{"id":{"repo_id":"aachen","oai_identifier":"oai:publications.rwth-aachen.de:49939"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/aachen/oai:publications.rwth-aachen.de:49939","repository":{"repo_id":"aachen","name":"RWTH Aachen University","base_url":"https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/oai2d"},"display":{"title":"Investigations on the thermal calibration of sedimentary basin models - a case study from the Horn Graben in the Danish North Sea","abstract":"The Horn Graben is a relatively under explored part of the Danish North Sea. Although extensive exploration in the adjacent Central Graben was very successful only three exploration wells have been drilled in the Danish part of the Horn Graben. Data obtained from two of the wells were used for calibration of 1D and 2D basin modelling studies conducted within the first part of this thesis. As the exploration wells did not find petroleum it was subject of the investigation to clarify why the wells were “dry” and where possible hydrocarbons are potentially trapped. Basin models in 2D or 3D were not yet carried out for the area investigated and only very few data exist from the subsurface in the Horn Graben. Especially the unproved Paleozoic source rock gives reason for numerous speculations. Basic information on the high probability of source rock deposits from this time are given by Nielsen et al. (1998) who showed Paleozoic sediments on top of crystalline basement on seismic images. Based on this work a deeply buried source rock was implemented in the 2D basin model. Properties of this sedimentary layer were interpolated from similar hydrocarbon sources in the adjacent German sector of the North Sea (Neunzert 1996). Remnants of the Upper Jurassic were assumed to contain source rock potential since comparable sediments in the Central Graben generated hydrocarbons during the past. However, the basin model showed that insufficient thermal stress on the Jurassic source prevented hydrocarbon transformation from kerogen. A different situation is observed for the Paleozoic source. Early to late maturity levels were calculated for this stratigraphic part of the graben. If the sediments are present, hydrocarbons must have been generated from this source since the Jurassic. Extensive salt deposits from the Permian most likely prevented secondary migration of hydrocarbons from the source rock to the reservoir rock. This is one possible explanation derived from the 2D basin model. A possible migration path perpendicular to the section strike can not be denied due to the 2D limitation of the model. The PetroMod modelling software still assumes that salt has complete sealing properties and prevents any kind of fluid from migrating into higher stratigraphic positions within the basin. Recently published work from Schoenherr et al. (2007) suggests that the sealing capacity of salt is limited and there are strong indications that the theory of salt acting as a complete seal needs to be revised. It is also very probable that thinning of the salt occurred in the area leading to “sweet spots” for vertical migration through the salt layer there. During the calibration process of the Horn Graben wells questions arose regarding various limitations of the commonly used calibration method based on the EASY%Ro algorithm from Sweeney and Burnham (1990). By applying the pseudo-inverse method introduced by Thomsen and Noeth (2001) the models have been investigated regarding their resolution of the predicted maturity in the actual measured data points. Aiming at finding the simplest model that best matches the observed data led to revisions of heat flow histories initially applied and suggested for the 1D and 2D models in the first part of this thesis. Calculations for both wells led to different results for the “best fit” heat flow histories. The present day amount of heat flow was very similar in both wells whereas heat flow values calculated for the model start showed a greater difference. This can be explained with the purely mathematical approach of solving the problem. The introduction of an “Instant Sensitivity Analysis Tool” in the third part of this work allows a very quick calibration of basin models to measured vitrinite data in the area investigated. Only a few model runs in the basin modelling software are necessary to obtain a “best fit” constant heat flow that best matches the observations. Additional to the “best fit” the tool allows finding uncertainty ranges very quickly. The quality of the predicted maturity trend compared to the measured data is expressed mathematically by the Mean Squared Residual (MSR), a unit-less expression of the goodness of fit. Results are reproducible and independent from individual and subjective basin modellers “best visual” outcome. For exploration purposes the precise quantification of “best fit” and “lower” and “upper” limits and its associated MSR help assessing risks and uncertainties.","abstract_html":"The Horn Graben is a relatively under explored part of the Danish North Sea. Although extensive exploration in the adjacent Central Graben was very successful only three exploration wells have been drilled in the Danish part of the Horn Graben. Data obtained from two of the wells were used for calibration of 1D and 2D basin modelling studies conducted within the first part of this thesis. As the exploration wells did not find petroleum it was subject of the investigation to clarify why the wells were “dry” and where possible hydrocarbons are potentially