Volume 20 Issue 4
Dec.  2014
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Article Navigation >  Journal of Geomechanics  > 2014  >  20(4): 392-403
ZHANG Chun-yu, ZHAO Yue, WANG Luo, 2014. GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND HYDROCARBON RESOURCES POTENTIAL IN NORTH SLOPE, ALASKA. Journal of Geomechanics, 20 (4): 392-403.
Citation: ZHANG Chun-yu, ZHAO Yue, WANG Luo, 2014. GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND HYDROCARBON RESOURCES POTENTIAL IN NORTH SLOPE, ALASKA. Journal of Geomechanics, 20 (4): 392-403.
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GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND HYDROCARBON RESOURCES POTENTIAL IN NORTH SLOPE, ALASKA

  • 1.

    College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

  • 2.

    Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China

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  • Received: 2014-06-05
  • Published: 2014-12-01
    Abstract
  • Based on the collected data and materials, we analyze the evolution of tectonic and stratigraphy in the North Slope of Alaska and conclude the history of exploration, geological features and the hydrocarbon resources. Four major sequences are described here which are Franklinian sequence (older than Mississippian), Ellesmerian sequence (Mississippian to Triassic), Beaufortian sequence (Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous) and Brookian sequence (Lower Cretaceous to Quaternary) respectively. The North Slope of Alaska has gone complicated history of evolution where The North Slope basin evolved here. The basin has experienced three major evolutions which are Ellesmerian orogeny, rift and foreland basin tectonic stage. The North Slope has a large petroleum potential and has gone through a long exploration history. Petroleum prospective rocks in the province, are mostly Mississippian and younger, recording a sequential geological evolution through passive margin, rift and foreland basin tectonic stage. The main mean of undiscovered resources include 24.3 billion barrels of oil, 102.6 trillion cubic feet of gas, 0.94 billion barrels of shale oil and 42 trillion cubic feet of shale gas.

     

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