Petroleum Systems Offshore North Africa -- Satellite Remote Sensing Applications Highlight New Potential

By

Peter Elliott¹

(1) Infoterra Limited, N/A, Egypt

 From the prolific onshore petroleum systems of Libya, Tunisia and Algeria to the remote, under explored deepwater basins of north and northwest Africa, integrated remote sensing solutions are revealing the structure, geology and hydrocarbon habitat as well as direct hydrocarbon evidence in northern Africa. Modern, high resolution optical, radar and hyper spectral satellite imagery, integrated with various geological, geochemical and geophysical data, can be mapped and interpreted at regional and prospect scale to reveal new prospectivity. Offshore, the direct evidence of seeping hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean and offshore NW Africa, again combined with various potential field and geophysical data, provide valuable insights into the extent and activity of active hydrocarbon systems.