jurassic mudstones in the West Lewis and West Flannan basins, Offshore north-west Scotland: Implications for source rock presence in the north-east Rockall Trough. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 17, 27–42, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-8172(99)00038-0
    [Google Scholar]
  85. Jenkyns, H
    . 1988. The early Toarcian (Jurassic) anoxic event – stratigraphic, sedimentary, and geochemical evidence. American Journal of Science, 288, 101–151, https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.288.2.101
    [Google Scholar]
  86. Johnstone, G.S. and Mykura, W.
    1989. British Regional Geology: the Northern Highlands of Scotland. 4th edn. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  87. King, C.
    2016. Non-marine tertiary sediments of western Britain and Ireland. Geological Society, London, Special Reports , 27, 459–468, https://doi.org/10.1144/SR27.17
    [Google Scholar]
  88. Kinny, P.D., Friend, C.R.L. and Love, G.J
    . 2005. Proposal for a terrane-based nomenclature for the Lewisian Gneiss Complex of NW Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 162, 175–186, https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-764903-149
    [Google Scholar]
  89. Knox, R.W.O'B.
    2002. Tertiary sedimentation. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. Geological Society, London, 361–370, https://doi.org/10.1144/GOS4P.13
    [Google Scholar]
  90. Krabbendam, M., Goodenough, K.M. and MendumJ.R.
    2008. Lewisian, Torridonian and Moine rocks of Scotland: an introduction. In: Mendum, J.R., Barber, A.J. et al. . (eds) Lewisian, Torridonian and Moine Rocks of Scotland. Geological Conservation Review Series, 34. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, UK, 1–29.
    [Google Scholar]
  91. Lailey, M., Stein, A.M. and Reston, T.J
    . 1989. The Outer Hebrides fault: a major Proterozoic structure in NW Britain. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 146, 253–259, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.146.2.0253
    [Google Scholar]
  92. Lee, G.W.
    1920. The Mesozoic Rocks of Applecross, Raasay, and North-East Skye. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain.
    [Google Scholar]
  93. Love, L. and Neves, R
    . 1963. No. VI. – Palynological Evidence on the age of the Carboniferous of Inninmore. Transactions of the Geological Society of Glasgow, 25, 61–71, https://doi.org/10.1144/transglas.25.1.61
    [Google Scholar]
  94. McCarthy, K., Rojas, K., Niemann, M., Palmowski, D., Peters, K. and Stankiewicz, A
    . 2011. Basic petroleum geochemistry for source rock evaluation. Oilfield Review, 23, 32–43, https://www.slb.com/-/media/files/oilfield-review/basic-petroleum
    [Google Scholar]
  95. McKeever, P.J.
    1992. Petrography and diagenesis of the Permo-Triassic of Scotland. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 71–96, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.08
    [Google Scholar]
  96. McLean, A.C.
    1978. Evolution of fault-controlled ensialic basins in northwestern Britain. Geological Journal, Special Issue 10, 325–346.
    [Google Scholar]
  97. McLean, D., Owens, B., Pendleton, J.L. and Bodman, D
    . 2013. Pennsylvanian (Namurian and Westphalian) miospore assemblages from the west coast of Scotland. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 190, 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2012.11.005
    [Google Scholar]
  98. McQuillin, R. and Bacon, M
    . 1974. Preliminary Report on Seismic Reflection Surveys in Sea Areas Around Scotland, 1969–1973. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 74/12.
    [Google Scholar]
  99. McQuillin, R. and Binns, P.E
    . 1975. Geological structure in the Minches, the sea of the Hebrides and in the adjacent northwest British continental shelf. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Memoirs , 4, 283–293.
    [Google Scholar]
