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8/9/2019 Palinologi Suriname

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In Suriname, palynology plays an important role in hydrocarbon exploration.

In onshore prospecting, large-scale palynological analyses are carried out.

The paleoenvironmental information derived from palynology is combined

with detailed log response and sedimentological analyses. The combined

data serve as input for the 3D paleogeographic maps that are the starting

point for the further development of the field. In addition, the maps have

powerful predictive value for locating ‘sweet spots’ in the immediate vicinity

of the field.

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Finding the right pollen to find the oil

The role of palynologyin the onshore explorationprogramme of Suriname

Geobiology

Fig. 1 Location of the Tambaredjo and Calcutta oil fields near Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname.

The Suriname-Guyana basin holds high

promise of hydrocarbons. This passive-

margin basin has a thick, predominantly

clastic sedimentary cover and contains a

first-class source rock, the Cenomanian-

Turonian Canje Formation. The expectations

for the near future are high, with major

seismic programmes being executed and

many exploration wells being spudded or

planned. Yet, despite decades of exploration

activity in the area, the only hydrocarbonreserves to be found so far are the onshore

Calcutta and Tambaredjo oil fields in

Suriname (Fig. 1). Combined, the proven

reserves of these fields exceed more than one

billion barrels of oil. The oil in these fields is

trapped stratigraphically in coastal reservoir

sands at relatively shallow depths, but oil

exploration in the onshore area is more

complicated than it seems. While oil shows

are quite common in wildcats, finding and

developing new fields is more of a challenge.

Recently, the state-owned Staatsolie company

developed a play concept for the onshore

called the “Palaeocene-Eocene Fairway”.


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Geobiology

The role of palynology in the onshore exploration programme of Suriname

Proxapertites cursus

Psila

Foveotriletes margaritae

Bombacacidites annae

Apectodinium sp.

Lagoon

Mudflat Tidal Inlet

Estuary

Potential Reservoirs!

Fig. 2 3D representation of the Paleocene-Eocene paleogeography of the Suriname-Guyana Basin margin. Clays predominate in the tidal flats

(indicated in brown-grey), the estuarine and shallow marine environments are dominated by sands (indicated in yellow) .

For each environment, characteristic palynomorphs are displayed.


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Geobiology


lporites crassus

Adnatosphaeridium multispinosumMudflat

No Seal!

In this play concept, palynology fulfils an

important role. In brief, the concept predicts

that hydrocarbon accumulations are

restricted to those areas where clay is

sufficiently represented in the sedimentary

column. Typically, these clays are found

within tidal flat settings, away from major

river systems (Fig. 2). The play concept

assumes that the palaeo-valleys of the major

river systems from the Palaeocene and

Eocene ran from South to North and were

situated at the same locations as the present-

day large rivers. This is supported by thesandy nature and lack of seal in wells drilled

near the Nickerie and Corantijn rivers. In

between these rivers, mud flats with tidal

inlet complexes are expected. These mud flats

stretch out in a narrow belt parallel to the

palaeo coastline (Fig. 3). When studied in

detail, the belt can be subdivided in separate

patches (Fig. 4), each of which is represented

by an intricate 3D network of sands and

clays. Once a patch has been acknowledged

as a prospect, detailed sediment-

petrographical and palynological studies are

carried out. Log responses are used to

establish high-resolution correlations

between the closely spaced wells and

palynology is then used to map, both in time

and space, the outline and distribution of the

various palaeoenvironments.


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Geobiology


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surface and its natural resources.

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Geobiology

Fig. 3 Cross section of the onshore basin margin against the stratigraphy. The prospective mud

flats are restricted to the narrow belt between the red lines.

Sand is indicated in yellow, clay in black and oil is indicated in green.

Fig. 4 Play map of the Paleocene – Eocene Fairway, developed by the state-owned Staatsolie

Maatschappij Suriname NV.

Prospective areas are indicated in green, sand-prone areas in yellow and the producing

Tambaredjo and Calcutta oil fields in purple. The dotted line represents the Suriname-

Guyana Basin margin.