Description

The geological history of the North Sea is an incredibly rich journey through a range of climates and depositional environments. From Devonian continental deposits to Eocene deep-water turbidites, thanks to its near-continuous history of subsidence, the North Sea is not only one of the world’s classic petroleum provinces, it is also a unique archive that allows us to reconstruct the history of the area as it shifted from south of the equator to its northern position at the present day.

Because the reservoirs that were deposited in deserts and deep seas have been targeted by numerous exploration, appraisal and development wells, from which a huge amount of cores were cut, we have the material that allows us to unravel the depositional history of the North Sea in unprecedented details. That is what this workshop will be about.

Starting in Devonian times, we will spend the full day making our way from intra-montane basins and eroded basement blocks, via a catastrophic flooding in Permian times, to unconsolidated Forties sands that may seem to have found that final destination yesterday. Every core tells its story, and supported by short presentations and a series of tailored diagrams, the North Sea will come to life during this day of geological time-travelling.

Sub-Topics that will be covered in the workshop:

Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Paleogeography, Basin Analysis, Petroleum Geology