FIELD TRIP REPORT ON FIELD GEOLOGY

OF MORAY COAST
Summary;

This is a report of the field trip on geology of moray coast. During the field visit ,
geological structures in the hopeman,burgehead locations were studied,analysed
and gained a valuable information from Dr.Bryan cronin and Mr.Tim davis
through discussion. Moreover the petroleum prospectivity of hopeman and
burgehead sanstone formations were found to be good by analysing the
following properties such as Porosity, Permeability, Faults and fractures, Mineral
content and Net to gross of the rock particles.

Based on the field observations on uplifted hopeman and burgehead sanstone

formations, potential reservoir formations of north sea oil fields ( offshore
subsurface rock patterns ) can be predicted in an efficient way.

OBJECTIVES:

The main objectives is to get the physical interpretation of the rock patterns
and structures through direct observation.

Secondly to identify and appreciate the petroleum prospectivity of moray

firth rock formations.

Finally the most important point is to get used to geological terms and the
technical way of using them. (CRONIN, B., personal communication. 27th
October 2010)

Geological Background of Moray Firth:

About 250 millions years ago (Triassic age), all the continents were bonded
together forming the giant continent called PANGEA. During that period,
presently called scotland was about 10ᵒ north under this Triassic age. At about
251 to 250 million years ago ( ie during Permian age ) , due to tectonic plate
movements the laurasian plate moved from equator northwards to a position of
about 30ᵒ North.

All the way through the permain age, most of Europe and Scotland experienced
a desert environment. Due to this reason , sand dunes structures were found
widespread in the rock structures around the north sea region. By flash flooding
the elevated regions of the Scotland supplied sediments to nearby low lying
plains.During the final phase of Triassic age, the sea level raised and brought an
end to the desert conditions. The following figure gives details about the
probable geological structure of the world.

Fig1: Probable map of PANGEA about 250 million years ago

(Fretzreview.com 2010)

During Jurassic period ( 200 to 145 million years ago ) , atlantic ocean started
forming,due to the stretching of tectonic plates. A deep valley could be found
beneath the north sea absolving this movement. Most of the Scotland was
underneath the sea ,although high mountains remain above the sea level. The
sea is full of marine life which is broken down as fossils leading to hydrocarbon
deposits in the rocks during the Jurassic period.

The figure 2 shows the probable movement of tectonic plates from the Triassic
age till present.
Fig 2: Tectonic movements showing the evolution of present world from Pangea

(GEOLOGY.COM 2009)

The Permian basin, established between Europe and united kingdom can be
divided into north Permian basin and southern gas basin.the north Permian basin
is made of kimmeridge clay rocks from the upper Jurassic period.These rocks are
of the main source source rocks to Permian basins and it is referred to as Type II
source rock. The kimmeridge clay was formed of quick burial sediments of algae
and other marine microorganisms.
The southern gas basins is formed of carboniferous swamps,which leads to the
availability of good natural gas formations in that area. Moray firth is located at
the western border of north Permian basin. The following figure shows the map
of Permian basins in north sea area. Beatrice oil field is the closest oil field to the
inner moray firth region.

DESCRIPTION:

Structural features and stratigraphic patterns of the rocks at various locations of

the moray coast were studied through direct observation and experimentation.
The characteristics of the sedimentary rocks that make it as a good reservoir is
based on the following properties of the rock,

 Porosity

 Permeability

 Faults and fractures

 Mineral content and

 Net to gross
To find out the rough estimate of the above parameters, following features
should be studied and analysed,

 Grain size

 Grain sorting

 Grain shape

 Compaction or Cementing

 Faults and Fractures

 Mineral content

 Rock colour

 Cementing agent

 Depositional Environment

 Structural type

 Rock type

(CRONIN, B., personal communication. 27th October 2010)

DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION:

HOPEMAN SANSTONE FORMATIONS:

Hopeman sandstone formations extend about continuously along the southern

coast of moray firth from west of hopeman to covesea in the east for about 10
km.

Silver sand Beach (West of Lossiemouth )

Rock formations and structures on silver sand beach extend up to northwest for
about 40 miles. Sedimentary rock formation in this locality is referred to as
Hopeman sandstone formations. Rocks on this beach were of Permian age. The
Rock structures in this area are uplifted due to the plate tectonics and it extends
underneath the long narrow estuary. The surfaces of the rocks were weather-
beaten by wind, so clean rock surface was available for precise observation.

