Printer friendly version of the page: "Exploration History" www.geus.dk/ghexis/expl-his.htm (last modified: 1 February 2005) Print date: Friday, 3. Sept., 1.12 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland - GEUS Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K - Tel.: +45 38142000 - Fax: +45 38142050 - E-mail: geus@geus.dk

The NAD Project, Offshore East Greenland: 1978–82

After the discovery of the giant oil fields in the northern North Sea, attention was directed to areas offshore East Greenland. In 1978, the Danish government funded an aeromagnetic survey covering a major part of the East Greenland shelf (63,219 km). In the following year, funding was granted by the European Community to expand the project to include a marine geophysical survey (7793 km of seismic data, mainly south of 72°N), and the entire programme was named the NAD Project (Fig. 6.5).

NAD data are available from GEUS at copying cost.

Fig. 6.5. Seismic data acquired during the NAD project.

North Greenland, Survey studies: 1984-87

During 1984 and 1985 the Geological Survey of Greenland carried out a major mapping programme in North Greenland which included a detailed study of the distribution and thermal maturity of potential hydrocarbon source rocks - the Nordolie project. Results from this work were published in 1989 in a Survey bulletin.

Jameson Land, East Greenland: 1984-90

A group headed by ARCO was granted an exploration licence in Jameson Land, East Greenland, in 1984, just prior to the major 1986 fall in oil prices. Agip joined the group in 1988. In total, 1800 km of seismic data were acquired (Fig. 6.6). The area was, however, relinquished in 1990 without the drilling of an exploration well.

All data from Jameson Land are open file and available from GEUS at cost of copying.

Fig. 6.6. Seismic data acquired by ARCO in Jameson Land. Now open file.

North-East and North-West Greenland

The KANUMAS Project: 1990–96 The Kalaallit Nunaat Marine Seismic (KANUMAS) project was a seismic reconnaissance survey in the extreme northern frontier areas offshore eastern and western Greenland. The project was financed by 6 major oil companies (BP, Exxon, Japan National Oil Company, Shell, Statoil, and Texaco), with Nunaoil as carried partner and operator.

In all, 4071 km of seismic data were acquired offshore North-West Greenland, 5637 km off North-East Greenland, and 1323 km off central East Greenland. The KANUMAS group holds a preferential exploration position in the areas covered by the seismic surveys (Fig. 6.7).  

Seismic data from the KANUMAS surveys are available for sale – contact Nunaoil for further information.

BMP seismic acquisition in Baffin Bay: 2000

During summer 2000, BMP funded the acquisition of 1340 km of seismic data in northern Baffin Bay. The data are available for sale – contact GEUS for further information.

Fig. 6.7. Seismic data acquired by the KANUMAS Group.

Last modified: 1 February 2005 © Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)