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Paper Overview – Roger Burgess – Central North Sea Mid- to Late Triassic palynology

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​​​​We are pleased to announce the publication “Stratigraphic palynology of the Middle–Late Triassic successions of the Central North Sea“. The lead author on this paper is PetroStrat’s Roger Burgess, one of our palynology team. This paper details some of his PhD research and summarizes his key findings.

Exclusive paper overview by lead author Roger Burgess

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“This paper helps further our understanding of the Triassic sediments within the Central North Sea, but there is still much that eludes us about these enigmatic sediments””

Roger Burgess (Palynologist, PetroStrat)

Stratigraphic palynology of the Middle–Late Triassic successions of the Central North Sea

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the Triassic successions of the Central North Sea (CNS). The HPHT reservoirs contained within these successions are becoming more attractive production targets, owing in part to the mature status of the North Sea Basin. However, hydrocarbon extraction from the Triassic CNS is often hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding stratigraphy at a basinal, sub-basinal and field scale. Limited age constraint and poor seismic resolution coupled with the mini-basin topography of the Triassic deposits in the CNS makes correlation difficult. The existing correlation framework is largely lithostratigraphic, and whilst this works well in areas where mudstone members are well defined, such as UKCS Quad 30, elsewhere in the basin it becomes more problematic with confident identification of stratigraphic units becoming increasingly difficult.

Palynology has proven utility as a powerful tool for well correlation, age assessment and environmental reconstruction, and is routinely used within the Petroleum industry. However, previous palynological analysis of Triassic sediments within the CNS has been limited by poor recovery due to a combination of PDC drilling techniques, oil based muds, poor palynomorph preservation and the heavily oxidised nature of Triassic sediments.

In Burgess et al. (2020) we utilised a palynology processing technique that was effective at concentrating palynomorph recovery in intervals where palynomorphs were present. We were then able to obtain an updated palynomorph data set from which a new zonation scheme was established, which provided a chronostratigraphic framework across the basin. This also allowed for some clarity and constraint on previously disputed stratigraphic units. One of the more interesting observations from this work was the observation of a possible regional Mid Carnian unconformity, which would have implications on both correlation and reservoir development.   

This paper formed one of the chapters in my PhD Thesis is a part of the ongoing research from University of Aberdeen within their JIP Triassic research group. I would like to Acknowledge the sponsors of the Triassic phase II JIP project and also my co authors for their supervision and support during my PhD.  

Read the full paper on Science Direct

Burgess, R., Jolley, D. and Hartley, A., 2021. Stratigraphic palynology of the Middle–Late Triassic successions of the Central North Sea. Petroleum Geoscience, 27 (1). https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2019-128

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