The new regional 2D BeaufortSPAN seismic survey acquired in four phases from 2006 to 2010 in the Beaufort Sea provides a broad, deeper view of basins and crustal structure of the Meso-Cenozoic Canadian Arctic passive margin. The 40-km deep PSDM seismic profiles cover 22,160 km from inner shelf to over 2000 m water depth and include areas previously unsurveyed due to sea-ice limits. The survey area extends from the U.S. border and offshore Mackenzie Delta north to latitude 74° N off Banks Island. The clastic sedimentary prism attains a thickness up to 17 km and has a well-documented petroleum system that has yielded 48 oil and gas discoveries in Cretaceous- Oligocene sandstones of the delta region. A basin-scale geological interpretation of the seismic data is tied to exploratory wells in the Beaufort-Mackenzie basin and reveals significant variations in the crustal architecture of the continental margin.

Three segments of the passive margin are recognized and defined by orientation and structural styles, displaying variations from typical passive margin geometry along Banks Island, to wrench structures along the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, to a compressional foldbelt west of Mackenzie Bay. Outboard seismic profiles image the continent-ocean boundary (COB), oceanic crust, and the inferred extinct spreading center of the Canada basin. The COB is interpreted using gravity data supported by deep seismic reflectors. Together, the geophysical data support the rotational model of the opening of the Canada basin in early Cretaceous time. The regional deep imaging of the distinct tectonic architecture, structural sequence, and tectonostratigraphy of each segment are major results of this project, and advance the understanding of the geological framework of known and potential petroleum basins of the Arctic margin of Canada.

BeaufordSPAN survey phases shown on a geographic base map with minimum sea ice extent in summer 2008. Acquired lines extend from near 70° to 74°N latitude and over 500 Km EW. Our survey is enabled by technology and ice. Phase IV and OBC data are currently in processing.

Three segments of the passive margin, Banks, Tuk and Foldbelt, have been distinguished in our studies. ION BeaufortSPAN Phase 1, 2 and 3 lines are shown.