Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.18, No.2, pp. 223-230, 1995

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

THE ROWAN SANDSTONE MEMBER (UPPER JURASSIC TO LOWER CRETACEOUS): STRATIGRAPHIC DEFINITION AND IMPLICATIONS
FOR NORTH SEA EXPLORATION

D.N. Wade*, D. A. Lawrence** and L.A. Riley+

* Lasmo North Sea Plc., Adelaide House, 626 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 SRS.

** Badley Ashton and Assocs. Ltd., Winceby House, Winceby, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 6PB
(present address: Z&S Geologi A/S, Sverdrupsgate 23, N4007, Stavanger, Norway).

+ BVR International Ltd, 18 Green View Close, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, HP3 OLE.

Abstract

The late Volgian to late Ryazanian Rowan Sandstone Member of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation was deposited along the western margin of the South Viking Graben in UK Block 16/12a in response to Late Cimmerian tectonic activity. Initial deposition was within a submarine slope-apron complex, which evolved in time to a radial basin-floor submarine fan. Syntectonic activity, eustatic sea-level changes and pre-existing basin-floor topography were the major controls on fan morphology and architecture. Coeval submarine-fan sequences are present in the northern part of Block 16/17 and in Block 15/23 of the Witch Ground Graben, implying that the Fladen Ground Spur continued to be a positive feature throughout the Late Jurassic and into the Early Cretaceous.