LATE CRETACEOUS PONDED TURBIDITE SYSTEMS: A NEW STRATIGRAPHIC PLAY FAIRWAY IN THE BROWSE BASIN

Abstract

Regional seismic and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Browse Basin identified a new Late Cretaceous play fairway involving ponded turbidite systems deposited within confined basins. This work highlighted the potential for isolated sandstone reservoirs in the Middle Campanian sequence of the Caswell Sub-basin. Extensional faults were expected to provide vertical conduits for charge from underlying Early Cretaceous source rocks.

The play concept was tested by the drilling of two exploration wells in 2001. The Carbine prospect was a potential stratigraphic trap involving deposition of turbidite sandstones within a localised basin set up by slumping in an intra-slope setting. Carbine–1 penetrated a 77 m thick section of high quality, 100% net-to-gross sandstone but failed to encounter hydrocarbons.

A similar ponded turbidite model was invoked for the Marabou prospect although in this case the confined basin was controlled by pre-existing topography at the toe of the slope. The trapping mechanism for Marabou was largely stratigraphic although a small area of anticlinal closure was present. Marabou–1 penetrated 102 m of good quality sandstone with elevated gas readings over the uppermost 22 m. Borehole problems prevented the acquisition of wireline logs or testing but it appears likely that the well penetrated a sub-commercial hydrocarbon column restricted to the four-way dip closure.

The well results confirmed the presence of ponded turbidite systems with excellent reservoir characteristics. Further work is required, however, to address the critical risks associated with hydrocarbon migration and updip seal. Nevertheless, ponded turbidite systems remain attractive exploration targets particularly in basins where updip seal is assisted by structuring and where the reservoirs are intercalated with prolific source rocks.