Offshore Philippines, Palawan and the Sulu Sea. Petroleum Geology and Exploration Potential

Michael Collins, Theresa Cruse, Keith Myers, Alan Stein

The discovery of sizeable deepwater oil and gas fields, West Linapacan and Malampaya/Camago, in the 1990's, coupled with the most competitive fiscal terms in Asia has resulted in an increase in exploration activity in the Philippines. Considerable potential exists for the discovery and development of additional major oil and gas reserves. Many large prospects remain untested and much of the offshore area remains relatively unexplored.

This paper presents the results of a regional study of offshore Palawan and the Sulu Sea which incorporates the results of over 50 exploration wells and 11,000 km of seismic data. The stratigraphy of all wells in the study area has been re-assessed and depositional sequences have been correlated regionally using recently acquired well-tie seismic data. Existing play concepts are reviewed and new play concepts are presented within the framework of a new structural and stratigraphic interpretation of the region.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995