To describe petroleum systems, you compile and set up geological models. This may include reconstruction of the thermal development of potential source rocks in order to investigate whether the necessary conditions exist for a given area to contain hydrocarbons - based in particular on the choice of kinetic models and the inferred heat flow history. The ultimate goal is to establish a number of possible scenarios for migration of hydrocarbons in selected areas.
As the in-depth understanding of the underground is important parts of the basis prior to a decision to invest in a new well or to further develop an existing production, the oil industry is interested in using GEUS's extensive knowledge of the regional conditions in both Denmark and Greenland.
Since 2011, GEUS has been the project leader for three major industrial multi-client projects; The Jurassic Petroleum System in the Danish Central Graben (PETSYS), The Cretaceous Petroleum System in the Danish Central Graben (CRETSYS), The Cenozoic Petroleum Potential in the Danish Central Graben (CENSYS), which has aimed at compiling, documenting and mapping all relevant data and information in the Danish part of the North Sea. The projects have focused on three stratigraphic periods Jurassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary and both software systems such as Petrel©, Decision Space© and ArcMAP© have been used for this compilation.
The results from the three projects are integrated into GIS databases and on a number of Web portals available to participating industry partners.
General description of the three projects:
- Describes the tectonic and geological development of the Danish part of the North Sea Bassinet since Jurassic and related the tectonic development to plate-tectonic processes
- Describes the regional dissemination of different stratigraphic intervals and their lithological characteristics through Jurassic,Cretaceous and Tertiary
- Contains petrophysical log analysis and interpretation (i.e. CPI plots, reservoir parameterization, cuttings analysis, and evaluation of hydrocarbon indications)
- Basic stratigraphic studies (i.e., sequence-, litho- and biostratigraphy and deposition environments) compiled into e.g. a number of palaeoographical maps
- Contains analysis of the subsidence history
- Discusses the interaction between tectonic development, sedimentation and hydrocarbon formation in the Danish part of the North Sea in order to assess the hydrocarbon potential.