Chris Chris ParryParry

OPENING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OPENING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC & NORWEGIAN & NORWEGIAN –– GREENLAND SEA GREENLAND SEA BASIN BASIN –– LESSONS FROM THE SOUTH LESSONS FROM THE SOUTH ATLANTICATLANTIC

Presentation Outline

Norwegian – Greenland Sea Asymmetric Conjugate Margins:Upper Plate, Lower Plate, Svalbard Upthrust Zone.

South Atlantic:Non Rigid Plates, (Intra Plate Deformations),Fracture Zones,Ceiba Field.

North Atlantic and Norwegian – Greenland Sea FZ Offshore/Onshore linkage:Onshore outcrop examples:

UK and South East Greenland,Seismic examples:

Jan Mayen Fracture Zones, Mid-Norway and North Greenland.

Key message:

Mid-Ocean Ridge Fracture Zones Offshore/Onshore linked shear zones control:Coarse clastic sediment entry points,Provide hydrocarbon migration routes,Create trapping geometries,&Allow development of new models for exploration.

TorskeTorske, T. & , T. & PrestvikPrestvik, T., 1991, , T., 1991, MesozoicMesozoic detachmentdetachment faultingfaulting betweenbetween GreenlandGreenland and and NorwayNorway: : InferencesInferences from Jan Mayen from Jan Mayen FractureFracture ZoneZone system and system and associatedassociated alkalicalkalic volcanincvolcaninc rocks. rocks. GeologyGeology, 481 , 481 -- 484484

Lower Plate

Lower Plate

Lower Plate

Upper Plate

Upper Plate

North Atlantic Assymetric Conjugate Margins (1991)Lower Plate:Complex Structure,Bowed up Detachment Faults,Wide Continental Shelf.

Upper Plate

Upper Plate:Relatively Unstructured,Uplifted Margin,Narrow Continental Shelf.

ModifiedModified afterafter LowellLowell, J.D.,1972 , J.D.,1972 SpitzbergenSpitzbergen TertiaryTertiary OrogenicOrogenic Belt and Belt and FractureFracture ZoneZone. . GeolGeol. . SocSoc. Am. Bull., . Am. Bull., pppp. 3091. 3091--31023102

Convergent Strike Slip or Transform Motion Upthrust Zone

Eurasian Plate

North American Plate

• Two plates moving at low convergent angle causes space problem.• Easiest direction for relief is upwards.• Upthrusts are not necessarily symmetrical.• Faults coalese and anastomose with depth.

Western limitof thick

sedimentarycover

Meyers et al., 1996Romanche FZ

Charcot FZ

Boda Verde FZ

Rio de Janeiro FZ

Benguela FZ

Ascension FZ

Martin Vaz FZ

Lower Plate:Wide Continental Shelf.

Upper Plate:Narrow Continental Shelf.

Upper Plate:Narrow Continental Shelf.

Fracture Zones of the South Atlantic

Duval et al., 1991

Lower Plate:Wide Continental Shelf.

Rio Muni & Gabon Basins: Cretaceous Pre Rift Configuration

Lower Plate

Romanche FZCharcot FZ

Boda Verde FZ

Rio de Janeiro FZ

Upper Plate

Ascension FZ

SimplifiedSimplified afterafter Meyers et al., 1996. Meyers et al., 1996. Deep penetrating MCS Deep penetrating MCS imaging of the riftimaging of the rift--to driftto drift-- transition, offshore Douala and North transition, offshore Douala and North Gabon basins, West Africa, Marine and Petroleum Geology, Gabon basins, West Africa, Marine and Petroleum Geology, pp.791pp.791--835.835.

