| Titre | The Scott Inlet - Buchan Gulf oil seeps: Actively venting petroleum systems on the northern Baffin Margin offshore Nunavut, Canada |
| Auteur | Oakey, G N; Moir, P N; Brent, T; Dickie, K; Jauer, C; Bennett, R; Wiliams, G; MacLean, B; Budkewitsch, P; Haggart, J; Currie, L |
| Source | Society of Economic Geologists, Special Publication 2012, 2012, 3 pages |
| Liens | Online - En ligne
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| Année | 2012 |
| Séries alt. | Ressources naturelles Canada, Contribution externe 20170153 |
| Éditeur | Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists |
| Réunion | GeoConvention: Vision; Calgary; CA; mai 14-18, 2012 |
| Lang. | anglais |
| Media | papier; en ligne; numérique |
| Formats | pdf |
| Province | Région extracotière du nord; Nunavut |
| SNRC | 27F/13; 27F/14; 27G/03; 27G/04 |
| Lat/Long OENS | -72.0000 -71.0000 63.2500 62.7500 |
| Sujets | levés géologiques; levés géophysiques; levés géochimiques; bathymétrie; imagerie radar; télédétection; levés de reflexion sismiques; données sismiques; suintements d'huile; ressources pétrolières;
Mésozoïque; Cénozoïque |
| Illustrations | satellite images |
| Programme | Gestion du programme de Baffin, GEM2 : La géocartographie de l'énergie et des minéraux |
| Résumé | (disponible en anglais seulement)
New analyses of legacy geophysical, geological and geochemical data have been integrated with modern multibeam bathymetry, RADARSAT imagery, and onshore
geological mapping into a regional study of the petroleum system on the northern Baffin shelf offshore Nunavut. Industry seismic reflection profiles show that the Scott Inlet Graben is the southern end of an elongated basin (200-300 km by 25-50 km
wide) extending to the northwest along the Baffin Margin - now named Scott Inlet Basin - which contains up to 6 km of Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata. The seismic data define the outer edge of the Scott Inlet Basin; however, the landward edge is largely
unknown and may locally outcrop onshore.
Recent multibeam bathymetry data have been collected over the Scott Inlet Seep location as part of the ARCTICNET Research Program to study benthic habitats and geohazards in the Canadian Arctic waterways.
The bathymetric mapping has identified complex patterns of Quaternary seafloor sedimentary processes and modern iceberg scouring. Also imaged are (Precambrian?) bedrock outcrops on the seafloor along the western edge of Scott Inlet Basin with
indications of fault structures controlling basin development, as well as pock-marks interpreted to be petroleum escape features. In 2009, video was collected using a remotely operated vehicle showing petroleum actively venting from the seafloor.
Repeat satellite radar sea surface mapping confirms the existence of extensive and persistent oil slicks. Large slicks exceed 250 km2, each representing over 50,000 barrels of oil on the sea-surface. Whether these slicks are formed from continuous
venting of petroleum or episodic events (possibly triggered by local seismicity) is unknown.
New palynological analysis of the 1980s GSC short rock cores of sedimentary strata in the Scott Inlet Basin indicate a Turonian to Campanian age for the
mudstones of Home Bay and Buchan Gulf, and the black shales at Scott Inlet. Geological mapping onshore Bylot Island, northwest of the Scott Inlet Basin has identified middle Albian to possible Turonian strata suggesting a correlative equivalent with
the Hassel Formation, widespread in the Canadian Arctic. A 500 m thick coarse grained sandstone unit that is widespread on southwest Bylot Island may be a possible coeval equivalent for the reservoir rocks GeoConvention 2012: Vision 2
within
the Scott Inlet Basin. New geochemical analysis of the 1985 Pisces-IV oil sample confirms a biodegraded mature oil with biomarkers suggesting an upper Cretaceous marine source. The sample has similarities to the Itilli oil type identified in West
Greenland, thought to be generated from Cenomanian to Turonian marine shales.
The Scott Inlet Basin contains an active petroleum system with a significant potential for a viable hydrocarbon discovery. Mapping of the area is sparse and continued
research would greatly improve the understanding of the geological history of the area as well as provide a natural laboratory for studying the effects of petroleum contamination in an Arctic marine environment. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 305371 |
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