The impact of conjugate margins analysis on play fairway evaluation – an analysis of the hydrocarbon potential of Nova Scotia

An analysis of the rifting history of the Central Atlantic focused on Nova Scotia and Morocco reveals new plays potentially charged from an Early Jurassic source system. The revised rift model is based on newly acquired seismic refraction data, reprocessing of existing refraction and multi-channel seismic data, and integration of potential fields data from the conjugate margins. We infer from the geophysical evidence that there was volcanic rifting from south-west Nova Scotia to the Newfoundland fracture zone during the Early Jurassic, with a restricted, shallow marine environment for sediment deposition. We have integrated plate tectonics, geochemistry, and sequence stratigraphic interpretation with the aim of identifying new plays. Analysis and integration of geochemical evidence has led to a new paradigm for the exploration potential offshore Nova Scotia. In particular, there is now good evidence for deposition of a source rock in restricted marine conditions during the Early Jurassic. This source rock is capable of providing charge to an oil play in the south-western half of the Scotian margin, which is a new concept for this area.