200 Km

Bata FZ

Kribi FZ

Cameroon FZ

Fang FZ

N’Komi FZ

Mayumba FZPa

nA

fric

anM

obile

Bel

t

CongoCratonAscension FZ

Pre-Cambrian basement

Cretaceous rift basins

Transfer fault zone

Modern coastline

Mid Atlantic Ridge

Upper Plate

Some major fracture zones originate along pre-Cambrian

structural grain

Equatorial Guinea Ceiba Field, Senonian inversion structure related to reactivation of Ascension Fracture Zone

ReproducedReproduced withwith permissionpermission ofof C and C C and C ReservoirsReservoirs

Base Ceiba CanyonChannelized Sands

Southern Miocene Canyon Northern Miocene CanyonTop Campanian

Laminated Sands

2 - Sødalen Area

3 - Kialineq, Søndre Aputitêq and Patulajivit area

4 - Wyville Thomson/Ymir Ridge Thrust Complex

1 - Lewisian Gneiss Complex

6 - Naglfar Dome

5 - Jan Mayen Fracture Zones

North Atlantic & Norwegian - Greenland Sea Fracture Zones:

Onshore – Offshore Linkage8 - Germania Land Deformation Zone

7 - Kajser Franz Josephs Fjord Fault/”East Jan Mayen Fracture Zone – West Jan Mayen Fracture Zone

1

2

8

7

3

4

6

5

Bathymetric data clearly illustrate the presence of additional Fracture Zones,

(not illustrated for sake of clarity).

UK Offshore/Onshore Linkage: Lewisian Gneiss Complex

• Accreted as series of terranes in the Precambrian

• Accretion occurred before most brittle deformation

PlessPless, J. et al, 2010. Characterising fault networks in the , J. et al, 2010. Characterising fault networks in the LewisianLewisian Gneiss Complex, NW Scotland: Gneiss Complex, NW Scotland: Implications for petroleum potential in the Clair Field basementImplications for petroleum potential in the Clair Field basement, Faroe, Faroe--Shetland Basin. AAPG, New Shetland Basin. AAPG, New Orleans Orleans –– oral & poster presentation oral & poster presentation

• Prominent NE-SW & NW-SE fault trends

• NW-SE faults produce the longest lineaments

• Originate in Archean (2490-2400 Ma): Steep NW-SE shear zones formed due to dextral transpression

• Reactivated during all subsequent tectonic episodes

North Atlantic & Norwegian - Greenland Sea Deformation History

1

2

3

4

5

7

12

3

456

7 8 9

6

Iapetus Ocean Spreading

Variscan Orogeny1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NE Greenland AFTA Cooling Events

Break-up & early opening of Central Atlantic

Regional extension in North Atlantic region

Limited seafloor spreading southern North Atlantic

Focus of rifting in North Atlantic regionOpening of southern North AtlanticI - Main rift axis northern North Atlantic

Main rift axis moved to Labrador Sea

Seafloor spreading Labrador SeaRifting in Norwegian-Greenland Sea area

Break-up Norwegian-Greenland Sea area - MagmatismSeafloor spreading Ægir Ridge

I - Plate reorganization

Change in spreading direction Norwegian-Greenland Sea areaUplift of areas surrounding Norwegian-Greenland Sea area

Glaciations – continued uplift & erosion

Seafloor spreading Kolbeinsey RidgeSeafloor spreading Mohns Ridge

Seafloor spreading Lena Trough - Knipov Ridge (Fram Strait)

Break-up & early opening of Southern Atlantic

Caledonidian OrogenyGravitational Collapse

8

9

Principal stress/strain axes at low angle to foliation

Reactivation of pre-existing ”weak” foliation planes

U Cretaceous Inversion

Early Cimmerian

Mid Cimmerian

Late Cimmerian

Laramide OrogenyExtension/Seafloor Spreading

Inversion/Compression

Legend

SE Greenland Offshore/Onshore Linkage: Sødalen Area

GuarnieriGuarnieri, P., 2011, , P., 2011, AnalysisAnalysis ofof PalaeogenePalaeogene strikestrike--slipslip tectonicstectonics alongalong thethe southernsouthern EastEast GreenlandGreenland margin (margin (SSøødalendalen area). Bull. area). Bull. GeolGeol. . SocSoc. Den., 23, . Den., 23, pppp. 65. 65--68. 68. ReproducedReproduced withwith permissionpermission ofof GEUSGEUS

