Red Sea and Gulf of Aden petroleum geology and regional geophysical evaluation

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

OSTI ID:5848492

Sikander, A H ^[1]; Allen, R B ^[2]; Abouzakhm, A G

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1. World Bank, Cairo (Egypt)
2. Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia (United States)

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 was based on public-domain exploration data, published information, and data released by operating companies. This included reports, sections, and wireline logs from most of the offshore wells, and samples for biostratigraphic and geochemical analysis. Interpretation was carried out on seismic data selected from basinwide grids. Four horizons were identified on a regional basis in the Red Sea, including the sea floor, top, and near base of middle to upper Miocene evaporite, and approximate acoustic basement, and an equivalent of horizons were identified in the Gulf of Aden. The results of the syntheses show that the hydrocarbon potential of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is variable. The Red Sea shows an attractive potential in much of the basin in Miocene to Holocene synrift to post-rift units. This may locally include either lower to middle Miocene sub-evaporite syn-rift units or Pliocene to Holocene superrift units, depending on variations in structural development and sedimentation and thermal history. In addition, sub-rift units of Mesozoic to Paleogene age show an attractive potential in some areas. The primary potential in the Gulf of Aden, on the other hand, may be in Mesozoic to Eocene sub-rift units, with only limited potential in Oligocene and younger units.

• OSTI ID: 5848492
• 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
CENOZOIC ERA
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RED SEA
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
RIFT ZONES
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SURFACE WATERS