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Petroleum Geology of the Barents Sea

McGimpsey, Ian (2008) In Dissertations in Geology at Lund University
Department of Geology
Abstract
The purpose of this publication is to outline the exploration history and development of the Barents Sea region. It is
intended as an overview of the region, summarizing the various basins, reservoirs, trap systems, and source rocks.
Exploration of the Barents Sea began in the 1970s and major discoveries took place in the 1980s. Development has
been slow due to the prevalence of natural gas over oil in the region, the low price of natural gas until recently, the
distance to potential markets, difficult logistics, restricted drilling seasons and environmental concerns. Around the
turn of the century the price of natural gas increased significantly at the same time that new technology was developed
that decreased the costs associated... (More)
The purpose of this publication is to outline the exploration history and development of the Barents Sea region. It is
intended as an overview of the region, summarizing the various basins, reservoirs, trap systems, and source rocks.
Exploration of the Barents Sea began in the 1970s and major discoveries took place in the 1980s. Development has
been slow due to the prevalence of natural gas over oil in the region, the low price of natural gas until recently, the
distance to potential markets, difficult logistics, restricted drilling seasons and environmental concerns. Around the
turn of the century the price of natural gas increased significantly at the same time that new technology was developed
that decreased the costs associated with producing Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). Better cost feasibility led to
development of the first major LNG project, Snøhvit, which began production in September 2007. The area is
poised for another major development in the near future as the Shtokman field is expected to begin producing by
2013.
The Barents Sea varies greatly form the West, Norwegian, side, to the East, Russian side. The Russian side contains
much larger reserves of both gas and oil. The Norwegian side has been more affected by uplift during Cenozoic
times which caused massive erosion and the expulsion of oil from reservoirs.
The start of production in the Barents Sea will increase the available infrastructure and knowledge of regional geology
which should facilitate an increased rate of future exploration. The Barents Sea is considered by many in the
industry to be a ’hot’ region in the world for future off-shore petroleum exploration and development. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Denna publikation syftar till att skapa en grundläggande överblick av prospektering och utveckling av petroleumtillgångar
i Barentshavet. Den är tänkt som en överblick av regionen samt en sammanfattning av dess bassänger,
reservoarer, fällsystem och källbergarter.
Prospekteringen av Barentshavet började på 1970-talet, och under 1980-talet gjordes ett flertal större upptäckter.
Utvecklingen har varit långsam på grund av en större förekomst av naturgas än olja i området, lågt marknadsvärde
på naturgas, geografiska avstånd till potentiella marknader samt logistik, begränsade borrsäsonger samt miljöintressen.
Kring millennieskiftet ökade priserna på naturgas väsentligt samtidigt som nyutvecklade tekniker minskade
framställningskostnaden... (More)
Denna publikation syftar till att skapa en grundläggande överblick av prospektering och utveckling av petroleumtillgångar
i Barentshavet. Den är tänkt som en överblick av regionen samt en sammanfattning av dess bassänger,
reservoarer, fällsystem och källbergarter.
Prospekteringen av Barentshavet började på 1970-talet, och under 1980-talet gjordes ett flertal större upptäckter.
Utvecklingen har varit långsam på grund av en större förekomst av naturgas än olja i området, lågt marknadsvärde
på naturgas, geografiska avstånd till potentiella marknader samt logistik, begränsade borrsäsonger samt miljöintressen.
Kring millennieskiftet ökade priserna på naturgas väsentligt samtidigt som nyutvecklade tekniker minskade
framställningskostnaden av LNG (Liquid Natural Gas). Den ökade kostnadseffektiviteten ledde till utveckling av
områdets första stora LNG projekt, Snøhvit, som påbörjade produktion år 2007. Ytterligare ett större projekt kommer
att utvecklas inom en nära framtid då Shtokman fältet beräknas påbörja produktion år 2013.
Barentshavet uppvisar stora variationer mellan den norska regionen i väst och den ryska i öst. Den ryska regionen
innehar större tillgångar av både gas och olja än den norska. Tektonik och erosion under Kenozoikum har påverkat
det västra området mer än det östra, och den norska regionen har därför haft mindre gynnsamma förhållanden för
bildande av oljebildande strukturer.
Den påbörjade produktionen i Barentshavet kommer att gynna infrastrukturen samt kunskapen om den regionala
geologin, två faktorer som i sig kommer att kunna påskynda vidare utveckling av området. Barentshavet ses av
många inom industrin som ett ”hett” område för framtida utveckling och prospektering av fossila bränslen. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
McGimpsey, Ian
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Petroleum Geologi av Barentshavet
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
petroleum geology, geography, geology, Barents sea, geografi, geologi, petroleum geologi, Barents hav
publication/series
Dissertations in Geology at Lund University
report number
247
language
English
id
2302109
date added to LUP
2012-01-25 14:26:20
date last changed
2012-01-25 14:26:20
@misc{2302109,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of this publication is to outline the exploration history and development of the Barents Sea region. It is
intended as an overview of the region, summarizing the various basins, reservoirs, trap systems, and source rocks.
Exploration of the Barents Sea began in the 1970s and major discoveries took place in the 1980s. Development has
been slow due to the prevalence of natural gas over oil in the region, the low price of natural gas until recently, the
distance to potential markets, difficult logistics, restricted drilling seasons and environmental concerns. Around the
turn of the century the price of natural gas increased significantly at the same time that new technology was developed
that decreased the costs associated with producing Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). Better cost feasibility led to
development of the first major LNG project, Snøhvit, which began production in September 2007. The area is
poised for another major development in the near future as the Shtokman field is expected to begin producing by
2013.
The Barents Sea varies greatly form the West, Norwegian, side, to the East, Russian side. The Russian side contains
much larger reserves of both gas and oil. The Norwegian side has been more affected by uplift during Cenozoic
times which caused massive erosion and the expulsion of oil from reservoirs.
The start of production in the Barents Sea will increase the available infrastructure and knowledge of regional geology
which should facilitate an increased rate of future exploration. The Barents Sea is considered by many in the
industry to be a ’hot’ region in the world for future off-shore petroleum exploration and development.}},
  author       = {{McGimpsey, Ian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Dissertations in Geology at Lund University}},
  title        = {{Petroleum Geology of the Barents Sea}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}