trapped. Basin models in 2D or 3D were not yet carried out for the area investigated and only very few data exist from the subsurface in the Horn Graben. Especially the unproved Paleozoic source rock gives reason for numerous speculations. Basic information on the high probability of source rock deposits from this time are given by Nielsen et al. (1998) who showed Paleozoic sediments on top of crystalline basement on seismic images. Based on this work a deeply buried source rock was implemented in the 2D basin model. Properties of this sedimentary layer were interpolated from similar hydrocarbon sources in the adjacent German sector of the North Sea (Neunzert 1996). Remnants of the Upper Jurassic were assumed to contain source rock potential since comparable sediments in the Central Graben generated hydrocarbons during the past. However, the basin model showed that insufficient thermal stress on the Jurassic source prevented hydrocarbon transformation from kerogen. A different situation is observed for the Paleozoic source. Early to late maturity levels were calculated for this stratigraphic part of the graben. If the sediments are present, hydrocarbons must have been generated from this source since the Jurassic. Extensive salt deposits from the Permian most likely prevented secondary migration of hydrocarbons from the source rock to the reservoir rock. This is one possible explanation derived from the 2D basin model. A possible migration path perpendicular to the section strike can not be denied due to the 2D limitation of the model. The PetroMod modelling software still assumes that salt has complete sealing properties and prevents any kind of fluid from migrating into higher stratigraphic positions within the basin. Recently published work from Schoenherr et al. (2007) suggests that the sealing capacity of salt is limited and there are strong indications that the theory of salt acting as a complete seal needs to be revised. It is also very probable that thinning of the salt occurred in the area leading to “sweet spots” for vertical migration through the salt layer there. During the calibration process of the Horn Graben wells questions arose regarding various limitations of the commonly used calibration method based on the EASY%Ro algorithm from Sweeney and Burnham (1990). By applying the pseudo-inverse method introduced by Thomsen and Noeth (2001) the models have been investigated regarding their resolution of the predicted maturity in the actual measured data points. Aiming at finding the simplest model that best matches the observed data led to revisions of heat flow histories initially applied and suggested for the 1D and 2D models in the first part of this thesis. Calculations for both wells led to different results for the “best fit” heat flow histories. The present day amount of heat flow was very similar in both wells whereas heat flow values calculated for the model start showed a greater difference. This can be explained with the purely mathematical approach of solving the problem. The introduction of an “Instant Sensitivity Analysis Tool” in the third part of this work allows a very quick calibration of basin models to measured vitrinite data in the area investigated. Only a few model runs in the basin modelling software are necessary to obtain a “best fit” constant heat flow that best matches the observations. Additional to the “best fit” the tool allows finding uncertainty ranges very quickly. The quality of the predicted maturity trend compared to the measured data is expressed mathematically by the Mean Squared Residual (MSR), a unit-less expression of the goodness of fit. Results are reproducible and independent from individual and subjective basin modellers “best visual” outcome. For exploration purposes the precise quantification of “best fit” and “lower” and “upper” limits and its associated MSR help assessing risks and uncertainties.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Beha, Andreas Karl Anton"],"institution":"Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Littke, Ralf"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2007,"date_issued":"2007","date_published":"2007","updated_at":"2026-07-30T19:40:16Z","subjects":["info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/550","Vitrinit","Geowissenschaften","Beckenmodellierung","Basin modelling","Horn Graben","Heat flow","Pseudo inverse modelling"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/search?p=id:%22RWTH-CONV-112507%22"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/search?p=id:%22RWTH-CONV-112507%22","href":"https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/search?p=id:%22RWTH-CONV-112507%22","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/49939","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"source_record":{"url":"https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/oai2d?