Simplified Geological Map

SE Greenland Offshore/Onshore Linkage: Kialineq, Søndre Aputitêq & Patulajivit area

RedrawnRedrawn and and simplifiedsimplified afterafter: Tegner, C. et al, 2008, 40Ar: Tegner, C. et al, 2008, 40Ar--39Ar ages 39Ar ages ofof intrusionsintrusions in in EastEast GreenlandGreenland: : RiftRift--toto--driftdrift transitiontransition over over thethe IcelandIceland hotspothotspot. . LithosLithos, , pppp. 480. 480--500500

FigureFigure 8, Ritchie, J. D.8, Ritchie, J. D. et al., 2008, et al., 2008, TheThe effectseffects ofof CenozoicCenozoic compressioncompression withinwithin thethe FaroeFaroe--ShetlandShetland BasinBasin. From: Johnson, H., . From: Johnson, H., DorDoréé, A.G., , A.G., GatcliffGatcliff, R.W., , R.W., HoldsworthHoldsworth, R., , R., LundinLundin, E.R. & Ritchie, J.D. (eds) , E.R. & Ritchie, J.D. (eds) TheThe Nature and Nature and OriginOrigin ofof CompressionCompression in Passive Margins. in Passive Margins. GeologicalGeological SocietySociety, London, , London, SpecialSpecial PublicationsPublications, 306, 121 , 306, 121 –– 136. 136. ReproducedReproduced withwith permissionpermission ofof thethe GeologicalGeological SocietySociety ofof London.London.

UK Offshore/Onshore Linkage: Wyville Thomson/Ymir Ridge Thrust Complex

• Two plates moving at low convergent angle causes space problem (plate reorientation due to opening of Fram Strait?)• Easiest direction for relief is upwards.• Wrench fault flower structures are not necessarily symmetrical.• Faults coalese and anastomose with depth.

Central and East Jan Mayen Fracture Zones

Inversion of pelagic sediments due to

reactivation of Fracture Zone

Gaina et al, 2009: ”mild inversion”,

”several compressive events”

Inversion of oceanic crust due to reactivation of

Fracture Zone

.

East Jan Mayen Fracture Zone

Gaina, C. et al, 2009, Palaeocene–Recent plate boundaries in the NE Atlantic and the formation of the Jan Mayen microcontinent. J. Geol. Soc., 601–616.

. ++

Central Jan Mayen Fracture Zone

Reproduced courtesy of

Oceanic CrustContinental Crust

? ?

Flower Structure – Naglfar Dome, Vøring Basin

• Two plates moving at low convergent angle causes space problem (plate reorientation due to opening of Fram Strait?)• Easiest direction for relief is upwards.• Wrench fault flower structures are not necessarily symmetrical.• Faults coalese and anastomose with depth. Reproduced

courtesy of

North East Greenland

Seismic Section

Germania Land Deformation Zone

”EJMFZ”

WJMFZ

See Figure 8, from Lundin, E. & Doré, A.G., 2002.

Lundin, E. & Doré, A.G., 2002. Mid-Cenozoic post-breakup deformation in the ”passive” margins bordering the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. Mar. Pet. Geol., 79-93

Intraplate earthquake epicentres coincide with Fracture Zones (additional FZ’s not illustrated for sake of clarity).

