Gullfaks oil field - From challenge to success
- Statoil A.S., Stavanger (Norway)
The giant Gullfaks oil field was discovered in 1978. The field contains oil reserves in excess of 1.3 billion bbl. The field is located in the northeastern past of Block 34/10 in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Gullfaks represents the shallowest structural element of the Tampen Spur and was formed during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous as a sloping high with a westerly structural dip gradually decreasing toward the east. The major north-south-striking faults, with easterly sloping fault planes, divided the field into several rotated fault blocks. Central and eastern parts of the structure have been eroded by the Early Cretaceous transgression. The reservoir sandstones are comprised of the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous as a sloping high with a westerly structural dip gradually decreasing toward the east. The major north-south-striking faults, with easterly sloping fault planes, divided the field into several rotated fault blocks. Central and eastern parts of the structure have been eroded by the Early Cretaceous transgression. The reservoir sandstones are comprised of the Middle Jurassic delta-deposited Brent Group, the Lower Jurassic shallow-marine sandstones of the Cook Formation, and the Lower Jurassic shallow-marine sandstones of the Cook Formation, and the Lower Jurassic fluvial channel and delta-plain deposits of the Statfjord Formation. The presence of gas in the post-Jurassic section and a variable water depth have complicated seismic interpretation. However, the improved quality of the 1985 three dimensional seismic survey and deliberate deepening of the development wells have resulted in a more accurate and complete structural interpretation. The Brent reserves in the western part of the field currently are being developed by the Gullfaks A and B platforms. The eastern part of the field is developed by a third platform, Gulflaks C. Water injection is the major drive mechanism maintaining reservoir pressure above the bubble point.
- OSTI ID:
- 6131525
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9010204-; CODEN: AABUD
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Vol. 74:9; Conference: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies and Gulf Coast Section of SEPM (Society of Economics, Paleontologists, and Mineralogist) meeting, Lafayette, LA (USA), 17-19 Oct 1990; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
NORTH SEA
OIL FIELDS
NORWAY
GEOLOGY
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEPOSITION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
JURASSIC PERIOD
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
RESERVES
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
SANDSTONES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
WATERFLOODING
WELL DRILLING
ATLANTIC OCEAN
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SCANDINAVIA
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
WELLS
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