The 2014 NPD lithostratigraphic charts
The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has compiled a set of charts of the names of lithostratigraphic formations on the Norwegian Continental shelf.
Three charts have been prepared, one for each of the main regions of the continental shelf: the Norwegian North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Norwegian Barents Sea. The Norwegian Offshore Directorate requests industry and others to refer to these names in their reports to the directorate.
Standard of global units
In the three charts the lithostratigraphic units are presented within the framework of the nomenclature of the International Chronostratigraphic
Chart of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), which may be downloaded in both English and Norwegian official versions from the ICS website.
English and Norwegian versions may also be found on the website of the NPD:
English: International chronostratigraphic chart
Norwegian: Internasjonal kronostratigrafisk tabell
Sources and references to the names of lithostratigraphic formations used in the NPD 2014 lithostratigraphic charts
The use of formal names
The 2014 NPD charts are based on the formal official lithostratigraphic nomenclature approved by the Norwegian Committee on Stratigraphy and published in the references below. These names appear in the charts in black letters.
- Dalland, A., Augedal, H. O., Bomstad, K., and Ofstad, K. 1988. The Post-Triassic succession of the Mid-Norwegian Shelf. In: Dalland, A., Worsley, D. and Ofstad, K. (eds), A lithostratigraphic scheme for the Mesozoic and Cenozoic succession offshore mid- and northern Norway. NPD-Bulletin No 4, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Stavanger.
- Dallmann, W., K., Gjelberg, J. G., Harland, W. B., Johannessen, E. P., Keilen, H. B., Lønøy, A., Nilsson, I., and Worsley, D. 1999. Upper Palaezoic lithistratigraphy. In: Dallmann, W. K. (ed), Lithostratigraphic lexicon of Svalbard. Review and recommendationsfor nomenclature use. Upper Palaeozoic to Quaternary bedrock, 25-126. Norsk Polarinstitutt, Tromsø.
- Isaksen, D. and Tonstad, K. 1989. A revised Cretaceous and Tertiary lithostratigraphic nomenclature for the Norwegian North Sea. NPD-Bulletin No 5, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Stavanger.
- Larssen, G. B., Elvebakk, G., Henriksen, L. B., Kristensen, S.-E., Nilsson, I., Samuelsberg, T. J., Svånå, T. A., Stemmerik, L. and Worsley, D. 2002. Upper Plaeozoic lithostratigraphy of the Southern Norwegian Barents Sea. NPD-Bulletin No 9, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Stavanger.
- Lervik, K. –L. 2006. Triassic lithostratigraphy of the Northern North Sea Basin. Norwegian Journal of Geology, Vol. 86, pp 93-116.
- Mørk, A., Dallmann, W., K., Djupvik, H., Johannessen, E. P., Larssen, G. B., Nagy, J., Nøttevedt, A., Olaussen, S., Pčelina, T. M., and Worsley, D. 1999. Mesozoic lithistratigraphy. In: Dallmann, W. K. (ed), Lithostratigraphic lexicon of Svalbard. Review and recommendationsfor nomenclature use. Upper Palaeozoic to Quaternary bedrock, 127 - 214. Norsk Polarinstitutt, Tromsø.
- Vollset, J. and Doré, A. G. 1984. A revised Triasic and Jurassic lithostratigraphic nomenclature for the Norwegian North Sea. NPD-Bulletin No 3, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Stavanger.
- Worsley, D., Johansen, R. and Kristensen, S. E. 1988. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic succession of Tromsøflaket. In: Dalland, A., Worsley, D. and Ofstad, K. (eds), A lithostratigraphic scheme for the Mesozoic and Cenozoic succession offshore mid- and northern Norway. NPD-Bulletin No 4, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Stavanger.
The use of informal names
In addition to the formal names referred to above, there are several supplementary names for lithostratigraphic units that have been proposed and published through time as need has arisen. The NPD recognizes the need for many of these names and have made a selection of such names to be used on a provisional basis as informal names. These names are included in the 2014 NPD charts in blue letters. These informal names are adopted from the publications below. Some of these publications also suggest minor adjustments of some official, formally approved formations.
Norwegian North Sea
Hordaland and Nordland Groups
Eidvin and Rundberg (2007) propose introduction of the new formations Ull og Eir in the Hordaland Group, and propose the extension of the Naust Formation into the North Sea. Eidvin et al 2013, 2014 proposes inor adjustments of rigg, Grid, Vade, Skade og Utsira Formations.
- Eidvin, T., and Rundberg, Y. 2007. Post-Eocene strata of the southern Viking Graben, northern North Sea; integrated biostratigraphic, strontium isotopic and lithostratigraphic study. Norwegian Journal of Geology, vol. 87, pp 391-450.
