Abstract
A play-based resource assessment of conventional hydrocarbons has been performed for the offshore areas of central West Greenland and the onshore Nuussuaq Basin (Assessment Unit 3, AU3). Four play levels have been assessed, with an estimated mean for the undiscovered resources of ~3,650 MMBOE risked recoverable hydrocarbons. The known prospectivity includes 24 leads with Mean Case Risked Recoverable volumes of ~100 MMBOE. The unidentified prospectivity has Mean Case Risked Recoverable volumes of ~3,550 MMBOE resulting in an average area yield of ~27 MB/1000 km2 (risked). The unrisked Pmean volumes for the leads of the four evaluated play levels range from 10 to 5000 MMBOE.
The geologic probabilities for AU3 were determined based on careful play mapping constructing a series of numeric CRS (Common Risk Segment) maps and CCRS (Composite Common Risk Segment) maps of the assessment area. In this manner, the probabilities are consistently applied throughout the area for both the known and unknown prospectivity.
Due the thick cover of Tertiary volcanic rocks, a high exploration risk is encountered everywhere in the region at all deeper play levels. Therefore, a portfolio analysis to highlight the most prospective areas has not been carried out for Assessment Unit 3, since de-risking initiatives are not possible to carry out in the offshore areas with present-day seismic imaging technologies.
It should, however, be noted, that the leads onshore Nuussuaq can be de-risked significantly at relatively low cost and that these therefore may provide viable exploration targets.
The assessment results presented are based on all available data collected and interpreted by the industry, GEUS, NUNAOIL and the Government of Greenland and reflect the state of geologic knowledge of the offshore and onshore areas at the time of central West Greenland. Any future drilling and evaluation of the petroleum systems and plays based on new data within this area will add to the geologic knowledge and will therefore lead to a refinement of these assessment results.
The assessment was carried out using the Player® GIS software provided by GIS-pax. The methodology and results of the assessment have been quality controlled by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and GIS-pax.
The results of this study are reported in an extensive ArcGIS project supported by a comprehensive slide package which includes 12 presentations, reflecting the workflow of the project, including:
The geologic probabilities for AU3 were determined based on careful play mapping constructing a series of numeric CRS (Common Risk Segment) maps and CCRS (Composite Common Risk Segment) maps of the assessment area. In this manner, the probabilities are consistently applied throughout the area for both the known and unknown prospectivity.
Due the thick cover of Tertiary volcanic rocks, a high exploration risk is encountered everywhere in the region at all deeper play levels. Therefore, a portfolio analysis to highlight the most prospective areas has not been carried out for Assessment Unit 3, since de-risking initiatives are not possible to carry out in the offshore areas with present-day seismic imaging technologies.
It should, however, be noted, that the leads onshore Nuussuaq can be de-risked significantly at relatively low cost and that these therefore may provide viable exploration targets.
The assessment results presented are based on all available data collected and interpreted by the industry, GEUS, NUNAOIL and the Government of Greenland and reflect the state of geologic knowledge of the offshore and onshore areas at the time of central West Greenland. Any future drilling and evaluation of the petroleum systems and plays based on new data within this area will add to the geologic knowledge and will therefore lead to a refinement of these assessment results.
The assessment was carried out using the Player® GIS software provided by GIS-pax. The methodology and results of the assessment have been quality controlled by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and GIS-pax.
The results of this study are reported in an extensive ArcGIS project supported by a comprehensive slide package which includes 12 presentations, reflecting the workflow of the project, including:
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Copenhagen |
| Publisher | De Nationale Geologiske Undersøgelser for Danmark og Grønland |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Jan 2021 |
Programme Area
- Programme Area 3: Energy Resources