Offshore staff
LEDBURY, UK – Merlin Energy Resources has completed a subsurface project offshore Ireland.
“The Standard Stratigraphic Nomenclature of Offshore Ireland: An Integrated Lithostratigraphic, Biostratigraphic and Sequence Stratigraphic Framework” was commissioned and funded by the Irish Shelf Petroleum Studies Group of the Petroleum Infrastructure Programme.
Merlin conducted the study in association with Palaeodate, Network Stratigraphic Consulting, Riley Geoscience, Integrated Geochemical Interpretation and Dunford Exploration, with support from the Petroleum Affairs Division (PAD) of Ireland’s Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
The consortium has delivered an atlas that documents new lithostratigraphic, chronostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and sequence stratigraphic frameworks for the drilled Phanerozoic section of the Ireland offshore region.
As a database for the study, the consortium included all legacy stratigraphic data from 264 released wells and boreholes, with various UK offshore wells close to the median line with Ireland also tied to the evaluations.
In addition, new biostratigraphic data were generated via additional sample analysis from key wells and intervals.
The atlas includes correlations and comparisons between the newly defined stratigraphy and that of the UK offshore, UK onshore, North Sea and offshore Eastern Canada regions.
A regional evaluation of source rock potential has identified 21 formations with hydrocarbon generating potential, based on the newly developed stratigraphy.
Clare Morgan, head of Technical Section, PAD, said: “This multi-year study… is a milestone project. The illustrative deliverable provides a reference tool for all geoscientists working Ireland’s offshore basins, whether industry, researchers or government-based and this unique document will be utilized for many years and decades into the future.
“As Ireland moves away from hydrocarbons to offshore renewable energy development, the repurposing of the knowledge from the oil and gas industry to the renewable energy industry, such as provided in this study, is hugely beneficial.”
12/01/2020
