Seismic imaging of faults and sedimentary systems of the Hoop region, Barents Sea: Seismic facies, fault geometries and detection thresholds

In this doctoral thesis, geophysical and geological data are combined with seismic modelling to explore how structures and sedimentary systems in the subsurface can be imaged and mapped. Seismic data of different resolution, tied to borehole information, from the Hoop area in the southern Barents Sea are used to study limitations and uncertainties related to the datasets and the interpretation of the data. The two first papers document the extent and age of a regional delta system that developed south from Svalbard to the Hoop area in the Cretaceous (approx. 125 million years ago). The last two papers focus on faults. In addition to the objective uncertainty associated with limited seismic resolution quality, paper 3 deals with subjective uncertainties due to the interpreter's background and experience. A test panel of 20 geologists/geophysicists interpreted the same dataset and these interpretations formed the basis for geological models tested with seismic modelling. In paper 4, the models are further developed with more detailed geometries and realistic properties related to faults/fractures including effects of gas (CO2) on seismic images.