The distribution of Cretaceous and Paleocene deep-water reservoirs in the Norwegian Sea basins

Facies maps for selected Cretaceous and Paleocene deep-water sandstone reservoirs in the Norwegian Sea constitute an exploration tool and allow description of the basin infill in relation to tectonic phases. Sequences K40 (middle-late Albian) and K60 (middle-late Cenomanian) formed in an immature basin where most of the fan systems and slumps were derived from local highs. Sequence K80 (Coniacian-late Santonian) contains sandstones interpreted to be slumped deposits in parts of the Halten and Donna terraces (Lysing Formation), but with fans of widespread extent in the Voring and northern More Basin. The K85-K90 sequence set (early Santonian-late Campanian) contains sandstones equivalent to the Nise Formation that are the main potential reservoirs in the Voting Basin; they were fed by multiple entry points and developed into areally extensive basin floor thicks. Sequence Pg10 (Danian-Selandian: 'Egga' Member) is interpreted to comprise a basin floor fan in the Ormen Lange discovery. During this cycle the Halten Terrace rotated eastwards exposing Upper Cretaceous mudstones. Vast amounts of sediment were deposited in the western A-tore and Voring Basin around new exposed areas.