--> Abstract: Hydrocarbon Potential of Cenozoic Basins Offshore Vietnam, by Lars Henrik Nielsen, L.D. Thang, H.I. Petersen, L.O. Boldreel, N.T. Dau, Jorgen A. Bojesen-Koefoed, D.T. Houng, H.P. Nytoft, N.T. Huyen, Anders Mathiesen, N.A. Duc, L.V. Hien, M.B.W. Fyhn, and F. Mork; #90039 (2005)

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Hydrocarbon Potential of Cenozoic Basins Offshore Vietnam

Lars Henrik Nielsen1, L.D. Thang2, H.I. Petersen3, L.O. Boldreel4, N.T. Dau2, Jørgen A. Bojesen-Koefoed3, D.T. Houng2, H.P. Nytoft3, N.T. Huyen2, Anders Mathiesen3, N.A. Duc2, L.V. Hien2, M.B.W. Fyhn5, and F. Mørk5
1 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, GEUS, Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Vietnam Petroleum Institute, VPI, Hanoi, Vietnam
3 GEUS,
4 University of Copenhagen, Geological Institute, 1350 K Copenhagen, Denmark
5 University of Copenhagen, Geological Institute,

A joint research group from Vietnam Petroleum Institute and GEUS is currently studying the petroleum potential of the Cenozoic basins offshore Vietnam. While the hydrocarbon potential of the Nam Con Son and Cuu Long basins are well-recognised, the potential of the Song Hong Basin (north), the Phu Khanh Basin (central) and the Malay-Tho Cu Basin (south) is less understood. The formation of these basins is related to large-scale plate movements in Paleogene–Neogene times involving collision of India and Eurasia, rotation of Indochina, major strike-slip movements and opening of South China Sea. The basins contain faulted basement blocks, syn-rift prisms of alluvial sandstones, lacustrine mudstones and coals overlain by post-rift successions of shallow–deep marine clastics and carbonates. Biomarker analyses of Cuu Long and Song Hong oils indicate an origin from Oligocene lacustrine mudstones with contributions from higher land plants similar to excellent oil-prone lacustrine source rocks investigated in outcrops and shallow wells penetrating Oligocene and Miocene rift-sequences onshore north and central Vietnam. Gas in the northern Song Hong Basin may be generated from Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene coals. Analyses of onshore seep oils further indicate the presence of marly marine source rocks in the Phu Khanh Basin. Thus several petroleum systems are active in the basins. Interpretation of seismic and well data shows that the basins contain a variety of potential structures and traps including draped basement hills, rotated fault blocks, roll-over structures, carbonate build-ups, lowstand shoreface sandstones, slope aprons and basin floor turbidites, among others.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005