Re-Evaluation of the Petroleum Systems of the Scotian Slope, Eastern Canada, Based on Recent Drilling Within Deepwater Nova Scotia

Prasanta K. Mukhopadhyay¹, Paul J. Harvey², and David E. Brown^3
1 Global Geoenergy Research Ltd, Halifax, NS
² Nova Scotia Department of Energy, Halifax, NS
³ Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Halifax, NS

The success at Marathon et al. Annapolis B-24/G-24 well and failures in finding oil and gas from four recently drilled wells within the Scotian Slope, Eastern Canada has definitely triggered a possible reevaluation of the petroleum systems. Although limited data is available in the public domain, earlier and current data from both sides of the Atlantic including Scotian Slope may suggest that the following four major petroleum system parameters are interlinked: formation of major turbidite sand structure related to salt movement; timing of three-phase fluid flow movement and the preservation within the defined turbidite and other structures; oil and gas stability zone related to heat flow variations; and eventually the survival of hydrocarbons within traps.

As the presence of viable petroleum systems within selected zones of the Scotian Slope has been revealed from current data, the Petroleum System Risk Assessment of future drilled targets within the Scotian Slope definitely needs a comprehensive research assimilating 3D seismic interpretation with three dimensional and three phase petroleum system modeling. Our analytical interpretations will demonstrate the visualization of petroleum system risk assessment criteria before drilling another expensive (50-80 million dollar) well within the Scotian Slope.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005