This paper was presented at the 1997 CSPG Annual Convention in Calgary

Biostratigraphic calibration of sequence stratigraphic events for the Jeanne d'Arc Basin, offshore

Newfoundland.

DAVIES, EDWARD H., Branta Biostratigraphy Ltd, Calgary AB; DUNAY, ROBERT E, Mobil Oil North Sea,

London, England; BATEMAN, JASON A., Mobil Oil Canada, Calgary AB; MCCRACKEN, JOCK N„ Mobil Oil

Canada, Calgary AB; and DUNSMORE, DENNIS J.' Mobil Oil Canada, Calgary AB;

The Jeanne d'Arc Basin is a Mesozoic failed-rift basin situated within the Grand Banks, 320 km off the

east coast of Newfoundland, Canada with recoverable oil reserves estimated approximately 2 billion

barrels. Renewed interest has spawned a basin reappraisal in sequence stratigraphic concepts.

Biostratigraphy can be a vigorous and effective tool, especially when cooperatively integrated with

lithostratigraphic and geophysical studies through a reiterative process. Each geoscience discipline acts

as a test on the other's correlations to enhance resolution in the following reappraisal. Incorporating

palynological analysis into sequence stratigraphy program allows the evaluation of paleoecological

variations such as climate, eustatics, cyclicity and floral provincialism. Precise correlations can be made

through lateral changing facies and lithologies.

Historically the application of biostratigraphy in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin has moved from assigning zones

to a stage level accuracy in the 1970's and early 1980's through reservoir correlations utilizing

assemblages and marker species. Maximum flooding surfaces have been calibrated to the boreal

northwestern European ammonite zonation principally utilizing dinoflagellate cyst events as applied in

North Sea exploration. This European dinoflagellate scheme has been successfully transferred with

minor modifications across the North Atlantic to the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of the Jeanne

d'Arc Basin. The resulting chronostratigraphic framework constrains lithostratigraphic and geophysical

data thus assists in identifying genetically related sedimentary sequences. The previous zonations for

the Jeanne d'Arc Basin have been principally based on dinoflagellates and now are enhanced by utilizing

the full suite of palynomorphs: dinoflagellates, chlorophytes, angiosperms, gymnosperms, pteridophytes

and bryophytes. This results in the detailed palynological assessment of age, paleoenvironments and

sequences using high resolution biostratigraphy techniques. A set of type sections for 2nd and 3rd order

systems tracks with a full complement of palynological bases, tops, associations and abundances peaks

are established ready to serve the needs in the impending exploitation phase of the Jeanne d'Arc Basin.