Following the pre-salt play to its outermost extent in the Campos and Santos Basins, Brazil

Abstract

The concession blocks on offer east (outboard) of the pre-salt polygon have proven particularly popular in the last three bid rounds. Since 2017, 36 blocks were awarded in rounds 14, 15 and 16 for a combined signature bonus of USD $5.8 billion. Several factors support the attractiveness of these blocks for exploration companies, (1) there is no requirement to share profit oil with the government, (2) although they are un-explored, they are presumed to share the same geology and petroleum system as the extensively explored pre-salt fields within the pre-salt polygon, and (3) large four-way dip closures (4WDCs) can be seen in the pre-salt level in regional 2D; these structures are now being confirmed on 3D seismic. However, as the bid rounds and exploration drive further outboard, the pre-salt syn-rift sequence will wedge out against the outer high and/or oceanic crust. This leads us to the question: how much more of the pre-salt play is left to bid for? The goal of this presentation is to demonstrate that there remains considerable exploration potential in the upcoming Round 17 blocks in the Campos and Santos Basin. In the Campos Basin, this potential can be seen as far outboard as the Outer High. In the Santos Basin, we can demonstrate prospective areas even beyond the current Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone.

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