Changes

file:M115CH10FG01.jpg|{{figure number|1}}Location map of the Kingfisher field in UKCS Blocks 16/8a and 16/8d showing the nearby producing Brae area fields and discoveries within the [[South Viking Graben]].

file:M115CH10FG01.jpg|{{figure number|1}}Location map of the Kingfisher field in UKCS Blocks 16/8a and 16/8d showing the nearby producing Brae area fields and discoveries within the [[South Viking Graben]].

file:M115CH10FG02.jpg|{{figure number|2}}Top Brae reservoir depth structure map showing the location of the exploration, appraisal, and production wells. Also shown is the 13,100 ft (3993 m) TVDSS depth contour corresponding to the [[gas-water]] contact at the top of the Brae 1 reservoir interval with structural spill point to the west. Depth contours shown are in 100 ft (30 m) TVD increments. Area of map is shown in [[:file:M115CH10FG01.jpg|Figure 1]].

file:M115CH10FG02.jpg|{{figure number|2}}Top Brae reservoir depth structure map showing the location of the exploration, appraisal, and production wells. Also shown is the 13,100 ft (3993 m) TVDSS depth contour corresponding to the [[gas-water]] contact at the top of the Brae 1 reservoir interval with structural spill point to the west. Depth contours shown are in 100 ft (30 m) TVD increments. Area of map is shown in [[:file:M115CH10FG01.jpg|Figure 1]].

file:M115CH10FG03.jpg|{{figure number|3}}Schematic geological cross section through the Brae submarine fan system from the proximal South [[Brae area]] on the margins of the Fladen Ground Spur through the Miller field area to the distal margin near the Kingfisher field 15 km (9 mi) to the northeast. Modified after Turner et al. (1987<ref name=Turneretal1987>Turner, C. C., J. M. Cohen, E. R. Connell, and D. M. Cooper, 1987, A depositional model for the South Brae Oilfield, in J. Brooks and K. W. Glennie, eds., Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Graham & Trotman, London, p. 853–864.</ref>).

file:M115CH10FG03.jpg|{{figure number|3}}Schematic geological cross section through the Brae submarine fan system from the proximal South [[Brae area]] on the margins of the Fladen Ground Spur through the Miller field area to the distal margin near the Kingfisher field 15 km (9 mi) to the northeast. Modified after Turner et al.<ref name=Turneretal1987>Turner, C. C., J. M. Cohen, E. R. Connell, and D. M. Cooper, 1987, A depositional model for the South Brae Oilfield, in J. Brooks and K. W. Glennie, eds., Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Graham & Trotman, London, p. 853–864.</ref>).

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The [[South Viking Graben]] area, in many respects, shares a broadly similar history in terms of geological evolution with the North Viking Graben, with respect to the overall timing and orientation of Late [[Jurassic]] extension, [[stratigraphy|stratigraphic]] evolution, and [[structure|structural]] stylesref name=Turnerandconnell1991>Turner, C. C., and E. R. Connell, 1991, Stratigraphic relationships between Upper Jurassic submarine fan sequences in the Brae area, UK North Sea: The implications for reservoir distribution, in Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Offshore Technology Conference: Offshore Technology Conference 6508, Houston, Texas, May 6–9.</ref><ref name=Cherry1993>Cherry, S. T. J., 1993, The interaction of structure and sedimentary process controlling deposition of the Upper Jurassic Brae Formation Conglomerate, Block 16/17, North Sea, in J. R. Parker, ed., Petroleum geology of NW Europe: Proceedings of the 4th Conference: Geological Society (London), p. 387–400.</ref><ref name=Underhill1998>Underhill, J. R., 1998, Jurassic, in K. Glennie, ed., Petroleum Geology of the North Sea: Basic Concepts and Recent Advances, 4th ed.: Oxford, Blackwell Science, p. 245–293.</ref><ref name=Fraseretal2003>Fraser, S., A. M. Robinson, H. D. Johnson, J. R. Underhill, D. G. A. Kadolsky, R. Connell, P. Johannessen, and R. Ravnas, 2003, Upper Jurassic, in D. Evans, C. Graham, A. Armour, and P. Bathurst, eds., The Millennium atlas: Petroleum geology of the central and northern North Sea: Geological Society (London), p. 157–189.</ref>. However, because of the presence of Zechstein salt at depth within parts of the South Viking Graben, including the vicinity of the Kingfisher field, the evolution of the [[Brae area]] in particular shows some similarities to parts of the Central Graben where halokinesis has provided a localized control on subsidence and the evolution of [[fault]]ing. This has resulted in a more complex and diverse range of geological structures when compared to the more classical rotated fault blocks of the North Viking Graben Brent province.

