The Georges Bank Basin: a quantitative basin analysis study

Using a one-dimensional (1D) fluid flow/compaction model applied to wells of the Georges Bank Basin, east coast, USA, has enabled a simulation to be made of the history of the sedimentation, basement subsidence, tectonic activity, geoheat flux evolution, maturation of organic matter, hydrocarbon generation, and migration tendency.
Based on the analysis of the basement tectonic activity, the basin's development is related to the formation and the evolution of the east edge of the North American plate. Through the simulation of geoheat flux variation, maturation of organic material and hydrocarbon generation at different positions in the basin at different time periods are analysed. Additionally, from the modelling of excess fluid pressure, porosity and permeability variations in the strata, the potential hydrocarbon migration tendency and stratigraphic traps in the basin are discussed.