Iceland Frontier Exploration
Potential Review of the
Jan Mayen Micro-Continent
Anett Blischke, ISOR
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The North Dreki
Licensing Area
Location Reference
 North Dreki is part of the Jan
Mayen Micro-Continent
(JMMC) with strong
indications of continental
strata and suitable
structures
Jan Mayen
North Dreki
 Similarities to the middle
East Greenland coast that is
part of Greenland Licensing
areas, the Møre- and Vøring
Basins at the Norwegian
coast, which are proven
hydrocarbon provinces.
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REGIONAL SETTINGS
 TECTONIC MODELS
 STRATIGRAPHY
 ANALOGUES
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Generalized
Geologic Map of Greenland
What to consider for the JMMC ?
N. Henriksen et al, 2009
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Generalized
Geologic Map of Greenland
What to consider for the JMMC ?
N. Henriksen et al, 2009
Jameson Land
Basin
Liverpool Land
High
Blosseville
Kyst
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Tectonostratigraphic Chart
What to consider for the
JMMC ?
Hamann, N.E. et al, 2005
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Early Jurassic
Tectonic Map
What to consider for the
JMMC ?
G. Dam & F. Surlyk, 1995
Jan Mayen Basin ?
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Tectonic History of the JMMC
Possible Scenario
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Tectonic History of the JMMC
Possible Scenario
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Tectonic History of the JMMC
Possible Scenario
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Tectonic History of the JMMC
Possible Scenario
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Tectonic History of the JMMC
Possible Scenario
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Tectonic History of the JMMC
Possible Scenario
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Tectonic History of the JMMC
Possible Scenario
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Regional Correlations important for comparison to the history of the JMMC
Collage based on results of recent research publications and observations at the JMMC
7
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Regional Correlations important for comparison to the history of the JMMC
Collage based on results of recent research publications and observations at the JMMC
7
Danmarkshavn & Thetis Basins
Vøring Basin
Wollaston
Foreland
2
Modified after Brekke, H. et al, 2000
Modified after Dinkelman, M.G. et al, 2010
1
10 km
Modified after
Henriksen, N. et
al, 2009
Jameson Land Basin, Liverpool High & Basin
50 km
10 ms
Jan Mayen Micro-Continent
?
50 km
4
Modified after Henriksen, N. et al, 2008
Møre Basin
3
Kangerlussuaq
6
Modified after Brekke, H. et al, 2000
5
Modified after Henriksen, N. et al, 2008
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Conceptual cross-section along conjugate volcanic margins during breakup
How is it applicable to the JMMC ?
An example based on the work on a large 2D/3D seismic study at the outer Vøring Basin, after: Gernigon, L. et al, 2005: Tectonic and deep crustal
structures along the Norwegian volcanic margin: Implications for “Mantle Plume or Not?” debate. http://mantleplumes.org/VM_Norway.html.
Gernigon, L., Ringenbach, J.C., Planke, S., Le Gall, B. 2004: Deep structures and breakup along volcanic rifted margins: Insights from integrated
studies along the outer Vøring Basin (Norway). Marine and Petroleum Geology, 21, 3, 363-372.
JMMC
UC
MC
SDR – Seaward Dipping Reflectors; UC – Upper Crust; MC – Middle Crust; LCB – Lower Crust Bodies; TR – T Reflection (Vp ~ 7.1 km/s)
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Regional Correlations important for comparison to the history of the JMMC
Collage based on results of recent research publications and observations at the JMMC
?
4
1
3
6
4
2
5
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Conceptual cross-section along an eruptive centres, the forming of SDR´s
How is it applicable to the JMMC ?
Larsen, H.C. & Saunders, A.D. et al 1998
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Conceptual model –
seismic data comparison
Key line interpretation at the JMMC
NPD-NEA Surveys
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Conceptual model –
seismic data comparison
Key line interpretation at the JMMC
NPD-NEA Surveys
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Conceptual model – seismic data comparison
Northern edge of the Dreki Licensing Area
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New 2D Seismic Quality Data = More Possibilities for Data Interpretation
Possible Sub Tertiary unconformities become better visible below the Top Paleocene
NNE
SSW
Jan Mayen
Trough
?
