Thermal evolution and resources of the Bowland Basin (NW England) from apatite fission-track analyses and multidimensional basin modelling
Author(s)
Lodhia, Bhavik Harish
Parent, Adeline
Fraser, Alastair J
Nuemaier, Martin
Hennissen, Jan AI
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Once highlighted for having significant shale gas resource potential, the Bowland Basin has been at the centre of both scientific and political controversy over the last decade. Previous shale gas resource estimates range from 103 to 101 TCF. Repeated events of induced seismicity following hydraulic fracturing operations led to an indefinite government moratorium and abandonment of operations across the mainland UK. We use apatite fission-track analyses to investigate the magnitude and timing of post-Triassic uplift and exhumation. Results indicate that maximum palaeotemperatures of 90–100°C were reached in the stratigraphically younger Sherwood Sandstone. We combine palaeotemperature predictions to constrain palaeo heat flow and erosion in regional basin models for the first time. Our results indicate variable maximum Late Cretaceous palaeo heat flow values of 62.5–80 mW m−2 and the removal of 800–1500 m of post-Triassic strata at wells across the basin. Regional 2D basin modelling indicates a gas-in-place estimate of 131 ± 64 TCF for the Bowland Shale. This reduces to a resource potential of 13.1 ± 6.4 TCF, assuming a recovery factor of 10%. These values are significantly lower than previous resource estimates and reflect the highly complex nature of the Bowland Basin and relatively unknown history of post-Triassic uplift, exhumation and erosion.
Date Issued
2024-06-27
Date Acceptance
2022-06-15
Citation
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2024, 534 (1), pp.39-60
ISSN
0305-8719
Publisher
Geological Society of London
Start Page
39
End Page
60
Journal / Book Title
Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Volume
534
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-01-13