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Introduction
Introduction and Scope
On the Scotian Shelf, within the central portion of the Sable
Central Scotian Margin - Subbasin, reservoir quality sands are generally common
Parcels 1 & 2, 7-11 within the Jurassic Mic Mac and Cretaceous Missisauga
Formations. The Mic Mac Formation records this first phase
Regional Overview of delta progradation into these subbasins, represented by
distributary channel and delta front fluvial sands cyclically
Sediment Delivery Systems interfingering with prodelta and shelf marine shales. A series
of thick sand-rich deltaic, strandplain, carbonate shoals and
Parcel Prospectivity
shallow marine shelf successions (Missisauga Formation)
dominated sedimentation throughout the Early Cretaceous.
Western Scotian Margin - These Mic Mac and Missisauga sands are the producing
Parcels 3-6 reservoirs of the five (Venture, South Venture, Thebaud,
North Triumph and Alma) Sable Offshore Energy Project
Location and Coordinates (SOEP) gas fields. Including the above five gas fields there
are a total of 23 Significant Discoveries in the Sable Subbasin
Geoscience References and a considerable number of wells with gas shows. Given
the volume of sand present in the shelfal Sable delta
complexes, it was anticipated that significant amounts of
sand should have been deposited as turbidites basinward of
the Sable Subbasin. Subsequent deep water drilling did Figure 16: Depth to seafloor within
encounter sands (Annapolis G-24: 42 m net sand, Crimson the central Scotian Margin and
F-81: 20 m net sand, Newburn H-23: 40 m net sand and Parcels 1 and 2, 5-11. (Bathymetry
Tantallon M-41: 17 m net sand, see Figure 16 for well from OETRA, 2011)
locations) and in some cases these sands were gas charged.
However, the low net to gross in these wells relative to the high net to gross landward in the Sable
Subbasin is perplexing, and has created questions regarding the shelf to slope transition in the
central Scotian Margin. The following outlines the approach and results of a study undertaken by the
CNSOPB to better understand the connection between shelf and slope deposits.
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This line is tied to multiple wells on the shelf and slope, mapped seismic horizons from the
however, in order to intersect all the features of interest shelf to deep water, faulting
(i.e. canyon erosion and expanded growth sections on the related to basin subsidence and
slope) this line does not directly intersect all key wells. salt withdrawal and salt. Well
penetrations are also shown, some
The 160 km long profile begins at the Uniacke G-72 well on wells have been projected onto
the shelf and extends onto the Scotian Slope ending near the this line from distances of up to 15
3500 m bathymetric contour (Figure 16). Figure 19 is a km away in the strike direction.
stratigraphic column which links the key seismic horizons The interpretation of basement is
noted on the line drawing to the lithostratigraphy of the schematic as the seismic imaging
Scotian Margin. does not produce a strong
reflection at these burial depths.
The location of features interpreted to be shelf edges are
Seismic horizons T51-J158 are
noted on the line drawing by the circled letters A-E and a labeled, along with the locations
map view of their basinward progression is shown on figure of canyons A-E.
20. A description of the features used to delineate the shelf
break trajectories is discussed below.
These four canyon incisions provide good examples of the interpreted shelf edge erosional systems
within the study area. Other equivalent aged canyon systems have also been identified in other areas
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Conclusions
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