▬
Seabed
▬
BU-2 Late Oligocene
▬
Base Late Oligocene
▬
Top Eocene
▬
UC Middle Eocene
▬
UC Top Paleocene
▬
UC Late Paleocene poss.
▬
Top Mesozoic poss.
▬
Top Paleozoic poss.
(or actual Basement ???)
▬
Top Basement poss.
(Crystalline ??? deep reflector)
?
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Conceptual model –
seismic data comparison
Key line interpretation at the JMMC
NPD-NEA Surveys
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Conceptual model – seismic data comparison
Northern edge of the Dreki Licensing Area
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Magnetic Strength (0 to -300 nT) Map
(JM-85 Gravity/Magnetic data set modified after Gunnarsson, K. 1995)
Clues to the main structural outlines of JMMC
Early to Late Oligocene composite sheet
of flat-lying intrusive covering subsided
continental crust just before oceanic
crust started to form on the Kolbeinsey
Ridge and the Iceland Plateau.
Oceanic crust
SDE (Seaward Dipping Reflectors)
Free Air Gravity >50Gal following the
main structural blocks of the JMMC.
Intrusive
centers?
Important Fault / Fractures Zones that
influence and subdivide the JMR.
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Bouguer Gravity Anomaly (100 to 190 mGal)
(JM-85 Gravity/Magnetic data set modified after Gunnarsson, K. 1995)
Clues to the main structural outlines of JMMC
Early to Late Oligocene composite sheet
of flat-lying intrusive covering subsided
continental crust just before oceanic
crust started to form on the Kolbeinsey
Ridge and the Iceland Plateau.
SDE (Seaward Dipping Reflectors)
Oceanic crust
Free Air Gravity >50Gal following the
main structural blocks of the JMMC.
Important Fault / Fractures Zones that
influence and subdivide the JMR.
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Top Paleocene Structure Map
(Depth Range: 170m – 6100m)
Structural Compartmentalization of the JMMC
Early to Late Oligocene composite sheet
of flat-lying intrusive covering subsided
continental crust just before oceanic
crust started to form on the Kolbeinsey
Ridge and the Iceland Plateau.
SDE (Seaward Dipping Reflectors)
Free Air Gravity >50Gal following the
main structural blocks of the JMMC.
Important Fault / Fractures Zones that
influence and subdivide the JMR.
Top Paleocene Faults
Minor reverse faulting visible
(poss. since the Middle Miocene parallel
the opening of the Kolbeinsey Ridge)
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Stratigraphy
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Regional correlations and comparison to the history of the JMMC
Onshore Stratigraphy – East Greenland
 Post-Caledonian extension between Greenland (Laurentia – North America) and Norway
(Baltica - Scandinavia) resulting in large rift basin complexes and substantial subsidence,
prior to the North Atlantic opening and forming of oceanic crust.
 Large sedimentary basin complexes developed along the East Greenland Coast from the
Paleozoic to Mesozoic depositing up to 6-7 km deep sediment basins over a period of 300
Ma.
 Substantial erosion across uplifted areas, East Greenland onshore or local highs within the
basin and rages complex of the rift basin
 The NE-Greenland basin and the Jameson Land Basin (JMMC west side analogue) show
very thick Paleozoic to Mesozoic sediment fills.
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Stratigraphy
 The Norwegian and Greenland
margins give the end points of the
possible sub-Tertiary strata for the
JMR.
 Well documented correlation of
source and reservoir rocks for those
end points
?
 A similar geological development for
the Jan Mayen area especially in
comparison with the Greenland
margin might be a reasonable
assumption, but has not been
proven through exploration drilling.
?
Gaina et al. (in
press
?
Sagex (2008)
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Regional Correlations important for comparison to the history of the JMMC
Onshore Stratigraphy – East Greenland
7
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N
S
7
6
3
Henriksen, N. et al, 2009
Larsen, H.C. et al, 1998
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2008
DONG, First Iceland Exploration Conference, 2008
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348
At bottom, 17m drilled into
VARIOLITIC BASALT
18.8 ± 1.7Ma (Talwani et al, 1976)
approx. magnetic anomaly 6,
around top Early Miocene =>
indicating intrusion into older
Oligocene sediment.
