1 Introduction A series of studies have indicated that there were two extensional phases in the North Sea (Fig. 1). An earlier period (Late Permian-Early Triassic) of rifting occurred widely in these areas, with predominant extension direction of W-E (F?rseth, 1996; F?rseth et al., 1997). In contrast to the widely distributed Permo-Triassic extension, Jurassic extension in the North Sea were generally much more localized into the three main rift arms (Fig. 1): the Viking Graben, Moray…