--> Changing Paradigms in the Petroleum Exploration of the Deep-Water Area Offshore Namibia, de Azambuja Filho, Nilo C.; Mello, Marcio1 Bender, Andre A.; Schmitt, Priscila, #90100 (2009)
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Changing Paradigms in the Petroleum Exploration of the Deep-Water Area Offshore Namibia

de Azambuja Filho, Nilo C.1
 Mello, Marcio1
 Previous HitBenderTop, Andre A.1
 Schmitt, Priscila1

1High Resolution Technology & Petroleum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Detailed studies of geological, geochemical and geophysical information integrated under the 3D petroleum system modeling approach indicate the presence of an overcharged oil province in deep-water offshore area of the Namibian. Direct evidence includes the penetration of organic-rich intervals in exploration and DSDP wells, hydrocarbon shows, saturation in potential reservoir zones, and the accumulation of gaseous hydrocarbons in the offshore Kudu field. Indirect evidence includes potential gas chimneys and gas hydrate zones were recognized on seismic data, and the presence of oil seeps were detected using RADARSAT technology. Transformation ratios in the main depocenters of the rift source rocks in the study area reached almost 100% at present day. On the other hand, the marine source rock is partly transformed in the depocenters and cannot be considered as significant source rock system in the area, unless in local depocenters where it reached the gas generation stage, as the ones near Kudu Field.

Predicted temperature values in the main rift source rock depocenter systems suggest values that are critical in preserving the oil prone nature of the whole area. High resolution geochemistry and diamonds results support the presence of hydrocarbons derived from highly cracked rift source rocks mixture with black oils from marine transitional sequences. The reservoir rocks, composed of syn-rift sandstones, shallow marine sandstones, Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary turbidite systems are widespread along the basin, while the Albian carbonates localized in the north, present good porosities and permeabilities. A thick regional seal is widespread along the entire basin in the Aptian, Albian and Upper Cretaceous sequences. Miocene and younger successions have played important roles in later hydrocarbon charge history in some deep water settings. Such ideal combination of elements and processes of this petroleum system allowed the establishment of the presence of a prolific frontier for hydrocarbon exploration in the south-west coast of
Africa.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90100©2009 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition 15-18 November 2009, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil