CR/16/040 Last modified: 2016/05/30 11:40 Carboniferous stratigraphical correlation and interpretation in the Irish Sea Energy and Marine Geoscience Programme Commissioned Report CR/16/040 CR/16/040 Last modified: 2016/05/30 11:40 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ENERGY AND MARINE GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMME COMMISSIONED REPORT CR/16/040 Carboniferous stratigraphical correlation and interpretation The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights in the Irish Sea 2015. Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100021290 EUL. Keywords O. Wakefield, C. N. Waters and N. J. P Smith Report; Stratigraphy, Carboniferous, East Irish Sea. Front cover View of the Great Orme, Llandudno, North Wales, comprising thick carbonate platform successions typical of the Carboniferous Limestone Supergroup of the Irish Sea and adjacent areas (P007274). ©BGS NERC Bibliographical reference Wakefield, O. Waters, C.N. and Smith, N.J.P. 2016. Carboniferous stratigraphical correlation and interpretation in the Irish Sea. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report, CR/16/040. 82pp. Copyright in materials derived from the British Geological Survey’s work is owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and/or the authority that commissioned the work. You may not copy or adapt this publication without first obtaining permission. Contact the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Section, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, e-mail [email protected]. You may quote extracts of a reasonable length without prior permission, provided a full acknowledgement is given of the source of the extract. Maps and diagrams in this book use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. © NERC 2016. 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To the fullest extent permitted by law The British Geological Survey shall not be liable for any direct indirect or consequential loss or damage of any nature however caused which may result from reliance upon or use of any information contained in this report. Requests and enquiries should be addressed to Alison Monaghan, 21CXRM Palaeozoic Project Leader, [email protected]. Foreword This report is a published product of the 21st Century Exploration Roadmap (21CXRM) Palaeozoic project. This joint industry-Government-BGS project comprised a regional petroleum systems analysis of the offshore Devonian and Carboniferous in the North Sea and Irish Sea. Acknowledgements A large number of individuals involved with the 21CXRM have contributed to the project. We would particularly like to thank Mark Fellgett for well data gathering and preparation. We acknowledge LR Senergy for use of ODM ™ under license. Gemma Campbell and colleagues (Centrica) are thanked for technical review of this report. 5 CR/16/040; Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ 5 Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 9 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Data and workflow ....................................................................................................... 10 1.2 Accompanying Data Sets .............................................................................................. 14 2 Carboniferous ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Ravenstonedale Group .................................................................................................. 15 2.2 Carboniferous Limestone Supergroup .......................................................................... 17 2.3 Border Group ................................................................................................................ 20 2.4 Yoredale Group ............................................................................................................ 23 2.5 Craven Group ................................................................................................................ 26 2.6 Bowland Shale Formation ............................................................................................ 28 2.7 Millstone Grit Group .................................................................................................... 31 2.8 Pennine Coal Measures Group ..................................................................................... 34 2.9 Warwickshire Group ..................................................................................................... 41 3 Permian ................................................................................................................................. 44 3.1 Appleby Group ............................................................................................................. 44 3.2 Cumbrian Coast Group ................................................................................................. 46 4 Correlation Panels ................................................................................................................ 49 5 Palaeogeography .................................................................................................................. 53 5.1 Tournaisian – Chadian (CM-Pu (early) palynozone) ................................................... 54 5.2 Arundian (Late Pu – early TS palynozones) ................................................................. 57 5.3 Late Asbian (NM palynozone) ..................................................................................... 60 5.4 Brigantian (VF palynozone) ......................................................................................... 63 5.5 Pendleian (NC pars palynozone) .................................................................................. 66 5.6 Kinderscoutian (early KV palynozone) ........................................................................ 69 5.7 Langsettian (SS-RA palynozones) ................................................................................ 71 5.8 Asturian or Westphalian D (Early OT palynozone) ..................................................... 73 6 References ............................................................................................................................. 75 Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................................... 81 6 CR/16/040; FIGURES Figure 1 Distribution of the regions described in this report in relation to the offshore Quadrants and distribution of key offshore wells and onshore boreholes that prove Carboniferous strata (with the exception of 111/15-1). ........................................................................................... 11 Figure 2 Carboniferous stratigraphical successions and correlation of the onshore UK and adjacent quadrants in the Irish Sea. The nomenclature, distribution and maximum thicknesses are those published in component