TAF PUBLISHING

The timing of hydrocarbon maturation has an important implication for deeper hydrocarbon prospecting. Results from a series of basin models for the North Celtic Sea Basin display the implications of structural evolution on the timing of hydrocarbon maturation, charge history and trap formation, sealing potential, remigration, and phase change. This study adds to previously published works, which were based on 1D modeling, by generating 2D models using PetroModTM software. Seismic data have been used to reconstruct the regional structural framework, while the integrated wireline logs and geochemical data provided lithological, porosity, and palaeothermal information. The palaeothermal values and available vitrinite reϐlectance data have been used to calibrate the models to present day heat ϐlow of 52mW/m2. Results from this study show that hydrocarbon maturation, generation, and migration were affected by the Triassic and Late Jurassic rifting activities, resulting in a complex charge history and trap modiϐication through time. The Late Jurassic source rocks (PurbecK) attained peak maturation for oil in late Cretaceous while the Early Jurassic Source rocks (Liassic and Toarcian) entered the gas window in Early Cretaceous. Analysis of the petroleum systems for deeper hydrocarbon prospecting suggests that two expulsion phases of hydrocarbons occurred in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous respectively. This result suggests that there is potential for charge of suitable reservoir facies at depth if the reservoir quality can be preserved. Hydrocarbon preservation risk is low in anticlinal structures but there is a high risk of hydrocarbon remigration along modi- ϐied fault planes in fault-dependent structures. The study demonstrates how basin geometry has changed through time, due to multiple tectonic events, leading to modiϐication of older traps.