Historically, the continental Triassic successions of the Central North Sea have proven difficult to correlate, in part due to the poor palynomorph recovery associated with these sedimentary rocks. The existing framework for correlation is lithostratigraphic and, whilst this has proven effective in United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) Quad 30 where the mudstone members are well defined, elsewhere in the basin it is more problematic with confident identification of stratigraphic units becoming more difficult. Samples from 32 wells within UKCS Quads 22, 29 and 30, and Norwegian Quads 7, 15 and 16 underwent palynological analysis in which a processing method was utilized that was designed to concentrate palynomorph recovery from Triassic strata. The results of this analysis allowed the proposal of a new zonal scheme consisting of eight biozones. These biozones can then be used to correlate the Triassic successions of the Central North Sea (CNS), helping to provide both clarity and age constraint on previously disputed stratigraphic units, particularly the J-members of the Skagerrak Formation. Within the correlation framework outlined here, the Julius Mudstone Member is shown to be a productive horizon for palynomorph recovery, representing a widespread swamp environment. Here, its lateral extent is defined which is an important consideration when correlating the Triassic stratigraphy of the CNS given that this member can compartmentalize potential reservoirs contained within these successions. The stratigraphic palynology outlined here also allows clarity on the J-member equivalence of some of the informal units previously described within Triassic successions of the CNS, including the Marnock Shale and Heron Shale.

中文翻译：

---

北海中部中晚三叠世层序的地层孢粉学

从历史上看，北海中部的大陆三叠纪序列已被证明难以关联，部分原因是与这些沉积岩相关的孢粉体恢复不佳。现有的相关框架是岩石地层学，虽然这在英国大陆架 (UKCS) Quad 30 中已被证明是有效的，其中泥岩成员定义明确，但在盆地的其他地方，更难确定地层单元变得更加困难。来自 UKCS Quads 22、29 和 30 以及 Norwegian Quads 7、15 和 16 内 32 口井的样品进行孢粉学分析，其中使用了一种处理方法，旨在从三叠纪地层中集中回收孢粉型。该分析的结果允许提出由八个生物区组成的新区域计划。然后，这些生物带可用于关联北海中部 (CNS) 的三叠纪层序，有助于为先前有争议的地层单位提供清晰度和年龄限制，特别是 Skagerrak 组的 J 成员。在此处概述的相关框架内，Julius Mudstone 成员被证明是孢粉恢复的生产地平线，代表了广泛的沼泽环境。在这里，它的横向范围被定义，这是关联 CNS 的三叠纪地层时的一个重要考虑因素，因为该成员可以划分这些序列中包含的潜在储层。此处概述的地层孢粉学还可以明确先前在 CNS 的三叠纪序列中描述的一些非正式单元的 J 成员等效性，