Late Triassic channel systems at the Loppa High, SW Barents Sea

Abstract

The study is based on the 3D seismic dataset (LN09M01). The study area is located in the southwest Barents Sea, south-western flank of the Loppa High. In the SW Barents Sea, the Middle to Late Triassic interval incorporates relatively thick and widespread fluvial system in the Snadd Formation, which is characterized by distinctive abundance of channel bodies of varying shape and extend. During Triassic, the Barents Sea Basin was gradually filled with sediments, sourced from Caledonian mountains in the southeast, by prograding alluvial to deltaic plain. The Middle to Late Triassic Snadd Formation is dominated by distinctive abundance of channel bodies. This master thesis has the overall objective to increase knowledge about the distribution and evolution of fluvial depositional systems of Snadd Formation, also focusing on channel dimensions, geomorphology and control over sediment deposition. By analyzing 3D seismic volume and investigating stratigraphic evolution, this thesis reveals evidence of the presence of fluvial depositional systems and variety of fluvial geomorphological features, such as point bar, concave-bank, channel fill and levees deposits. The results of this study provide a basis sedimentology insight of the Snadd formation, evolution and migration of ancient fluvial channel, and in broader scale, it provides insight into spatio-temporal development of channel sandstone bodies.