Geodynamics and Petroleum Geology of the South Atlantic Margins

Summary

GETECH is pleased to announce that we have recently completed the Geodynamics and Petroleum Geology of the South Atlantic Margins Study. Ten man-years of effort has gone into this major new study which looks at the influence of regional tectonic events on the landscape evolution and petroleum geology of the conjugate margins of the South Atlantic, from the Niger Delta to the Cape of Good Hope, and from the Potiguar Basin to Tierra del Fuego. The study will assist oil companies exploring in these exciting emergent basins through integration of key gravity and magnetic data and the expertise of GETECH's team of geoscientists.

 

Study Area

South Atlantic

 

SOUTH AMERICAN BASINS COVERED:

Sergipe-Alagoas
Reconcavo Camamu-Alamada
Jequitinhonha
Cumuruxatiba
Espirito Santo
Campos
Santos
Pelotas
Salado
Colorado
Valdez
Rawson
San Jorge
San Julian
Magallanes
Malvinas
North Falkland

AFRICAN BASINS COVERED:

Anambra
Niger Delta
Cameroon
Rio Muni
Gabon
Lower Congo
Congo Fan
Kwanza
Namibe
Walvis
Luderitz
Orange

 


Download PDF Brochure

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 conjugate margins of the South Atlantic and implications for the opening history. 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 palaeoclimatology and palaeoceanography. All these have been used to generate new insights into the petroleum systems of the South Atlantic margins.

Some critical issues addressed in the study include:

Timing and nature of the opening of the South Atlantic and its influence on lacustrine source rock deposition, marine incursions, and clastic supply from adjacent hinterlands.

The extent of salt deposition to understand its influence on later structural development (trap formation, migration pathways).

Importance of hinterland changes in the Late Cretaceous for supplying clastics to the West African and Brazilian margins.

 

Deliverables

The studies are delivered as:

  • A multi-volume A3 reports with accompanying A0 enclosures (hardcopy and pdf)
  • GIS projects (ArcGIS 9.x)

Reports

Executive Summary and Introduction

Geophysical Interpretation

  • Images of the gravity and magnetic data to illustrate key features
  • Ten regional 2D modelled gravity and magnetic profiles across the principal basins
  • Depth-to-basement case study for the Santos Basin

Structure and Tectonics

  • Structural interpretation of the gravity and magnetic data
  • Re-evaluation and the testing of published structures
  • Mapping of Precambrian structural fabric

Plate Modelling

  • Plate tectonic modelling and review of opening history of the South Atlantic

Stratigraphic Framework

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

  • Ten 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

Nineteen A0 Enclosures

 

 

GIS Project

A series of .mxds illustrating:

Potential Field Data

  • Gravity data and derivatives (images)

Structural Framework

  • Structures, tectonic boundaries and Precambrian structural framework

Palaeogeographies

A series of maps:

  • Palaeoenvironments and tectonophysiographic terranes
  • Palaeotopography/Paleo-digital elevation models
  • Palaeodrainage

 

For each of ten timeslices:

  • Tithonian
  • Berriasian
  • Barremian
  • Aptian
  • Cenomanian
  • Campanian
  • Maastrictian
  • Early Eocene
  • Late Oligocene
  • Middle Miocene

Modern Day Drainage

  • Landscape analysis grids and shape files

These non-exclusive studies are licensed to companies under GETECH's standard Licensing Agreement

A global portfolio of focussed exploration reports.