Based on the observation of the rocks in this region following interpretations are
made on the properties of rocks.

CHARACTERISTICS OBSERVATION INTERPRETATION

OF ROCK STRUCTURES
DEPOSITIONAL AEOLIAN
ENVIRONMENT
STRUCTURAL TYPE CROSS TROUGH
BEDDING
ROCK TYPE SAND STONE

ROCK AGE PERMIAN

GRAIN SIZE FINE (187-250 µm) STRONG

Based on Grain size TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
comparitor AND TRAVELLED LONG
DISTANCE FROM SOURCE
ROCK
ROUNDNESS INDEX ANGULAR ( Scale 1)

GRAIN SHAPE ROUND STRONG

TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
AND TRAVELLED LONG
DISTANCE FROM SOURCE
ROCK
GRAIN SORTING VERY GOOD( scale-50) WIND WAS THE
( Observation based on TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
sorting chart) AND THE STRENGTH OF THE
WIND WAS UNIFORM
DURING DEPOSITION
SPHERICITY HIGH

ROCK COLOUR PALE BROWN AND RED PRESENCE OF

IRON(FeO2)
FOLDS AND FRACTURES VERTICAL FRACTURES TECTONIC STRESSING
(CALLED JOINTS)
CEMENTING FRIABLE LOW CEMENTING AND
GOOD POROSITY
CEMENTING ELEMENT BARIUM SULPHATE ROCK SHOULD HAVE
BEEN FORMED FROM
DESERT ENVIRONMENT
MINERAL COMPOSITION OF CALCIUM CARBONATE
THE ROCK BARIUM SULPHATE AND
DOLOMITE
POROSITY GOOD- ABOUT 12 TO 15% DUE TO GRAIN SIZE AND
CEMENTING
PERMEABILITY GOOD DUE TO SORTING AND
CEMENTING
NET TO GROSS HIGH

QUALITY OF THE GOOD RESERVOIR DUE TO POROSITY,

RESERVOIR PROPERTIES PERMEABILITY AND NET TO
GROSS PROPERTIES OF THE
ROCKS
Rock formations this area are 10 to 13 meters high with trough cross bedding
and fractures. Closed fracture and open fractures are the two types fractures
found in these rock formations.The vertical fractures are very strong with low
angle dip at 15-20ᵒ in the northwest direction.Closed fractures decreases the
permeability of rocks, whereas open fractures increases the
permeability.Reaction of rocks to Hydrochloric acid shows the mild fizzing which
indicates the presence of calcium carbonate mineral in trace amount.

CLOSED FRACTURES
 BaSO4
VEINS

DAISY ROCK:

Daisy rock structure is located at some 5 km east of Lossiemouth. Rock

formations in this locality is of upper Permian age. The sediments of these rock
formations are bonded abd accumulated due to sand dunes .The movement of
wind played a crucial role in forming this depositional environment.
 VERTICAL
FRACTURES

FIG 13: PHOTO SHOWING THE VERTICAL FRACTURES OF DAISY ROCK (B) FORMATIONS

CHARACTERISTICS OBSERVATION INTERPRETATION

OF ROCK STRUCTURES
DEPOSITIONAL AEOLIAN
ENVIRONMENT
STRUCTURAL TYPE DUNE TROUGH
BEDDING
ROCK TYPE SAND STONE

ROCK AGE PERMIAN

GRAIN SIZE VERY FINE (187-250 µm) STRONG

Based on Grain size TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
comparitor AND TRAVELLED LONG
DISTANCE FROM SOURCE
ROCK
ROUNDNESS INDEX ANGULAR ( Scale 1)

GRAIN SHAPE ROUND STRONG

GRAIN SORTING VERY GOOD( scale-50)
( Observation based on
sorting chart)
TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
AND TRAVELLED LONG
DISTANCE FROM SOURCE
ROCK
WIND WAS THE
TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
AND THE STRENGTH OF THE
WIND WAS UNIFORM
DURING DEPOSITION
SPHERICITY LOW

