Sequence stratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous in the Eastern Barents Sea

Abstract

The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in the Eastern Barents Sea Basin are up to 2 km thick and represent one of the least studied Arctic intervals. Here, for the first time, we present a detailed analysis of 43,000 km of 2D seismic profiles, as well as well-log and core data from 24 offshore wells with the aim to create a comprehensive sequence stratigraphic framework that can be integrated with the rest of the basin. Results show that (1) seven third-order sequences and five types of clinoforms can be identified based on integrated seismic and well data. The age of each sequence was established based on published biostratigraphic investigations along with new dinocyst interpretations included in this study; (2) the deep marine basin was gradually filled with sediments coming from north, east and south as a response to HALIP, Canada Basin opening and Cimmerian uplift of Novaya Zemlya, and was preserved only in the south-western part of the Barents Sea Basin at the end of Early Cretaceous and (3) both Eastern Barents Sea and West Siberia Basin share similarities in sedimentary environments and tectonic setting, though the spatial distribution of clastic reservoirs in Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous mega-sequence heavily depends on the source areas that require more provenance focused research. The results presented here can be used in further regional exploration in the area and to better understand the geodynamic evolution of the Greater Barents Sea Basin.