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Nature 426, 334-343 (20 November 2003) | doi:10.1038/nature02133
Review article Understanding the thermal evolution of deep-water continental margins
Nicky White1,3, Mark Thompson2 & Tony Barwise2
Abstract
Areas of exploration for new hydrocarbons are changing as the hydrocarbon industry seeks new resources for economic and political reasons. Attention has turned from easily accessible onshore regions such as the Middle East to offshore continental shelves. Over the past ten years, there has been a marked shift towards deep-water continental margins (500–2,500 m below sea level). In these more hostile regions, the risk and cost of exploration is higher, but the prize is potentially enormous. The key to these endeavours is a quantitative understanding of the structure and evolution of the thinned crust and lithosphere that underlie these margins.
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