Geologic framework and petroleum potential of United States Chukchi shelf north of Point Hope, Alaska
A reconnaissance grid of 24-channel seismic-reflection data indicates that most of the United States Chukchi shelf north of Point Hope, Alaska, is prospective for petroleum. The prospective rocks, which consist of four stratigraphic sequences, rest on the Arctic platform, a regional erosional surface cut across mildly metamorphosed lower Paleozoic rocks in Late Devonian time. The northern Chukchi shelf contains seven provinces of contrasting tectonic origin and structural style. Nuwuk basin, a progradational clastic prism containing 12 + km (39,500 ft) of lower and upper Brookian strata and numerous growth faults, overlies a rifted margin of Neocomian age beneath the outer shelf and slope of the northeastern Chukchi Sea. North Chukchi basin, which underlies the outer shelf west of Nuwuk basin, contains Ellesmerian beds and 12 + km (39,500 ft) of lower and upper Brookian strata. In the central part of the shelf, the platform is somewhat faulted and folded and descends to a depth of 10 + km (33,000 ft) to form the north-trending Hanna trough. West of the trough the platform rises to within 1 km (3300 ft) of the seabed and is broken by numerous normal faults. The southern part of the platform contains a thick lower Brookian section with numerous northwest-striking, northeast-verging detachment folds. The seismic and extrapolated onshore data suggest that Nuwuk and North Chukchi basins, Hanna trough, and the Arctic platform east and west of the trough could contain significant deposits of oil or gas. The potential of the fold belt, however, is modest, and of Herald arch slight. Small areas on Barrow arch and the Arctic platform west of Hanna trough lack potential because they are underlain by less than 1 km (3300 ft) of prospective section.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 6326396
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8304200-
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 67:3; ISSN AAPGB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ALASKA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SURVEYS
USA