Tectono-stratigraphic Evolution of the Greater Mandal High Area

The Southern North Sea has been actively explored by the oil industry since the 1960’s, resulting in discoveries ranging from the gianta Ekofisk and Valhall fields in Norway to the South-Arne and Siri fields in Denmark. The current phase of exploration is focused on more subtle stratigraphic and combination structural-stratigraphic traps, which require a detailed understanding of local and regional sediment provenance, basin fill and salt movement. The area of investigation is located east of the Ekofisk and Valhall fields in the East Central Graben and Danish Central Graben. Relatively few significant discoveries have been made in this region, compared to the large discoveries to the west and south. Acquisition and interpretation of modern, long offset 3D seismic in light of increasing well control and complex trap analogues allow an improved geological understanding of the area, resulting in new exploration models and concepts.