1. NERC Centre for Doctoral Training in Oil & Gas (2016 start)
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Project Title: Hydrocarbon prospectivity of the inshore basins along Scotland’s West Coast
Host institution: University of Aberdeen
Supervisor 1: Dr. Nick Schofield
Supervisor 2: Prof. Adrian Hartley, Prof. John Howell, Dr. David Muirhead, Prof. John
Underhill (Heriot-Watt)
Aim: To integrate offshore and onshore data to determine the geological evolution and petroleum
prospectivity of the Inshore Basins along Scotland’s West Coast
Project description: The inshore sedimentary basins along Scotland’s West
Coast, from North Scotland to offshore the Clyde (Fig. 1), represent a still
largely unknown area of offshore geology and petroleum geology within the
UKCS. Although the area has been subject to some exploration efforts with
three wells drilled in the late 80’s and early 90’s, a lack of integrated studies
means that as of 2015 we still do not have full understanding of the geological
evolution and petroleum prospectivity of the area. The last regional report
on the offshore geology of the Sea of Hebrides/Malin area was published over
20 years ago and contained only one paragraph in 90 pages dedicated to
Petroleum Geology, much of this report was based on work done in the
1970’s, with often limited offshore data. The three wells drilled West of
Scotland showed many elements needed for a petroleum system to operate
including good source and reservoir rock intervals with Upper Glen 1 also
encountering gas concentrations in the Lower Jurassic.. However, the inshore
basins along Scotland’s West Coast still have major unknowns which need to
be addressed in an objective regional study. These include; 1) Source Rock –
present in at least four different stratigraphic intervals but maturity, quality and distribution regionally is
poorly constrained, 2) Reservoir Rocks – present and shown to be of good quality in wells, but thickness,
quality and heterogeneity regionally is poorly constrained, 3) Stratigraphy and Structure – poor linkage
exists between onshore and offshore stratigraphy and structure and 4) Effects of Igneous episodes - the
potential effect on maturity of the source rocks is unknown. Although previous work has been conducted
West of Scotland, much of it was not regional or focussed on disparate and/or limited datasets. This
project will add to our understanding and improve on previous work, by integrating the most recent
seismic survey (WoB 93’), with gravity & magnetic data and recently released regional high resolution
seabed bathymetry data to produce regional horizons and details of offshore structure. This will be
combined and integrated with detailed fieldwork on potential clastic reservoir rocks of Triassic, Jurassic and
Cretaceous age (incl. porosity and permeability measurements) to assess depositional environment,
controls on thickness distribution and reservoir quality regionally. Source rock maturity, quality and
distribution will also be investigated (incl. geochemistry of the early Jurassic source rocks). This work will
be then combined into a basin model, where the effects of Cenozoic uplift on petroleum systems will be
established. Deliverables: A detailed understanding of the geological evolution and petroleum potential of
Scotland’s Inshore Basins Originality to the Science: Integration of disparate datasets and skills, i.e.,
seismic interpretation, geochemistry and fieldwork. The project will also provide an integrated
understanding of Mesozoic rifting with superimposed impact of Cenozoic igneous activity which is
important to exploration of the Faroe-Shetland Basin and other less well exposed volcanic margins.
CDT Research theme(s): Mature Basins - The UKCS is competing on a global basis for hydrocarbon
exploration, large exploration companies with big subsurface units have focus on ‘big prizes’ elsewhere
globally. Smaller, innovative companies, who are keen to tap the remaining untapped potential of the UKCS,
do not necessarily have the capabilities or resources to conduct detailed regional work to open up new
areas of the UKCS.
Research context: The Aberdeen research group is highly experienced at dealing with hydrocarbon
prospectivity and stratigraphy of volcanic margins and the student will join a thriving PhD community.
Research costs: Fieldwork and other costs (e.g. lab) will be covered by Schofield’s research budgets.
Career routes: The student will be well placed for a future role in industry, academia or governmental
organization