  100. Meadows, N.S. and Beach, A.
    1993. Controls on reservoir quality in the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone of the Irish Sea. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 4, 823–833, https://doi.org/10.1144/0040823
    [Google Scholar]
  101. Mellere, D. and Steel, R.J
    . 1996. Tidal sedimentation in Inner Hebrides half grabens, Scotland: the Mid-Jurassic Bearreraig Sandstone Formation. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 117, 49–79, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1996.117.01.04
    [Google Scholar]
  102. Morton, N
    . 1965. The Bearreraig Sandstone Series (Middle Jurassic) of Skye and Raasay. Scottish Journal of Geology, 1, 189–216, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg01020189
    [Google Scholar]
  103. . 1983. Palaeocurrents and palaeo-environment of part of the Bearreraig Sandstone (Middle Jurassic) of Skye and Raasay, Inner Hebrides. Scottish Journal of Geology, 19, 87–95, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg19010087
    [Google Scholar]
  104. . 1987. Jurassic subsidence history in the Hebrides, NW Scotland. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 4, 226–242, https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8172(87)90046-8
    [Google Scholar]
  105. . 1989. Jurassic sequence stratigraphy in the Hebrides Basin, NW Scotland. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 6, 243–260, https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8172(89)90004-4
    [Google Scholar]
  106. . 1990. Tectonic and eustatic controls of Jurassic genetic sequences in the Hebrides basin, NW Scotland. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, ,VI, 1001–1009, https://doi.org/10.2113/gssgfbull.VI.6.1001
    [Google Scholar]
  107. Morton, N.
    1992a. Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic stratigraphy, palaeogeography and tectonics west of the British Isles. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 53–68, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.07
    [Google Scholar]
  108. 1992b. Dynamic stratigraphy of the Triassic and Jurassic of the Hebrides Basin, NW Scotland. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 97–110, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.10
    [Google Scholar]
  109. 1993. Potential reservoir and source rocks in relation to Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic sequence stratigraphy, Atlantic margin basins of the British Isles. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 4, 285–297, https://doi.org/10.1144/0040285
    [Google Scholar]
  110. 2004. The Hebrides Basin. In: Simms, M.J., Chidlaw, N., Morton, N. and Page, K.N. (eds) British Lower Jurassic Stratigraphy. Geological Conservation Review Series, 30. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, UK, 313–374.
    [Google Scholar]
  111. Morton, N. and Hudson, J.D.
    1995. Field guide to the Jurassic of the Isles of Raasay and Skye, Inner Hebrides, NW Scotland. In: Taylor, P.D. (ed.) Field Geology of the British Jurassic. Geological Society, London, 209–280.
    [Google Scholar]
  112. Muirhead, D.K., Bowden, S.A., Parnell, J. and Schofield, N
    . 2017. Source rock maturation owing to igneous intrusion in rifted margin petroleum systems. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 174, 979–987, https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2017-011
    [Google Scholar]
  113. Mustang Oil
    1990. EXL115 Exploration Report. Accessed through IHS Markit.
    [Google Scholar]
  114. Naylor, D. and Shannon, P.
    (eds) 1982. Geology of Offshore Ireland and West Britain. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
    [Google Scholar]
  115. NDR
    NDR. 2020. NDR Map with overlay ‘historical licences’ https://ndr.ogauthority.co.uk/dp/pages/customcode/ags/app/mapMain.jsp [last accessed 28 May 2020].
  116. Ofoegbu, C.O. and Bott, M.H.P
    . 1985. Interpretation of the Minch linear magnetic anomaly and of a similar feature on the shelf north of Lewis by non-linear optimization. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 142, 1077–1087, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.142.6.1077
    [Google Scholar]
  117. Oil and Gas Authority
    2020. Data Centre. Oil and Gas Authority, London, https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/data-centre/ [last accessed 10 October 2020].
  118. Oil and Gas UK
    2018. Economic Report 2018. Oil and Gas UK, London, https://oilandgasuk.cld.bz/Economic-Report-2018 [last accessed 20 July 2019].
  119. O'Neill, P.S. and England, R.W
    . 1994. The structure of the Sea of the Hebrides Basin: an integrated gravity and seismic model. Scottish Journal of Geology, 30, 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg30010001
    [Google Scholar]
  120. Owens, B. and Marshall, J
    . 1978. Micropalaeontological Biostratigraphy of Samples from Around the Coasts of Scotland. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences No. 78/20.
    [Google Scholar]
  121. Paleo Services
    1989. Well Upper Glen-1 Petroleum Geochemical Database for the Interval 5180ft–8510 ft – Project No. G2210. Accessed through IHS Markit.
