A preliminary assessment of the structure, basin development and petroleum potential offshore central West Greenland

The first seismic and geological interpretation of the area covered by Paleocene basalts offshore central West Greenland is presented. The interpretation has incorporated all the existing seismic data in the area, including those lines acquired during the first phase of exploration in the 1970s, and isopach maps have been produced for regionally significant horizons in the Tertiary section. Ties to exploration wells drilled offshore southern West Greenland have lead to a greater understanding of the timing and kinematics of tectonic events during the Tertiary period which are not recorded in the onshore area.

A period of transpression, also seen in the Melville Bay area, is confirmed to have occurred following a period of extension in the Paleocene. The crests of anticlines formed during this time were then eroded at the same time as syn-drift deposition, and transgressive marine sediments infilled a number of restricted basins in the irregular topography. Strike-slip faulting continued to affect the region throughout the Eocene. The formation of north-south transtensional grabens and NW-SE extensional faulting coincided with the opening of Baffin Bay.

It has also been possible, locally, to interpret horizons beneath the Paleocene volcanics, and a thick Cretaceous sedimentary section is inferred to be present. The geological development of the area during this period, however, has had to be extrapolated from geological evidence from nearby areas.

The structure of the area is also illustrated by a number of representative geoseismic cross-sections. Several large structural leads potentially capable of trapping hydrocarbons have been identified by mapping the Top Paleocene Volcanics horizon and are described in detail. The most promising potential plays in the area are sub-basalt Cretaceous and Lower Paleocene plays which are the primary objectives throughout the whole of West Greenland. A possible secondary Tertiary play, identified here above the basalts, may also be present in other parts of West Greenland. The area is considered to have significant exploration potential and warrants additional studies to determine the thickness of basalts covering the area.