The Cretaceous development of the Nordkapp Basin based on seismic interpretation

Abstract

This thesis is focused on studying the development of the Nordkapp Basin during the Cretaceous Period. The basin is fault-controlled and is strongly influenced by salt tectonics. The basin is divided into two parts, which differs both in the average width and direction of their elongation. Moreover, the salt structures in the northeast and southwest parts of the basin also follow the trends in width and direction. During the Early Cretaceous, the thick sequences of terrestrial sediments were deposited in the basin. Fault development and salt activity remained inactive during the Cretaceous Period, which opened the window for shelf progradation along the basin from northeast to southwest. Progradation also followed the overall regional trend, and the regional evolution of the Barents Sea directly influenced the basin as tectonic events triggered fault development and salt movements. Moreover, this also led to changes in sediment supply. The numerous 2D seismic surveys of the Southwest Barents Sea are studied in this thesis. Four reflectors are interpreted and three 3D surfaces are made. Correlation of seismic and well data helped to understand the time of deposition of the interpreted surfaces. The time-thickness maps are also made and studied in the thesis. Analysis of all the 3D surfaces helped to understand and discuss the depositional environment in the Nordkapp Basin during the Cretaceous Period. The timing of the second phase of the salt activity is also discussed.