Geodynamics and Petroleum Geology of the East African Margins

Summary

This new non-exclusive study examines the petroleum systems of East Africa from Mozambique to Somalia, including Madagascar. The study is an evaluation of the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the East African passive margin basins and the key issues of source, reservoir and seal development and maturation history.

Basins Covered

  • Lamu
  • Somali Coastal
  • Anza
  • Tanzania Coastal
  • Rovuma
  • Mozambique Coastal
  • Morondava
  • Majunga
East Africa
Key

Project Rationale and Objectives

The study builds on GETECH's unique global gravity and magnetic data to underpin a re-evaluation of the structural development of the margins of East Africa. This forms the basis for the mapping of ten critical palaeogeographic and palaeolandscape timeslice reconstructions. Aided by an analysis of the modern day drainage, the study reviews the landscape evolution and likely effects on sediment dispersal. It also contains a review of the geochemical literature, new geochemical modelling, a synthesis of the stratigraphic framework and a basin-by-basin petroleum systems review. All these have been used to generate new insights into the petroleum systems of the East African margins.


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Some critical issues addressed in the study include:

  • Are the Karroo ‘Organic Rich Mudstones’ lacustrine and/or restricted marine?
  • What is the effect of tectonic activity along the Davie Fracture Zone on petroleum systems?
  • What does palaeogeographic analysis indicate about the distribution of potential play fairways in the deep water?
  • What was the nature of Permo-Triassic drainage systems during the Karroo rifting?
  • What was the hinterland extent of Cretaceous and Tertiary drainages in Mozambique and Madagascar?
  • Is Oligo-Miocene delta progradation in the Rovuma Basin a result of glacio-eustacy or superplume activity?
  • Did the Anza Rift / Lamu Embayment extend into the Sudanese Rift System?
  • Has the East Africa Rift radically changed the position of the drainage divide?

Deliverables

The study is delivered as:

A multivolume A3 Report, with accompanying A0 enclosures (hardcopy and pdf) GIS Project (ArcGIS 9.x)

Reports

Executive Summary and Introduction

Geophysics Interpretation

  • Images of the gravity and magnetic data to illustrate key features
  • Two regional 2D modelled gravity profiles

Tectonic and Structural Framework

  • Structural interpretation of the gravity and magnetic data
  • Re-evaluation of the testing of published structures

Petroleum Geochemistry

  • Source rock characterisation and evaluation
  • Burial history modelling
  • Correlation of available source rock and oil data

Palaeoclimatology and Palaeoceanography

Drainage and Landscape Analysis

Palaeogeography and Palaeolandscape

  • 10 palaeogeographic reconstructions (maps of rotated data locating palaeoenvironments, tectonophysiographic terrains and lithologies)
  • Palaeoelevation interpretation and derived palaeo-digital elevation models
  • Palaeodrainage reconstruction (including drainage basin geometry and evolution through time)

Petroleum Systems Identification and Evaluation

Key Exploration Issues

Conclusion, References and Appendices

Ten A0 Enclosures

 

GIS Project

A series of .mxds illustrating:

Potential Field Data

  • Images of gravity and magnetic data and derivatives

Structural Framework

  • Structures and tectonic boundaries

Palaeogeographies

A series of maps for each of 10 timeslices:

  • Palaeoenvironments and tectonophysiographic terranes
  • Palaeotopography
  • PalaeoDEM (digital elevation model)
  • Palaeodrainage

Modern Day Drainage

  • Landscape analysis grids and shape files

This non-exclusive study is licensed to companies under GETECH's standard License Agreement.

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