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Geological evolution of the Chalk Group in the northern Dutch North Sea: inversion, sedimentation and redeposition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2018

EVA VAN DER VOET Open the ORCID record for EVA VAN DER VOET [Opens in a new window] ,
LEONORA HEIJNEN  and
JOHN J. G. REIJMER
EVA VAN DER VOET*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Boeretang 200, BE-2400 Mol, Belgium Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
LEONORA HEIJNEN
Affiliation:
EBN B.V., Daalsesingel 1, 3511 SV Utrecht, The Netherlands
JOHN J. G. REIJMER
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
*
†Author for correspondence: eva.vandervoet@vito.be and eva.vandervoet@kuleuven.be
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Abstract

In contrast to the Norwegian and Danish sectors, where significant hydrocarbon reserves were found in chalk reservoirs, limited studies exist analysing the chalk evolution in the Dutch part of the North Sea. To provide a better understanding of this evolution, a tectono-sedimentary study of the Late Cretaceous to Early Palaeogene Chalk Group in the northern Dutch North Sea was performed, facilitated by a relatively new 3D seismic survey. Integrating seismic and biostratigraphic well data, seven chronostratigraphic units were mapped, allowing a reconstruction of intra-chalk geological events.

The southwestward thickening of the Turonian sequence is interpreted to result from tilting, and the absence of Coniacian and Santonian sediments in the western part of the study area is probably the result of non-deposition. Seismic truncations show evidence of a widespread inversion phase, the timing of which differs between the structural elements. It started at the end of the Campanian followed by a second pulse during the Maastrichtian, a new finding not reported before. After subsidence during the Maastrichtian and Danian, renewed inversion and erosion occurred at the end of the Danian. Halokinesis processes resulted in thickness variations of chalk units of different ages.

In summary, variations in sedimentation patterns in the northern Dutch North Sea relate to the Sub-Hercynian inversion phase during the Campanian and Maastrichtian, the Laramide inversion phase at the end of the Danian, and halokinesis processes. Additionally, the Late Cretaceous sea floor was characterized by erosion through contour bottom currents at different scales and resedimentation by slope failures.

Keywords

Late CretaceousEarly Palaeogenechalkseismic interpretationreflection truncationschannel incisionslumps
Type
Original Article
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 156 , Issue 7 , July 2019 , pp. 1265 - 1284
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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