Biostratigraphy
In working towards increasing our understanding of the exploration potential in offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, work continues in advancing the stratigraphic architecture as it relates to data acquisition and drilling results.
Southern Newfoundland region – Phase 1
The Southern Newfoundland region was the focus of exploration in the 1960s and 1970s when the first exploration wells were drilled offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. Given much of the available biostratigraphic work completed in the area was conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, an update to the regional understanding, including linkage to more recent regional framework available in Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador areas, was necessary.
To further understand the regional stratigraphic architecture of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore, Riley Geoscience was tasked to undertake a review of key wells in the Southern Newfoundland region that cover a range of stratigraphic intervals over the present-day shelf, slope and deepwater areas. Phase 1 of this work presents a revised, internally consistent and regionally correlative Jurassic to Tertiary biostratigraphic (palynological and micropalaeontological) and lithostratigraphic framework. Results and reporting for Phase 1 is below.
Labrador region – Phases 1 & 2
Historically, the stratigraphic architecture of the Labrador Shelf was largely driven by seismic tied to well data; specifically with geologic time largely based on analysis of drill cuttings for biostratigraphic zonation. Much of that work was carried out around 1985 for the Labrador Shelf.
Since 1985, zonation frameworks have been refined and modified for most of the Atlantic margin basins led by improved techniques and sampling, further drilling, and further integration of regional learnings.
Partnered with Riley Geoscience, we undertook the Labrador Biostratigraphy study by selecting a representative set of wells to analyze for Micropalaeontology and Palynology, with emphasis on updating both the interpreted geologic age of the stratigraphy, as well as providing insight on the depositional environment. This information was integrated into the regional interpretation providing the foundation for extending basin-to-basin tie lines, as well as anchoring the interpretation away from the shelf and into the slope and basin regions that lack well control. Results and reporting for Phase 1 and Phase 2 are below.
