Structural Provinces and Suggested Key Play Factors Offshore West Greenland

The offshore West Greenland is tentatively categorized into four structural provinces from S to N: Cape Farewell, Nuuk West, Disko West and Baffin Bay. The delineation of the provinces are based on differences in post rift evolution, mainly timing and nature of i) structuring, some areas dominated by extension while other being influenced by transpression / transtension, ii) uplift / subsidence, possible exhumation and especially Neogene sediment input, and iii) volcanic / magmatic activity. The variations in geologic post rift histories suggest that different play factors should be sought mitigated in this early exploration phase in Greenland. Caution is suggested for the use of analogues and play evaluations across the provinces without adjusting for the tectonic and structural differences.