    [Google Scholar]
  122. Park, R.G., Stewart, A.D. and Wright, D.T.
    2002. The Hebridean terrane. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. Geological Society,London, 45–80, https://doi.org/10.1144/GOS4P.3
    [Google Scholar]
  123. Parnell, J
    . 1992. Burial histories and hydrocarbon source rocks on the North West Seaboard. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 3–16, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.02
    [Google Scholar]
  124. Pearce, C.R., Coe, A.L. and Cohen, A.S
    . 2010. Seawater redox variations during the deposition of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation, United Kingdom (Upper Jurassic): evidence from molybdenum isotopes and trace metal ratios. Paleoceanography, 25, PA4213, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010PA001963
    [Google Scholar]
  125. Pentex
    1988. Pentex Operated Exploration Licence EXL023, Loch Bay, Isle of Skye. Report on Status of Petroleum Exploration. Accessed through the United Kingdom Onshore Geophysical Library (UKOGL).
    [Google Scholar]
  126. 1989. Report on Status of Exploration EXL023. Accessed through the United Kingdom Onshore Geophysical Library (UKOGL).
    [Google Scholar]
  127. 1990. Upper Glen 1 Composite Log. Accessed through IHS Markit.
    [Google Scholar]
  128. 1992a. Final Well Report – Upper Glen 1. Accessed through IHS Markit.
    [Google Scholar]
  129. 1992b. Current Report on Status of Exploration EXL113/114. Accessed through the United Kingdom Onshore Geophysical Library (UKOGL).
    [Google Scholar]
  130. Pharaoh, T.C., Smith, N.J.P., Kirk, K., Kimbell, G.S., Gent, C., Quinn, M. and Monaghan, A.A.
    2016. Palaeozoic Petroleum Systems of the Irish Sea. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report CR/16/045. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  131. Riding, J.B. and Thomas, J.E
    . 1997. Marine palynomorphs from the Staffin Bay and Staffin Shale formations (Middle–Upper Jurassic) of the Trotternish Peninsula, NW Skye. Scottish Journal of Geology, 33, 59–74, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg33010059
    [Google Scholar]
  132. Ritchie, J.D., Ziska, H., Johnson, H. and Evans, D.
    2011. Geology of the Faroe–Shetland Basin and Adjacent Areas. British Geological Survey Report RR/11/001. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK.
    [Google Scholar]
  133. Roberts, A.M. and Holdsworth, R.E
    . 1999. Linking onshore and offshore structures: Mesozoic extension in the Scottish Highlands. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 156, 1061–1064, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.156.6.1061
    [Google Scholar]
  134. Robeson, D., Burnett, R.D. and Clayton, G
    . 1988. The upper Palaeozoic geology of the Porcupine, Erris and Donegal basins, offshore Ireland. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, 9, 153–175.
    [Google Scholar]
  135. Schofield, N., Jerram, D.A. et al.
    . 2016. Sills in sedimentary basins and petroleum systems. In: Breitkreuz, C. and Rocchi, S. (eds) Physical Geology of Shallow Magmatic Systems. Dykes, Sills and Laccoliths. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, 273–294, https://doi.org/10.1007/11157_2015_17
    [Google Scholar]
  136. Schofield, N., Jolley, D. et al.
    2017. Challenges of future exploration within the UK Rockall Basin. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 8, 211–229, https://doi.org/10.1144/PGC8.37
    [Google Scholar]
  137. Scotchman, I.C
    . 2001. Petroleum geochemistry of the Lower and Middle Jurassic in Atlantic margin basins of Ireland and the UK. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 188, 31–60, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2001.188.01.03
    [Google Scholar]
  138. Scotchman, I.C. and Thomas, J.R.W
    . 1995. Maturity and hydrocarbon generation in the Slyne Trough, northwest Ireland. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 93, 385–411, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1995.093.01.30
    [Google Scholar]
  139. Scotchman, I.C., Griffith, C.E., Holmes, A.J. and Jones, D.M
    . 1998. The Jurassic petroleum system north and west of Britain: a geochemical oil-source correlation study. Organic Geochemistry, 29, 671–700, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(98)00183-1
    [Google Scholar]
  140. Scotchman, I.C., Doré, A.G. and Spencer, A.M.
    2016. Petroleum systems and results of exploration on the Atlantic margins of the UK, Faroes & Ireland: what have we learnt? Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 8, 187–197, https://doi.org/10.1144/PGC8.14
    [Google Scholar]
  141. Scotped
    1982. North Skye Licence XL161: Review of Exploration to October 1982. Accessed through the United Kingdom Onshore Geophysical Library (UKOGL).
