STRUCTURAL FEATURES AND EVOLUTION OF VIKING GRABEN IN THE NORTH SEA

The Viking Graben is a classic Mesozoic rift basin with typical tectonic features and evolutionary history in the North Sea Basin. Using the data from IHS, USGS, we studied the basement, faults, traps and other geological features of the basin as well as the rifting history during Triassic and the period from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. Traps formed by the rifting-caused tilted fault block, and the traps formed by inversion structure and compaction-drape strongly affect the formation and distribution of hydrocarbon. According to the tectonic evolution and sedimentation history, the basin has passed 5 phases of evolution:(1)pre-rift phase; (2) phase Ⅰ of rifting; (3) phase Ⅰ of the thermal subsidence; (4) phase Ⅱ of the rifting; and (5) phase Ⅱ of the thermal subsidence.