Lessons Learnt from the Proven Brazilian Pre-Salt Plays Applied to the Hypothetical Mexican Pre-Salt Petroleum System

Abstract

Brazilian pre-salt carbonate reservoirs offshore Brazil in the Outer High are the most prolific reservoirs when it comes to pre-salt plays, with more than 45 Bbbl proven/probable reserves. Other pre-salt reservoirs offshore West Africa (Kwanza Basin) display also significant reserves, although somewhat smaller. The geology of these plays is directly linked to the tectonic movements that triggered the detachment of the Gondwana supercontinent during the Early Cretaceous. They are associated with the processes of continental rifting, stretching of the oceanic crust and sedimentation in shallow water environments of lacustrine and restricted marine source-rocks as well as carbonate reservoirs in the structural highs. The system is sealed by the Aptian autochthonous salt that allowed the very good preservation of liquid hydrocarbons and high porosity and permeability reservoirs.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90369 © 2020 AAPG Hedberg Conference, Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Circum-Gulf of Mexico Pre-salt Section, Mexico City, Mexico, February 4-6, 2020