THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF BRITAIN’S ONSHORE BASINS Promote UK 2014 THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF BRITAIN’S ONSHORE BASINS i Copyright DECC 2013 THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF BRITAIN’S ONSHORE BASINS Promote UK 2014 THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF BRITAIN’S ONSHORE BASINS DISCLAIMER This report is for information only. It does not constitute legal, technical or professional advice. The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not accept any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any nature, however caused, which may be sustained as a result of reliance upon the information contained in this report. All material is copyright. It may be produced in whole or in part subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source, but should not be included in any commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires the written permission of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Requests and enquiries should be addressed to: Toni Harvey Senior Geoscientist - UK Onshore Email: [email protected] Or Joy Gray Senior Geoscientist – Energy Development Unit, DECC Email: [email protected] ii Copyright DECC 2013 THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF BRITAIN’S ONSHORE BASINS Promote UK 2014 Foreword This report has been produced under contract by the British Geological Survey (BGS). It is based partly on BGS confidential reports compiled for the Department of Energy (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) during the 1980s and partly on more recent analysis, together with published data and interpretations. Additional information is available at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) website. https://www.gov.uk/oil-and-gas-onshore-exploration-and-production#resumption-of-shale-gas-exploration. This includes licensing regulations, maps, monthly production figures, basic well data and where to view and purchase released well and seismic data. Onshore seismic data and stratigraphic tops for wells are available at www.ukogl.org.uk DECC has now published the technical reports etc acquired or produced for Landward licences following the expiration of the confidentiality period provided for by the licence together with the "Appendix B" licence application documents submitted for the 1st to 8th Landward licensing rounds. Also now available are Field Development Plans and Annual Field Reports for fields where the confidentiality period provided for by the relevant licence has expired. This information can be purchased from Mosaic Information Solutions on behalf of the DECC. If you require more information please contact: Ian Picton, Mosaic Information Solutions (email: [email protected]). Relinquishment reports for some Landward licences can be found on the DECC website for download free of charge at https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/web_files/relinqs/relinqs.htm A glossary of terms used and equivalences is tabled at the end of the report. Acknowledgements We thank the following companies for supplying illustrations: BP, Roc Oil UK Ltd, Star Energy Ltd. The seven photographs (Figs. 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 4.1, 7.5, 7.6 and 8.1) were supplied by the British Geological Survey and are the copyright of the Natural Environment Research Council, NERC. iii Copyright DECC 2013 THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF BRITAIN’S ONSHORE BASINS Promote UK 2014 Contents Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iii Contents ........................................................................................................................................ iv 1 Geological overview ............................................................................................................... 1 History ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Petroleum Systems ................................................................................................................... 4 2 Wessex Basin .......................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 6 Exploration History .................................................................................................................. 8 Basin Structure ......................................................................................................................... 9 Stratigraphy .............................................................................................................................. 9 Petroleum Systems ................................................................................................................. 11 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 17 3 Weald Basin .......................................................................................................................... 18 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 18 Exploration History ................................................................................................................ 18 Basin Structure ....................................................................................................................... 19 Stratigraphy ............................................................................................................................ 20 Petroleum Systems ................................................................................................................. 20 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 25 4 Cheshire Basin ...................................................................................................................... 26 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 26 Exploration History ................................................................................................................ 26 Tectonic Setting ..................................................................................................................... 27 Basin Structure ....................................................................................................................... 27 Stratigraphy ............................................................................................................................ 28 Petroleum Systems ................................................................................................................. 28 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 35 5 Cleveland Basin .................................................................................................................... 36 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 36 Exploration History ................................................................................................................ 36 Basin Structure ....................................................................................................................... 36 Stratigraphy ............................................................................................................................ 37 Petroleum Systems ................................................................................................................. 37 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 41 iv Copyright DECC 2013 THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF BRITAIN’S ONSHORE BASINS Promote UK 2014 6 West Lancashire Basin ........................................................................................................ 42 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 42 Exploration History ................................................................................................................ 42 Tectonic Setting ..................................................................................................................... 43 Basin Structure ....................................................................................................................... 43 Stratigraphy ............................................................................................................................ 44 Petroleum Systems ................................................................................................................. 44 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 48 7 East Midlands province ......................................................................................................