Uppermost Permian to Middle Triassic seals – UK and Dutch offshore wells study (CASP.BSSC.7)

The uppermost Permian to Lower Triassic Bunter Shale Formation and the Middle Triassic Haisborough Group are important seals to proposed CO2 storage reservoirs within the Upper Permian Rotliegend Group and Lower to Middle Bunter Sandstone Formation. However, the composition and sealing quality of these units is poorly constrained. This project complements a concurrent study of onshore analogue core material (CASP.BSSC.6) by focusing on core and cuttings from several UK and Dutch offshore wells that penetrate these strata. The data and insights generated by this project will inform the assessment of these potential seal units.

Research programme

Sedimentary and hand-held XRF logging and sampling will be undertaken on 27 m of core from the Endurance appraisal well in the Southern North Sea. Samples of cuttings will be analysed from the uncored section of the appraisal well along with four other uncored wells in the UK sector and two uncored wells in the Dutch sector. The composition of the samples will be determined by petrography, SEM and TOC analyses. QXRD, hand-held XRF and MICP analyses will also be undertaken on the samples where possible. If suitable material is available, a subset of samples will be subjected to mechanical strength tests.

Bunter Project Stratigraphy
Figure 1. Triassic stratigraphy of the UK and Dutch sectors of the Southern North sea.

Deliverables

Results will be delivered via an interim data release with an associated presentation for client companies and a final technical report containing:

  • A sedimentary log of ~27 m of core from the Endurance appraisal well
  • Composition descriptions and images from SEM analyses
  • Composition descriptions and images from petrography analyses
  • QXRD data
  • Hand-held XRF data
  • MICP data
  • Mechanical strength data (if suitable material is available)

The data will be presented in tables and charts. The project will conclude with a client workshop during which all data and interpretations will be presented and discussed.

Bunter Project Map
Figure 2. Early Triassic palaeogeography with offshore sample sites to be studied during this project. Final selection of sites from the Dutch sector will be made after inspection of materials. Modified from Geluk et al. (2018).

Project duration

The project will launch at the beginning of October 2022 and has a planned duration of 19 months.

Contact: Stephen Vincent for further information on this research and licensing options.

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