NE Greenland: NW-SE trending Wrench FaultingW E

Offshore extension of Germania Land Deformation Zone Reproduced

courtesy of

SimplifiedSimplified and and redrawnredrawn from: Voss, M. et al, 2009, from: Voss, M. et al, 2009, VariationsVariations in in magmaticmagmatic processesprocesses alongalong thethe EastEast GreenlandGreenland volcanicvolcanic margin. margin. GeophysGeophys. J. Int., 755. J. Int., 755--782782

SimplifiedSimplified and and redrawnredrawn from: Faleide, J.I. et al, 2008, from: Faleide, J.I. et al, 2008, StructureStructure and and evolutionevolution ofof thethe continentalcontinental margin off margin off NorwayNorway and and thethe BarentsBarents SeaSea. Episodes, 82 . Episodes, 82 -- 9191

SimplifiedSimplified and and redrawnredrawn from:from: Voss, M. & Voss, M. & JokatJokat, W., 2007, , W., 2007, ContinentContinent--oceanocean transitiontransition ande ande voluminousvoluminous magmaticmagmatic underplatingunderplating derivedderived from from PP--wavewave velocityvelocity modellingmodelling ofof thethe EastEast GreenlandGreenland continentalcontinental margin. margin. GeophysGeophys. J. . J. Int., 580 Int., 580 -- 604604

SimplifiedSimplified and and redrawnredrawn from:from: FernandezFernandez, M. et al, 2004, , M. et al, 2004, DeepDeep structurestructure ofof thethe VVøøringring MarrginMarrgin: : thethe transitiontransition from a from a continentalcontinental shieldshield to a to a youngyoung oceanicoceanic lithospherelithosphere. . EarthEarth & Plan. & Plan. SciSci. Lett., 131 . Lett., 131 -- 144144

Norwegian - Greenland Sea: Asymmetric Conjugate Margins (2009) (Ocean Bottom Refraction Seismic Data)

Upper Plate Lower Plate

Upper PlateLower Plate

Danmarkshavn Sea Region Lofoten Margin

Vøring MarginWollaston Forland Region

Norwegian - Greenland Sea: Asymmetric Conjugate Margins

Vøring MarginLower Plate

Møre MarginUpper Plate

Sn Alpine Region

Lofoten MarginUpper Plate

Nn Alpine Region

500m WD

Upper PlateNarrow ShelfAlpine Region

Lower PlateWide Shelf,

Lower PlateWide Shelf,

Top Crystalline Basement Depth Structure Map, Ebbing & Olesen, 2010.

SenjaVesterålen

JenneggaBivost Fracture

Zone

GleipnaSurt

West Jan M

ayeFracture

ZoneCentral Jan M

ayenNorw

ayBasin

Marflo

East Jan Mayen

Ebbing, J. & Ebbing, J. & OlesenOlesen, O., 2010, New compilation of top basement and basement thickne, O., 2010, New compilation of top basement and basement thickness for the Norwegian continental shelf ss for the Norwegian continental shelf reveals the segmentation of the passive margin system. From: reveals the segmentation of the passive margin system. From: ViningVining, B. A. & Pickering, S. C. (, B. A. & Pickering, S. C. (edseds) Petroleum Geology: From ) Petroleum Geology: From Mature Basins to New Frontiers Mature Basins to New Frontiers –– Proceedings of the 7th Petroleum Geology Conference, 1Proceedings of the 7th Petroleum Geology Conference, 1––13.13.

CONCLUSIONSA simple symmetric spreading model can be used to explain the opening of the Norwegian – Greenland Sea.

NW-SE trending, coast perpendicular fracture zones, are recognized regionally in the deepwater and adjacent shelf, probably linked to onshore pre-Cambrian basement fabric.

Transtensional, transpressional and inversion structuring associated with reactivation of the Mid - Ocean Ridge transform boundaries/fracture zones is obvious throughout the North Atlantic and Norwegian – Greenland Sea (as seen to the south of the Equator) .

6FZ Offshore/Onshore linked shear zones control:6Sediment entry points,6 Provide hydrocarbon migration routes,6Create trapping geometries,&6Allow development of new exploration models.

6Acknowledgements:6 ConocoPhillips management for support for the publication of this article,6 Jennifer Pless and Professor Bob Holdsworth, Durham University (Lewisian Outcrop Project),6Clair Field partnership (permission to share the Lewisian Outcrop Project ongoing research).