ROCK COLOUR REDDISH BROWN PRESENCE OF

IRON(FeO2)
FOLDS AND FRACTURES VERTICAL FRACTURES ERODED BY SEA WATER
(CALLED JOINTS)
CEMENTING HARD GOOD CEMENTING

CEMENTING ELEMENT SILICATE AND ROCK SHOULD HAVE

QUARTZ BEEN FORMED FROM
DESERT ENVIRONMENT
MINERAL COMPOSITION OF CALCIUM CARBONATE
THE ROCK BARIUM SULPHATE AND
DOLOMITE
POROSITY LOW- ABOUT 5% DUE TO GRAIN SIZE AND
CEMENTING
PERMEABILITY LOW DUE TO SORTING AND
CEMENTING
NET TO GROSS HIGH

QUALITY OF THE POOR RESERVOIR

RESERVOIR

Daisy rock structures are made up of sequence of horizontal beds with less
stratification.Both vertical and horizontal layering can be found.The folded
regions of rock structures are due to syn sedimentary deformations.the fabric of
the rock controls the porosity and permeability.

From the faults found in these rock structures , it can inferred that there would
have been lot of water movement in this area.In addition to it, there are two
types of bedding pattern such as slumped bedding & disturbed bedding can be
observed in daisy rock structures.
 HARD CEMENTED PLANES
REMAIN UNERODED

: PHOTOS SHOWING ROCKS IN DAISY ROCK (A) LOCALITY WHICH ARE ERODED BY SEA WATER.
THE HARD CEMENTED PLANES REMAIN UNERODED.

TROUGH
CROSS

FIG 15: PHOTO SHOWING THE TROUGH CROSS BEDDING ON A ROCK IN DAISY ROCK (A)
LOCALITY
 VERTICAL
FRACTURES

FIG 16: PHOTO SHOWING VERTICAL FRACTURES ON A ROCK IN DAISY ROCK (A) LOCALITY

FIG 19: PHOTO SHOWING DISTURED BEDDING FEAUTURE AT DAISY ROCK (A) LOCALITY

(Agullana 2008 p.13 fig. 17)

FIG 18: PHOTO SHOWING THE PRESENCE OF SLUMPED BEDDING AT DAISY ROCK (A) LOCALITY

(Agullana 2008 p.13 fig. 16)

1180 STRIKE AND 100 NORTH

PHOTO SHOWING THE OVEVIEW OF DAISY ROCK (B) LOCALITY AND THE STRIKE ANGLE OF THE
ROCK STRUCTURES. THE HIGH STRIKE ANGLE IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE STRUCTURE IS
FORMED FROM SAND DUNES

COVE BAY:

Cove bay region is located to west of daisy rock for about 2-3 km. Rock
formations in this region is famous for its compressed reversed displacement
fault.The high angle fault ( 60-70ᵒ) moving south has hanging wall on the right
hand side and foot wall on left side.The pattern of rock structures clearly exhibits
the fault was caused due to the compression and later on reverse fault occurred
due to the tectonic plate movement.

CHARACTERISTICS OBSERVATION INTERPRETATION

OF ROCK STRUCTURES
DEPOSITIONAL AEOLIAN
ENVIRONMENT
STRUCTURAL TYPE LARGE SCALE CROSS
BEDDING
ROCK TYPE SAND STONE

ROCK AGE PERMIAN

GRAIN SIZE FINE (187-250 µm)

Based on Grain size
comparitor
ROUNDNESS INDEX ANGULAR ( Scale 1)

GRAIN SHAPE ROUND

GRAIN SORTING VERY GOOD( scale-50) WIND WAS THE

( Observation based on TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
sorting chart) AND THE STRENGTH OF THE
WIND WAS UNIFORM
DURING DEPOSITION
SPHERICITY LOW

ROCK COLOUR LIGHT BROWN PRESENCE OF

IRON(FeO2)
CEMENTING HARD GOOD CEMENTING

CEMENTING ELEMENT SILICA ROCK SHOULD HAVE

BEEN FORMED FROM
DESERT ENVIRONMENT
MINERAL COMPOSITION OF CALCIUM CARBONATE
THE ROCK BARIUM SULPHATE AND
DOLOMITE
POROSITY GOOD- ABOUT20%

FAULT EXTENSIONAL FAULT PLATE TECTONICS

/COMPRESSION AND STIMULATED THE
 REVERSE DISPLACEMENT COMPRESSION FAULT FOR
FAULT THE REVERSE FAULT TO
OCCUR
PERMEABILITY BOTH VERTICAL AND DUE TO POOR CEMENTING
HORIZONTAL
PERMEABILITY ARE GOOD
NET TO GROSS VERY HIGH

QUALITY OF THE GOOD

RESERVOIR

Glass and scrap marks were detected on the surface of the foot wall at the fault
plane of rock structure. The movement of rock structures over one another
results in the loss of energy which can be detected through glass marks.The
directed up movement of the hanging wall can be indicated by scrap marks.