The [[South Viking Graben]] area, in many respects, shares a broadly similar history in terms of geological evolution with the North Viking Graben, with respect to the overall timing and orientation of Late [[Jurassic]] extension, [[stratigraphy|stratigraphic]] evolution, and [[structure|structural]] styles<ref name=Turnerandconnell1991>Turner, C. C., and E. R. Connell, 1991, Stratigraphic relationships between Upper Jurassic submarine fan sequences in the Brae area, UK North Sea: The implications for reservoir distribution, in Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Offshore Technology Conference: Offshore Technology Conference 6508, Houston, Texas, May 6–9.</ref><ref name=Cherry1993>Cherry, S. T. J., 1993, The interaction of structure and sedimentary process controlling deposition of the Upper Jurassic Brae Formation Conglomerate, Block 16/17, North Sea, in J. R. Parker, ed., Petroleum geology of NW Europe: Proceedings of the 4th Conference: Geological Society (London), p. 387–400.</ref><ref name=Underhill1998>Underhill, J. R., 1998, Jurassic, in K. Glennie, ed., Petroleum Geology of the North Sea: Basic Concepts and Recent Advances, 4th ed.: Oxford, Blackwell Science, p. 245–293.</ref><ref name=Fraseretal2003>Fraser, S., A. M. Robinson, H. D. Johnson, J. R. Underhill, D. G. A. Kadolsky, R. Connell, P. Johannessen, and R. Ravnas, 2003, Upper Jurassic, in D. Evans, C. Graham, A. Armour, and P. Bathurst, eds., The Millennium atlas: Petroleum geology of the central and northern North Sea: Geological Society (London), p. 157–189.</ref>. However, because of the presence of Zechstein salt at depth within parts of the South Viking Graben, including the vicinity of the Kingfisher field, the evolution of the [[Brae area]] in particular shows some similarities to parts of the Central Graben where halokinesis has provided a localized control on subsidence and the evolution of [[fault]]ing. This has resulted in a more complex and diverse range of geological structures when compared to the more classical rotated fault blocks of the North Viking Graben Brent province.

The main period of extensional rifting in the [[South Viking Graben]] occurred during the Late [[Jurassic]] ([[Kimmeridgian]]–[[Tithonian]]) and was predated by comparatively minor extensional episodes during the [[Triassic]] and Middle Jurassic. Evidence based on [[seismic data|seismic]] and well data sets shows that Upper Jurassic [[fault]]s exploited and reactivated some existing Middle Jurassic faults in places. Salt halokinesis and [[subsidence]] also, in part, controlled the location of Upper Jurassic fault systems and, as a result, the development of [[synrift]] [[hanging wall]] [[basin]]s and [[footwall]] highs. In addition, minor compressional phases within the South Viking Graben area during the Early [[Cretaceous]] to [[Cenozoic]] appear to be similar in timing and structural style to events seen in the Central North Sea. The compression resulted in structural inversion and folding of Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sequences within the immediate hanging walls of major Upper Jurassic faults. The East Brae<ref name=Branter2003 /> and North Brae structures show clear evidence for inversion<ref name=Stephenson1991>Stephenson, M. A., 1991, The North Brae Field, Block 16/7a, UK North Sea, in I. L. Abbotts, ed., United Kingdom oil and gas fields: 25 years commemorative volume: Geological Society (London) Memoir 14, p. 43–48.</ref><ref name=Brehm2003>Brehm, J. A., 2003, The North Brae and Beinn Fields, Block 16/7a, UK North Sea, in J. G. Gluyas and H. M. Hichens, eds., United Kingdom oil and gas fields commemorative millennium volume: Geological Society (London) Memoir 20, p. 199–209.</ref>). However, some of the structures that have previously been interpreted as being compressional in origin might actually have formed, in whole or in part, as a result of extensional [[tectonic]]s. In this alternate scenario, some of the structures expressed at the Base Cretaceous unconformity (BCU) can be envisaged as being related to synrift [[fault]] growth and linkage instead of the result of structural inversion.

The main period of extensional rifting in the [[South Viking Graben]] occurred during the Late [[Jurassic]] ([[Kimmeridgian]]–[[Tithonian]]) and was predated by comparatively minor extensional episodes during the [[Triassic]] and Middle Jurassic. Evidence based on [[seismic data|seismic]] and well data sets shows that Upper Jurassic [[fault]]s exploited and reactivated some existing Middle Jurassic faults in places. Salt halokinesis and [[subsidence]] also, in part, controlled the location of Upper Jurassic fault systems and, as a result, the development of [[synrift]] [[hanging wall]] [[basin]]s and [[footwall]] highs. In addition, minor compressional phases within the South Viking Graben area during the Early [[Cretaceous]] to [[Cenozoic]] appear to be similar in timing and structural style to events seen in the Central North Sea. The compression resulted in structural inversion and folding of Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sequences within the immediate hanging walls of major Upper Jurassic faults. The East Brae<ref name=Branter2003 /> and North Brae structures show clear evidence for inversion<ref name=Stephenson1991>Stephenson, M. A., 1991, The North Brae Field, Block 16/7a, UK North Sea, in I. L. Abbotts, ed., United Kingdom oil and gas fields: 25 years commemorative volume: Geological Society (London) Memoir 14, p. 43–48.</ref><ref name=Brehm2003>Brehm, J. A., 2003, The North Brae and Beinn Fields, Block 16/7a, UK North Sea, in J. G. Gluyas and H. M. Hichens, eds., United Kingdom oil and gas fields commemorative millennium volume: Geological Society (London) Memoir 20, p. 199–209.</ref>). However, some of the structures that have previously been interpreted as being compressional in origin might actually have formed, in whole or in part, as a result of extensional [[tectonic]]s. In this alternate scenario, some of the structures expressed at the Base Cretaceous unconformity (BCU) can be envisaged as being related to synrift [[fault]] growth and linkage instead of the result of structural inversion.