Potential hydrocarbon reservoirs of Albian–Paleocene age in the Nuussuaq Basin, West Greenland

Abstract

The onshore Nuussuaq Basin in West Greenland is important for hydrocarbon exploration since many of the key petroleum systems components are well exposed and accessible for study. The basin has thus long served as an analogue for offshore exploration. The discovery of oil seeps on Disko, Nuussuaq, Ubekendt Ejland, and Svartenhuk Halvø (Fig. 1) in the early 1990s resulted in exploration onshore as well. In several wells, oil stains were observed in both the siliciclastic sandstone and in the volcanic series. An important aspect of any petroleum system is a high quality reservoir rock. The aim of this paper is to review petrophysical aspects of the reservoir potential of key stratigraphic intervals within the Nuussuaq and West Greenland Basalt groups. Reservoir parameters and porosity–permeability trends for potential siliciclastic and volcanic reservoirs within the relevant formations of the Nuussuaq Basin are discussed below.