    [Google Scholar]
  142. Searl, A
    . 1992. Sedimentology and early diagenesis of the Broadford Beds (Lower Jurassic), Skye, north-west Scotland. Geological Journal, 27, 243–270, https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.3350270304
    [Google Scholar]
  143. . 1994. Diagenetic destruction of reservoir potential in shallow marine sandstones of the Broadford Beds (Lower Jurassic), North-West Scotland: depositional versus burial and thermal history controls on porosity destruction. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 11, 131–147, https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8172(94)90090-6
    [Google Scholar]
  144. Serica Energy
    2013. Prospectivity of the Slyne Basin Ireland. Presented at theOil & Gas 2013 Summit, 10 September 2013, Dublin, Ireland, www.serica-energy.com/downloads/presentations/Ireland_Oil_Gas_Summit_September_2013_v2_.pdf [last accessed 31 December 2020].
    [Google Scholar]
  145. Silva, R.L., Carlisle, C.A. and Wach, G
    . 2017. A new TOC, Rock-Eval, and carbon isotope record of Lower Jurassic source rocks from the Slyne Basin, offshore Ireland. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 86, 499–511, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2017.06.004
    [Google Scholar]
  146. Smythe, D.K., Sowerbutts, W.T.C., Bacon, M. and McQuillin, R
    . 1972. Deep sedimentary basin below northern Skye and the Little Minch. Nature Physical Science, 236, 87–89, https://doi.org/10.1038/physci236087a0
    [Google Scholar]
  147. Steel, R.J.
    1972. Sedimentation of the New Red Sandstone in the Hebridean province, Scotland. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.
    [Google Scholar]
  148. Steel, R.J
    . 1974. New Red Sandstone floodplain and piedmont sedimentation in the Hebridean Province, Scotland. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 44, 336–357.
    [Google Scholar]
  149. Steel, R.J. and Wilson, A.C
    . 1975. Sedimentation and tectonism (? Permo-Triassic) on the margin of the North Minch Basin, Lewis. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 131, 183–200, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.131.2.0183
    [Google Scholar]
  150. Stein, A.M
    . 1988. Basement controls upon basin development in the Caledonian foreland, NW Scotland. Basin Research, 1, 107–119, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.1988.tb00008.x
    [Google Scholar]
  151. Stein, A.M.
    1992. Basin development and petroleum potential in The Minches and Sea of the Hebrides Basins. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 17–20, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.03
    [Google Scholar]
  152. Stein, A.M. and Blundell, D.J
    . 1990. Geological inheritance and crystal dynamics of the northwest Scottish continental shelf. Tectonophysics, 173, 455–467, https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(90)90238-4
    [Google Scholar]
  153. Stewart, A.D
    . 1982. Late Proterozoic rifting in NW Scotland: the genesis of the ‘Torridonian’. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 139, 413–420, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.139.4.0413
    [Google Scholar]
  154. Stoker, M.S. and Hitchen, K
    . 1995. Rockall Continental Margin Project: Final Geological Report, Volume 1. British Geological Survey Technical Report WB/95/11C (5 vols).
    [Google Scholar]
  155. Stoker, M.S., Hitchen, K. and Graham, C.C
    . 1993. United Kingdom Offshore Regional Report: The Geology of the Hebrides and West Shetland Shelves, and Adjacent Deep-Water Areas. HMSO for the British Geological Survey, London, http://pubs.bgs.ac.uk/publications.html?pubID=B01843
    [Google Scholar]
  156. Stuart, I.A. and Cowan, G
    . 1991. The South Morecambe Field, Blocks 110/2a, 110/3a, 110/8a, UK East Irish Sea. Geological Society, London, Memoirs , 14, 527–541, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.MEM.1991.014.01.66
    [Google Scholar]
  157. Sweeney, J.J. and Burnham, A.K.
    1990Evaluation of a Simple Model of Vitrinite Reflectance Based on Chemical Kinetics. AAPG Bulletin, 74, 1559–1570.
