Bridging the Gap Between Thermal Modeling of Sedimentary Basins and Potential Fields Modeling: Using Geophysics to constrain Hydrocarbon Charge Models In Data-Poor Frontier Areas

We integrate subsidence, thermal, and potential fields modelling in a single, unified workflow which reduces the propagation of uncertainty when building geological models of data-poor frontier areas such as deepwater continental passive margins. Subsidence analysis is combined with a model for the relationship between mantle melting and lithosphere stretching and resulting isostatic equilibrium to estimate crust thickness and type and the temperature and density of the crust and underlying mantle in the past and at present. The results can be compared to observations, including potential fields such as gravity in addition to well data if this is available. The integration of potential fields and thermal modelling is particularly important in frontier areas where well data is sparse to absent and conventional calibration data (T, VR) is not available to basin modellers. Our methods have been applied to a number of circum-Atlantic margins, allowing us to build basin scale play concepts and hydrocarbon maturation and charge models with greater confidence and guide exploration decision making.