Regional magma plumbing and emplacement mechanisms of the Faroe-Shetland Sill Complex: implications for magma transport and petroleum systems within sedimentary basins

Schofield, N. et al. (2017) Regional magma plumbing and emplacement mechanisms of the Faroe-Shetland Sill Complex: implications for magma transport and petroleum systems within sedimentary basins. Basin Research, 29(1), pp. 41-63. (doi: 10.1111/bre.12164)

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Abstract

The movement of magma through the shallow crust and the impact of subsurface sill complexes on the hydrocarbon systems of prospective sedimentary basins has long been an area of interest and debate. Based on 3D seismic reflection and well data, we present a regional analysis of the emplacement and magmatic plumbing system of the Palaeogene Faroe-Shetland Sill Complex (FSSC), which is intruded into the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sequences of the Faroe-Shetland Basin (FSB). Identification of magma flow directions through detailed seismic interpretation of approximately 100 sills indicates that the main magma input zones into the FSB were controlled primarily by the NE–SW basin structure that compartmentalise the FSB into its constituent sub-basins. An analysis of well data shows that potentially up to 88% of sills in the FSSC are <40 m in thickness, and thus below the vertical resolution limit of seismic data at depths at which most sills occur. This resolution limitation suggests that caution needs to be exercised when interpreting magmatic systems from seismic data alone, as a large amount of intrusive material could potentially be missed. The interaction of the FSSC with the petroleum systems of the FSB is not well understood. Given the close association between the FSSC and potential petroleum migration routes into some of the oil/gas fields (e.g. Tormore), the role the intrusions may have played in compartmentalisation of basin fill needs to be taken fully into account to further unlock the future petroleum potential of the FSB.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Schofield, N. et al. (2015) Regional magma plumbing and emplacement mechanisms of the Faroe-Shetland Sill Complex: implications for magma transport and petroleum systems within sedimentary basins. Basin Research, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bre.12164/. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Brown, Dr David
Authors: Schofield, N., Holford, S., Millett, J., Brown, D., Jolley, D., Passey, S., Muirhead, D., Grove, C., Magee, C., Murray, J., Hole, M., Jackson, C., and Stevenson, C.
Subjects:Q Science > QE Geology
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Basin Research
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0950-091X
ISSN (Online):1365-2117
Published Online:19 November 2015
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Authors
First Published:First published in Basin Research 29(1):41-63
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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