Quantitative analysis of source, reservoir, and cap rocks on the Norwegian Continental Shelf: An integrated study of geology, geophysics, petrophysics and rock physics

Abstract

Modern seismic exploration for hydrocarbons in the subsurface relies on a good understanding of how different rock properties influence the remotely recorded seismic response. The bridge between the geological properties, understood from field studies or samples, and seismic signatures, is called rock physics. The work in this doctoral thesis is centered on using knowledge of rock physics as a tool and key for integrating seismic, well log, and laboratory (cores/cuttings) data. The main objective of this study was to characterize source, reservoir and cap rocks of Jurassic age on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The main findings and results of the study include; 1) A better understanding of potential hydrocarbon reservoir sandstones in the Central North Sea and the feasibility of extracting reservoir properties from seismic data in the area, 2) investigation and development of a framework for characterizing source rock potential from acoustic properties, based on data from the Central North Sea, and 3) a detailed study across different scales of the composition and sealing properties of clay-dominated rocks in the North Sea and SW Barents Sea.