Sudanese Gulf of Aden petroleum geology and regional geophysical evaluation

Conference · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geobyte; (United States)

OSTI ID:5740568

Osman, E; Rahman, B A; Abdella, H E.M.; Ali, A O ^[1]

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1. Geological Research Authority of Sudan, Khartoum (Sudan)

The World Bank-executed Red Sea/Gulf of Aden Regional Hydrocarbon Study Project was organized to synthesize data on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden basins. The primary objectives were to encourage increased hydrocarbon exploration activity within the project area by applying recent exploration techniques basin wide, and to train national geoscientists in exploration techniques. The study of the Sudanese Red Sea was based on public-domain exploration data, published information, and data released by operating companies. The results show that the Sudanese, Red Sea is similar to the better known, productive Gulf of Suez. In many respects, including the overall tectonic evolution, the structural style,a nd Miocene-to-Holocene stratigraphic sequence. A major difference involves the development of thick depocenters of Pliocene-Holocene super-evaporite sediments, in part controlled by offsets in the topographic rift shoulder of the basin, which result in large paleodrainage basins that supplied sediment to the basin. The sediments in these depocenters are thick enough, and geothermal gradients sufficiently high, to suggest the possibility of significant hydrocarbon generation in the depocenters. This is supported by important super-evaporite hydrocarbon shows in the Tokar Delta area of southern Sudanese Red Sea. Outside of the Pliocene-Holocene depocenters, conditions appear favorable for an attractive hydrocarbon potential in subevaporite units.

• OSTI ID: 5740568
• Report Number(s): CONF-910978--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geobyte; (United States) Journal Volume: 75:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AFRICA
CENOZOIC ERA
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RED SEA
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
STRATIGRAPHY
SUDAN
SURFACE WATERS
TECTONICS