- Eidvin, T., Riis, F., Rasmussen, E. S. & Rundberg, Y. 2013. Investigations of Oligocene to Lower Pliocene deposits in the Nordic Offshore area and onshore Denmark. NPD Bulletin No 10, p 59.
- Eidvin, T., Riis, F., Rasmussen, E. S. & Rundberg, Y. 2014.
- Eidvin_et_al_2014.pdf
The mudstones of the Hordaland Group correlates with the Horda and Lark Formations of the Stronsay and Westray Groups of Knox and Holloway (1992) in the UK sector. For practical reasons and if need arises, the NPD suggests that the names Horda and Lark Formations be used informally as a subdivision of the Hordaland Group in the Norwegian sector. These names are indicated in blue letters and brackets in the 2014 NPD chart for the Norwegian North Sea.
- Knox, R. W. O’B & Holloway, S. 1992. 1. Palaeogene of the Central and Northern North Sea. In: Knox, R. W. O’B & Cordey, W. G. (eds): Lithostratigraphic Nomenclature of the UK North Sea, UKI Offshore Operators Association, Published by the British Geological Survey.
Rogaland Group
Brunstad et al. (2013) propose introducing the new units Egga, Sotra, Sula, Radøy and Odin in the Rogaland Group. These names appear in blue letters in the 2014 NPD chart for the Norwegian North Sea. Moreover, Brunstad et al. (2013) re-defined all sandstone units in the Rogaland Group to members, including those previously defined as formations. NPD, however, rank all these units, including the proposed new ones listed above, as formations in accordance with the formal status and customary application of the previously defined sandstone formations in the Rogaland Group.
- Brunstad, H., Gradstein, F., Lie, J.E., Hammer, Ø., Munsterman, D., Ogg, G., Hollerbach, M. 2013. Stratigraphic Guide to the Rogaland Group, Norwegian North Sea. Newsletter on Stratigraphy, Vol. 46/2, pp 137 – 286.
In the southern part of the Norwegian-Danish Basin, some units may be correlated with the sandy units Kolga, Idun, Rind and Bor that are defined in the Danish sector by Schiøler et al. (2007). These names are indicated in blue letters and brackets in the 2014 NPD chart for the Norwegian North Sea.
- Schiøler P, Andersjerg J., Clausen O.R., Dam G. Dybkjær K., Hamberg M.; Prince I. And Rasmussen J. A., 2007. Lithostratigraphy of the Paleogene – Lower Neogene succession of the Danish North Sea. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 12, 2007. ISSN 1604-8156. ISBN 978-87-7871-196-0.
Cretaceous
For the purpose of easy reference, the stratigraphic position of the Herring and Flounder Formations of Johnson and Lott (1992) are indicated on the 2014 NPD chart for the Norwegian North Sea.
- Johnsen, H. & Lott, J. K. 1992. 1. Cretaceous of the Central and Northern North Sea. In: Knox, R. W. O’B & Cordey, W. G. (eds): Lithostratigraphic Nomenclature of the UK North Sea, UKI Offshore Operators Association, Published by the British Geological Survey.
Norwegian Sea
Rogaland Group
Gjelberg et al. (1999) introduced the name Egga Member for the sandy unit that forms the reservoir in the Ormen Lange Field. The name is in common use, but still informal. Considering the lateral extent and mappability of this unit, the NPD requests that the unit should have formation rank and that the informal name Egga Formation be used for this unit.
- Gjelberg J., Enoksen T., Mangerud G., Martinsen O.J. & Roe E., 1999. Sedimentary environments offshore Norway. Extended Abstracts sedimentary Environments Offshore Norway. Norwegian Petroleum Society, 193-197.
Shetland Group
In the Facts Sheet on its website, NPD has informally defined the name Delfin Formation for the sandy units that occur within and interfinger with the Kvitnos and Nise Formations.
The occurrence of sand units within and interfingering with the Lange Formation have been known for many years. However, no peer review publications have proposed a specific nomenclature for these units. Therefore, the NPD retains the unspecific name “Intra Lange Sands” for these units until such publications are made.
Norwegian Barents Sea
Nordland Group
Eidvin et al. (2013) propose the extension of the Naust formation of the Nordland Group into the Norwegian Barents Sea. The NPD requests this name to be used informally in the Barents Sea.
- Eidvin, T., Riis, F., Rasmussen, E. S. & Rundberg, Y. 2013. Investigations of Oligocene to Lower Pliocene deposits in the Nordic Offshore area and onshore Denmark. NPD Bulletin No 10, p 59.
Updated: 19/12/2023