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_dc&identifier=oai%3Apublications.rwth-aachen.de%3A49939","prefix":"oai_dc"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Littke, Ralf"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Beha, Andreas Karl Anton"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:coverage","label":"Dc Coverage","values":["DE"]},{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2007"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University"]},{"key":"dc:relation","label":"Dc Relation","values":["info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/urn/urn:nbn:de:hbz:82-opus-21640"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis","info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/550","Vitrinit","Geowissenschaften","Beckenmodellierung","Basin modelling","Horn Graben","Heat flow","Pseudo inverse modelling"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/49939","https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/search?p=id:%22RWTH-CONV-112507%22"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The Horn Graben is a relatively under explored part of the Danish North Sea. Although extensive exploration in the adjacent Central Graben was very successful only three exploration wells have been drilled in the Danish part of the Horn Graben. Data obtained from two of the wells were used for calibration of 1D and 2D basin modelling studies conducted within the first part of this thesis. As the exploration wells did not find petroleum it was subject of the investigation to clarify why the wells were “dry” and where possible hydrocarbons are potentially trapped. Basin models in 2D or 3D were not yet carried out for the area investigated and only very few data exist from the subsurface in the Horn Graben. Especially the unproved Paleozoic source rock gives reason for numerous speculations. Basic information on the high probability of source rock deposits from this time are given by Nielsen et al. (1998) who showed Paleozoic sediments on top of crystalline basement on seismic images. Based on this work a deeply buried source rock was implemented in the 2D basin model. Properties of this sedimentary layer were interpolated from similar hydrocarbon sources in the adjacent German sector of the North Sea (Neunzert 1996). Remnants of the Upper Jurassic were assumed to contain source rock potential since comparable sediments in the Central Graben generated hydrocarbons during the past. However, the basin model showed that insufficient thermal stress on the Jurassic source prevented hydrocarbon transformation from kerogen. A different situation is observed for the Paleozoic source. Early to late maturity levels were calculated for this stratigraphic part of the graben. If the sediments are present, hydrocarbons must have been generated from this source since the Jurassic. Extensive salt deposits from the Permian most likely prevented secondary migration of hydrocarbons from the source rock to the reservoir rock. This is one possible explanation derived from the 2D basin model. A possible migration path perpendicular to the section strike can not be denied due to the 2D limitation of the model. The PetroMod modelling software still assumes that salt has complete sealing properties and prevents any kind of fluid from migrating into higher stratigraphic positions within the basin. Recently published work from Schoenherr et al. (2007) suggests that the sealing capacity of salt is limited and there are strong indications that the theory of salt acting as a complete seal needs to be revised. It is also very probable that thinning of the salt occurred in the area leading to “sweet spots” for vertical migration through the salt layer there. During the calibration process of the Horn Graben wells questions arose regarding various limitations of the commonly used calibration method based on the EASY%Ro algorithm from Sweeney and Burnham (1990). By applying the pseudo-inverse method introduced by Thomsen and Noeth (2001) the models have been investigated regarding their resolution of the predicted maturity in the actual measured data points. Aiming at finding the simplest model that best matches the observed data led to revisions of heat flow histories initially applied and suggested for the 1D and 2D models in the first part of this thesis. Calculations for both wells led to different results for the “best fit” heat flow histories. The present day amount of heat flow was very similar in both wells whereas heat flow values calculated for the model start showed a greater difference. This can be explained with the purely mathematical approach of solving the problem. The introduction of an “Instant Sensitivity Analysis Tool” in the third part of this work allows a very quick calibration of basin models to measured vitrinite data in the area investigated. Only a few model runs in the basin modelling software are necessary to obtain a “best fit” constant heat flow that best matches the observations. Additional to the “best fit” the tool allows finding uncertainty ranges very quickly. The quality of the predicted maturity trend compared to the measured data is expressed mathematically by the Mean Squared Residual (MSR), a unit-less expression of the goodness of fit. Results are reproducible and independent from individual and subjective basin modellers “best visual” outcome. For exploration purposes the precise quantification of “best fit” and “lower” and “upper” limits and its associated MSR help assessing risks and uncertainties."]