    [Google Scholar]
  158. Sykes, R.M
    . 1975. The stratigraphy of the Callovian and Oxfordian stages (Middle–Upper Jurassic) in northern Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 11, 51–78, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg11010051
    [Google Scholar]
  159. Tate, M.P. and Dobson, M.R
    . 1989. Late Permian to early Mesozoic rifting and sedimentation offshore NW Ireland. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 6, 49–59, https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8172(89)90075-5
    [Google Scholar]
  160. Thomson, K., Underhill, J.R., Green, P.F., Bray, R.J. and Gibson, H.J
    . 1999. Evidence from apatite fission track analysis for the post-Devonian burial and exhumation history of the northern Highlands, Scotland. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 16, 27–39, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-8172(98)00064-6
    [Google Scholar]
  161. Thrasher, J
    . 1992. Thermal effect of the Tertiary Cuillins Intrusive Complex in the Jurassic of the Hebrides: an organic geochemical study. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 35–49, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.06
    [Google Scholar]
  162. Trewin, N.H. and RollinK.E.
    2002. Geological history and structure of Scotland. In: Trewin, N.H. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland. 4th edn. Geological Society, London, 1–25, https://doi.org/10.1144/GOS4P.1
    [Google Scholar]
  163. Trueblood, S
    . 1992. Petroleum geology of the Slyne Trough and adjacent basins. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 62, 315–326, https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.062.01.24
    [Google Scholar]
  164. Trueblood, S. and Morton, N
    . 1991. Comparative sequence stratigraphy and structural styles of the Slyne Trough and Hebrides Basin. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 148, 197–201, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.148.1.0197
    [Google Scholar]
  165. Turner, J
    . 1966. The Oxford Clay of Skye, Scalpay and Eigg. Scottish Journal of Geology, 2, 243–252, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg02030243
    [Google Scholar]
  166. UKOGL
    2021. UK Onshore Geophysical Library. UK Onshore Geophysical Library, New Malden, Surrey, UK, https://ukogl.org.uk/ [last accessed 4 October 2020].
  167. Velayatham, T., Holford, S.P. and Bunch, M.A
    . 2018. Ancient fluid flow recorded by remarkably long, buried pockmark trains observed in 3D seismic data, Exmouth Plateau, Northern Carnarvon basin. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 95, 303–313, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2018.05.007
    [Google Scholar]
  168. Vincent, A.J. and Tyson, R.V
    . 1999. Organic facies of the Middle Jurassic of the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. Petroleum Geoscience, 5, 83–92, https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo.5.1.83
    [Google Scholar]
  169. Waddams, P. and Cordingley, T.
    1999. The regional geology and exploration potential of the NE Rockall Basin. Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference Series , 5, 379–390, https://doi.org/10.1144/0050379
    [Google Scholar]
  170. Waters, C.N., Gillespie, M.R. et al.
    2007. Stratigraphical Chart of the United Kingdom: Northern Britain. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK, 1 poster.
  171. Waters, C.N., Somerville, I.D. et al.
    2011. A Revised Correlation of Carboniferous rocks in the British Isles. Geological Society, London, Special Reports, 26, https://doi.org/10.1144/SR26
    [Google Scholar]
  172. Watson, J
    . 1985. Northern Scotland as an Atlantic–North Sea divide. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 142, 221–243, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.142.2.0221
    [Google Scholar]
  173. Watts, A.B
    . 1971. Geophysical investigations on the continental shelf and slope north of Scotland. Scottish Journal of Geology, 7, 189–218, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg07030189
    [Google Scholar]
  174. Wright, T. and Copestake, P.
    2019. Significance of the new offshore Ireland stratigraphic framework for exploration within the province and internationally. Presented atAtlantic Ireland 2019 Conference, 29–30 October 2019, Dublin, Ireland, https://www.pip.ie/download.php?fragment_id=9418&group_id=1291&page_id=412&requested_page_id=412 [last accessed 31 December 2020].
    [Google Scholar]
  175. Young, G.M. and Caldwell, W.G.E
    . 2019. The South Kintyre Basin: its role in the stratigraphical and structural evolution of the Firth of Clyde region during the Devonian–Carboniferous transition. Scottish Journal of Geology, 55, 141–154, https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg2019-001
    [Google Scholar]
  176. Ziegler, P.A
    . 1988. Evolution of the Arctic–North Atlantic and the Western Tethys: a visual presentation of a series of paleogeographic–paleotectonic maps. AAPG Memoirs , 43, 164–196.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1144/petgeo2021-003
Loading
/content/journals/10.1144/petgeo2021-003
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article

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