Introduction and review

The Atlantic margin of NW Europe, stretching from Norway to Ireland, represents a major new exploration frontier which has attracted significant attention, especially within the past 5 years. While some of the basins in this region have an exploration history extending back to the 1970s, recent advances in deep water production technology, together with major discoveries in the UK sector, have led to a renewal of exploration licensing and drilling along the length of the frontier region, with two major discoveries in 1997 in the Norwegian sector. Licensing levels are at an all time high in the region, with close to 350 blocks currently held under licence in the Norwegian, UK and Irish sectors (Table 1). The 3rd Frontier Licensing Round in the Irish sector in 1997 saw the award of 58 blocks or part blocks in the Atlantic margin. The 17th Round of Licensing in the UK in 1997 resulted in the licensing of 13 tranches, with a total of 76 blocks, in the Atlantic margin region. The 15th Round in Norway resulted in 26 blocks being licensed in the Atlantic margin region. While the numbers of wells drilled during the past few years has been generally low, except in the Faeroes–Shetland area, this is expected to increase in the coming years in response to increased seismic control and to licence commitments.The Atlantic margin region is composed of two broad bands of Late Palaeozoic to Cenozoic basins. A series of relatively narrow, faulted inboard basins include the Halten Terrace. . .