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Aachen : Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University 109 S. : graph. Darst. (2007). = Aachen, Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2007"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Investigations on the thermal calibration of sedimentary basin models - a case study from the Horn Graben in the Danish North Sea"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Littke, Ralf"],"dc:coverage":["DE"],"dc:creator":["Beha, Andreas Karl Anton"],"dc:date":["2007"],"dc:description":["The Horn Graben is a relatively under explored part of the Danish North Sea. Although extensive exploration in the adjacent Central Graben was very successful only three exploration wells have been drilled in the Danish part of the Horn Graben. Data obtained from two of the wells were used for calibration of 1D and 2D basin modelling studies conducted within the first part of this thesis. As the exploration wells did not find petroleum it was subject of the investigation to clarify why the wells were “dry” and where possible hydrocarbons are potentially trapped. Basin models in 2D or 3D were not yet carried out for the area investigated and only very few data exist from the subsurface in the Horn Graben. Especially the unproved Paleozoic source rock gives reason for numerous speculations. Basic information on the high probability of source rock deposits from this time are given by Nielsen et al. (1998) who showed Paleozoic sediments on top of crystalline basement on seismic images. Based on this work a deeply buried source rock was implemented in the 2D basin model. Properties of this sedimentary layer were interpolated from similar hydrocarbon sources in the adjacent German sector of the North Sea (Neunzert 1996). Remnants of the Upper Jurassic were assumed to contain source rock potential since comparable sediments in the Central Graben generated hydrocarbons during the past. However, the basin model showed that insufficient thermal stress on the Jurassic source prevented hydrocarbon transformation from kerogen. A different situation is observed for the Paleozoic source. Early to late maturity levels were calculated for this stratigraphic part of the graben. If the sediments are present, hydrocarbons must have been generated from this source since the Jurassic. Extensive salt deposits from the Permian most likely prevented secondary migration of hydrocarbons from the source rock to the reservoir rock. This is one possible explanation derived from the 2D basin model. A possible migration path perpendicular to the section strike can not be denied due to the 2D limitation of the model. The PetroMod modelling software still assumes that salt has complete sealing properties and prevents any kind of fluid from migrating into higher stratigraphic positions within the basin. Recently published work from Schoenherr et al. (2007) suggests that the sealing capacity of salt is limited and there are strong indications that the theory of salt acting as a complete seal needs to be revised. It is also very probable that thinning of the salt occurred in the area leading to “sweet spots” for vertical migration through the salt layer there. During the calibration process of the Horn Graben wells questions arose regarding various limitations of the commonly used calibration method based on the EASY%Ro algorithm from Sweeney and Burnham (1990). By applying the pseudo-inverse method introduced by Thomsen and Noeth (2001) the models have been investigated regarding their resolution of the predicted maturity in the actual measured data points. Aiming at finding the simplest model that best matches the observed data led to revisions of heat flow histories initially applied and suggested for the 1D and 2D models in the first part of this thesis. Calculations for both wells led to different results for the “best fit” heat flow histories. The present day amount of heat flow was very similar in both wells whereas heat flow values calculated for the model start showed a greater difference. This can be explained with the purely mathematical approach of solving the problem. The introduction of an “Instant Sensitivity Analysis Tool” in the third part of this work allows a very quick calibration of basin models to measured vitrinite data in the area investigated. Only a few model runs in the basin modelling software are necessary to obtain a “best fit” constant heat flow that best matches the observations. Additional to the “best fit” the tool allows finding uncertainty ranges very quickly. The quality of the predicted maturity trend compared to the measured data is expressed mathematically by the Mean Squared Residual (MSR), a unit-less expression of the goodness of fit. Results are reproducible and independent from individual and subjective basin modellers “best visual” outcome. For exploration purposes the precise quantification of “best fit” and “lower” and “upper” limits and its associated MSR help assessing risks and uncertainties."],"dc:identifier":["https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/49939","https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/search?p=id:%22RWTH-CONV-112507%22"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University"],"dc:relation":["info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/urn/urn:nbn:de:hbz:82-opus-21640"],"dc:rights":["info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess"],"dc:source":["Aachen : Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University 109 S. : graph. Darst. (2007). = Aachen, Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2007"],"dc:subject":["info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/550","Vitrinit","Geowissenschaften","Beckenmodellierung","Basin modelling","Horn Graben","Heat flow","Pseudo inverse modelling"],"dc:title":["Investigations on the thermal calibration of sedimentary basin models - a case study from the Horn Graben in the Danish North Sea"],"dc:type":["info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis","info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-30T19:40:16Z"}