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346
349
Pleistocene – Pliocene
Middle Miocene
Oligocene
Early Oligocene
Upper Eocene
Eocene
Middle Eocene
350
26m drilled into BASALT
BRECCIA/DIABASE BASALT
40-44 Ma (Talwani et al, 1976)
approx. magnetic anomaly 1920, Middle Eocene
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General Risks
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Mapping risk factors for
prospectivity
 Data
 Pre-Tertiary Strata poss.
 Post-Tertiary sed. Strata
 Source rock poss.
 Structure & Seal
 Water Depth & Drill Depth
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Main Hydrocarbon Exploration Risks for the Dreki Area
 Structural and stratigraphic analysis uncertainties due to difficulties of sub-basalt seismic
imaging and complex structural history, especially the amount of uplift during the
Cretaceous and Tertiary and the question of seal.
 No-where near deep offset, sub-Tertiary penetrating well control to tie seismic to
stratigraphy, therefore seismic analogue comparison with East Greenland and Norway
examples are primarily applied.
 Potential source rock uncertainties, if present most probably similar to East Greenland
type locations.
 Seismic anomalies, slick mapping indicate that hydrocarbons may be present, but have
not been confirmed through sea-floor sampling.
 The location of the JMMC relative to the Icelandic hot-spot during opening of the NorthAtlantic requires a review of traditionally used geothermal gradient models for maturity
modeling and analysis.
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Jan-Egil Arneberg
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Hydrocarbon Potential for the Dreki Area
 Best analogue comparison with East Greenland exploration examples and Møre Basin for
the Norwegian side.
 Post Paleocene sedimentary rocks of sufficient thickness and age.
 Indications of pre-opening sedimentary strata of possibly Paleozoic, Triassic-Jurassic and
maybe Cretaceous age, primarily underneath the west flank areas of the ridge.
 Potential reservoir rocks, focus on locally shallow marine to generally marine deposits,
especially submarine fans / turbidite deposits for post Paleocene deposits, and possibly
focus on limestone platform to continental deposits for the pre-opening formations.
 Potential traps present, both structural and stratigraphic.
 Hydrocarbon maturation is probably high, more gas prone if sufficient source rocks are
present.
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Possible research improvements
for a better understanding of the Dreki Area
 More NNE-SSW 2D seismic lines and denser line grid over areas of interest for a better
structural and facies interpretation
(NPD will run an infill 2D seismic survey that also crosses into Icelandic waters
this summer.)
 High resolution magnetic and gravity survey across the complete area of the Southern
Ridge complex
(NGU is flying a high resolution aerial magnetic survey close to JMR this summer.)
 Exploration well into the Main Ridge high to show if Mesozoic or Paleozoic strata exist or if
the complex structures and patterns correspond to intrusive complexes
(Norwegian government has decided to go ahead with increased research activity of the
JMR, which might lead into a research well to confirm the ridge’ s stratigraphy.
During the 2011 seismic survey by NPD this summer - will be attempted to obtain high
ridge samples that might gives some information on what age and type the pre-Tertiary
strata is exposed at the main ridge.)
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Possible research improvements
for a better understanding of the Dreki Area
 New long offset and low frequency 2D seismic survey along the outer coast of the
“Scoresby Sund” and “Blosseville Kyst” along the East-Greenland coast, where the
western end of the possible Jan Mayen Basin lies.
 MT-TEM survey (very much used in geothermal, and also for HC detection in the O&G
field)
 High density sea floor sampling campaign along seismic lines on the western flank of the
ridge
 Basin modeling study using more recent (Rey, 2003) geothermal gradient model,
estimating degree of maturity assuming that source rocks are present.
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Thank you very much for your attention !
Acknowledgements:
Kristinn Einarsson, Inga Dóra Gudmundsdóttir, Lárus Ólafsson, Thorvaldur Bragason at the National Energy Authority of Iceland
Karl Gunnarsson, Gunnlaugur M. Einarsson, Bjarni Richter, Steinar Thor Gudlaugsson, Sigurveig Árnadóttir at the Iceland Geosurvey
Bryndís Brandsdóttir, University of Iceland
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