Source rock, maturity data indicate potential off Namibia
- Exploration Consultants Ltd., Henley-on-Thames (United Kingdom)
- National Petroleum Corp. of Namibia Pty. Ltd., Windhoek (Namibia)
Namibia`s territorial waters occupy a large portion of West Africa`s continental shelf. The area to the 1,000 m isobath is comparable in size to the combined offshore areas of Gabon, Congo, Zaire, and Angola. Around half as much again lies in 1,000--2,500 m of water. The whole unlicensed part of this area will be open for bidding when the Third Licensing Round starts Oct. 1, 1998. Offshore Namibia is underexplored by drilling with only seven exploration wells drilled. Shell`s Kudu field represents a considerable gas resource with reserves of around 3 tcf and is presently the only commercial discovery.Namibia`s offshore area holds enormous exploration potential. Good quality sandstone reservoirs are likely to be distributed widely, and a number of prospective structural and stratigraphic traps have been identified. The recognition of Cretaceous marine oil-prone source rocks combined with the results of new thermal history reconstruction and maturity modeling studies are particularly significant in assessment of the oil potential. The paper discusses resource development and structures, oil source potential, maturity, and hydrocarbon generation.
- OSTI ID:
- 634725
- Journal Information:
- Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 96, Issue 32; Other Information: PBD: 10 Aug 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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