Basement highs: definitions, characterisation and origins

Abstract

A glossary of commonly used terms related to the geometric forms and geological settings of basement highs is presented to assist cross-disciplinary understanding, qualifying prefixes for the term basement are discussed and a scheme for characterising basement highs is presented. This scheme is designed to standardise, and to add rigour to, description of basement highs. It will thereby enhance basement high comparisons and assist understanding of basement highs across technical disciplines. The scheme enables systematic characterisation of: the geometry of a basement high; the lithologic units and structures in, above and around it; timings; tectonics and origins of the basement high and play elements relating to resource prospectivity. Use of this scheme is demonstrated using the southern Rona Ridge (West of Shetland, UK Continental Shelf). The tectonic, isostatic, erosional and stratigraphic processes that form basement highs are also discussed, and examples in proven petroleum systems are presented.