FAULT PLANE (HIGH

WIND RIPPLE

HIGHLY HIGHLY POROUS AND

CEMENTED FOOT PERMEABLE HANGING
WALL WALL
FIG 20: PHOTO SHOWING THE OVERVIEW OF THE COVE BAY LOCALITY
FIG 20: PHOTO SHOWING THE OVERVIEW OF THE COVE BAY LOCALITY
GLASS
MARKS

SCRAP MARKS
SHOWING
UPWARD
MOVEMENT

FIG 24: PHOTO SHOWING PRESENCE OF GLASS AND SCRAP IN THE FOOTWALL ROCK
SURFACE OF COVESEA LOCALITY
 TROUGH CROSS

FIG 23: PHOTO SHOWING TROUGH CROSS BEDDING AT COVEBAY LOCALITY

BURGHEAD SANSTONE FORMATIONS:

Burghead sandstone formation extends almost 40m east from burgehead
harbour to southwest of lossiemouth, where is cut off by a N-S fault.Rock
formations comprises of fluvial reddisg brown pebbly ( up to 50mm)
sandstone.Foresetting and lensing along with some imbrications of the pebbles
indicates fluvial transport to the NE. Burgehead sandstone formation are formed
by river basin depositional movement which is indicated by the various
layering.Different layers with different mineral composition indicates the
movement of water with some periodic interval.

CHARACTERISTICS OBSERVATION INTERPRETATION

OF ROCK STRUCTURES
DEPOSITIONAL AEOLIAN
ENVIRONMENT
STRUCTURAL TYPE HORIZONTAL CROSS FLOW OF RIVER
BEDDING
ROCK TYPE SAND STONE

ROCK AGE TRIASSIC

GRAIN SIZE FINE TO CARSE(500-1000

µm)
Based on Grain size
comparitor
ROUNDNESS INDEX SUB ANGULAR ( Scale 2)

GRAIN SHAPE ROUND

GRAIN SORTING MODERATE( scale-33) WIND WAS THE

( Observation based on TRANSPORTATION MEDIUM
sorting chart) AND THE STRENGTH OF THE
WIND WAS UNIFORM
DURING DEPOSITION
SPHERICITY LOW

ROCK COLOUR LIGHT BROWN PRESENCE OF

IRON(FeO2)
CEMENTING HARD GOOD CEMENTING

CEMENTING ELEMENT SILICA ROCK SHOULD HAVE

BEEN FORMED FROM
DESERT ENVIRONMENT
MINERAL COMPOSITION OF BARIUM SULPHATE AND
THE ROCK DOLOMITE
POROSITY POOR- ABOUT5%

PERMEABILITY POOR

NET TO GROSS HIGH

QUALITY OF THE MODERATE
RESERVOIR
CONCLUSION:

 Physical observation of rock in geological point of view, gave a brief

outlook of the petroleum geological systems in Moray coast.

 Petroleum prospectivity of the rock formations in the Moray Firth is

predicted through observation of rock properties and structures.

 Impact & effects of small geological movement leading to drastic

change in the petroleum prospectivity can be visualized through
this field trip.
REFERENCE:

AGULANNA EDWARD EMEKA, 2008. Subsurface Field Trip Report-MORAY FIRTH-

Submission Combined 2. [online]. Aberdeen: SCRIBD.COM. Available From:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8341792/Subsurface-Field-Trip-ReportMORAY-
FIRTHSubmission-Combined-2. [Accessed 10 December 2009]

CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE, 2009. Pangea. [online]. Canada:

CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE. Available From:
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas/Images/Glossary/Pangea.png.
[Accessed 5 November 2009]

CRONIN, B. 2009. The Moray Firth: Overview of Petroleum Systems from Field
Geology.Aberdeen. Unpublished.