The West African margin has enjoyed a rich and varied exploration history, remaining an exciting region for hydrocarbon discovery. Fusion of traditional approaches, imaginative ideas, leveraged with modern technologies is still yielding success. This volume examines the margin from regional to pore-scale, from surface-processes to deep crustal levels, drawing on input from academia and industry.
The Black Sea remains one of the largest underexplored rift basins in the world. Future success is dependent on a better understanding of a number of geological uncertainties. These include reservoir and source rock presence and quality, and the timing of migration of hydrocarbons relative to trap formation. An appreciation of the geological history of the Black Sea basins and the surrounding orogens is therefore key. The timing of basin formation, uplift of the margins, and of facies distribution remain issues for robust debate. This Special Publication presents the results of 15 studies that relate to the tectono-stratigraphy and petroleum geology of the Black Sea. The methodologies of these studies encompass crustal structure, geodynamic evolution, stratigraphy and its regional correlation, petroleum systems, source to sink, hydrocarbon habitat and play concepts, and reviews of past exploration. They provide insight into the many ongoing controversies concerning Black Sea regional geology and provide a better understanding of the geological risks that must be considered for future hydrocarbon exploration.
The continental margin of West Africa formed as result of the south-to-north rifting of Gondwana and the progressive separation of the South American and African continents. This margin has enjoyed a rich and varied exploration history and, in the 70 years or so since the first significant exploration began in the onshore area, the margin has emerged as a significant hydrocarbon-producing region. The amalgamation of hydrocarbon exploration approaches and imaginative ideas, leveraged with modern technologies, is yielding significant scientific and economic successes. The main objective of this Special Publication is to provide an overview of the advances in our understanding of the crustal structure, tectonic evolution and Mesozoic to Cenozoic stratigraphy of the West Africa margin both onshore and offshore, with a particular focus on the petroleum geology. The papers contained in this Special Publication represent a selection from the 37 abstracts presented at the original conference in March 2014, which covered the entirety of the margin from South Africa to Morocco as well as stratigraphy from the crystalline basement to the most recent strata.
Petroleum Geology of Libya, Second Edition, systematically reviews the exploration history, plate tectonics, structural evolution, stratigraphy, geochemistry and petroleum systems of Libya, and includes valuable new chapters on oil and gas fields, production, and reserves. Since the previous edition, published in 2002, there have been numerous developments in Libya, including the lifting of sanctions, a new licensing system, with licensing rounds in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, many new exploratory wells, discoveries and field developments, and a change of regime. A large amount of new data has been published on the geology of Libya in the past fourteen years, but it is widely scattered through the literature. Much of the older data has been superseded, and several of the key publications, especially those published in Libya, are difficult to access. This second edition provides an updated source of reference which incorporates much new information, particularly on petroleum systems, reserves, oil and gas fields, play fairways, and remaining potential. It presents the results of recent research and a detailed description of Libyan offshore geology. The book includes an extensive and comprehensive bibliography. - Presents over 180 full colour illustrations including maps, diagrams and charts, illustrating the key concepts in a clear and concise manner - Authored by two recognized world authorities on geology in Libya, with over 40 years' experience in Libya between them - Provides an expanded and updated version of the bestselling previous edition, nicknamed the Explorationist's Bible - Lays the foundation for the post-revolution exploration age in Libya
Elements of Petroleum Geology, Fourth Edition is a useful primer for geophysicists, geologists and petroleum engineers in the oil industry who wish to expand their knowledge beyond their specialized area. It is also an excellent introductory text for a university course in petroleum geoscience. This updated edition includes new case studies on non-conventional exploration, including tight oil and shale gas exploration, as well as coverage of the impacts on petroleum geology on the environment. Sections on shale reservoirs, flow units and containers, IOR and EOR, giant petroleum provinces, halo reservoirs, and resource estimation methods are also expanded. - Written by a preeminent petroleum geologist and sedimentologist with decades of petroleum exploration in remote corners of the world - Covers information pertinent to everyone working in the oil and gas industry, especially geophysicists, geologists and petroleum reservoir engineers - Fully revised with updated references and expanded coverage of topics and new case studies
'The book is clearly organized. Only important facts are addressed; the sequence of the chapters is logical, the text is well-written and therefore, very readable. In addition, the meaning of geoscientific terms is clearly explained. Definitions are provided in a glossary which is easy to use. It is an excellent tool, which will be of value and benefit to the global petroleum community. I am pleased to recommend it.'M L BordenaveMouvOil SAThis book covers the fundamentals of the earth sciences and examines their role in controlling the global occurrence and distribution of hydrocarbon resources. It explains the principles, practices and the terminology associated with the upstream sector of the oil industry. Key topics include a look at the elements and processes involved in the generation and accumulation of hydrocarbons and demonstration of how geological and geophysical techniques can be applied to explore for oil and gas. There is detailed investigation into the nature and chemical composition of petroleum, and of surface and subsurface maps, including their construction and uses in upstream operations. Other topics include well-logging techniques and their use in determining rock and fluid properties, definitions and classification of resources and reserves, conventional oil and gas reserves, their quantification and global distribution as well as unconventional hydrocarbons, their worldwide occurrence and the resources potentially associated with them. Finally, practical analysis is concentrated on the play concept, play maps, and the construction of petroleum events charts and quantification of risk in exploration ventures.As the first volume in the Imperial College Lectures in Petroleum Engineering, and based on a lecture series on the same topic, An Introduction to Petroleum Geoscience provides the introductory information needed for students of the earth sciences, petroleum engineering, engineering and geoscience.This volume also includes an introduction to the series by Martin Blunt and Alain Gringarten, of Imperial College London.
This book offers a new look at the oil industry in West Africa, proposing to examine the entire region that has been viewed through the lens of Nigeria, Ghana and Gabon. The author argues that, in order to address peace and stability in the region, it is important to understand the transformative powers of petroleum revenue. The project also includes the author’s analysis of the problem on multiple levels: international oil companies, states, and local communities. Also, it takes a deeper look at the effects and importance of local communities in the above countries and discusses adequately the strategic challenges that petro-capitalism poses for West Africa’s regional stability and human security.
This volume has evolved from papers written in memory of Professor David Roberts. They summarize the key findings of recent research on passive margins, from tectonics, bathymetry, stratigraphy and sedimentation, structural evolution and magmatism. Papers include analyses of the central and southern Atlantic margins of South America and Africa, papers on magmatism and extension in the NE Brazilian margin and on the Cote de Ivoire margin, rift architectures of the NW Red Sea margin, tectonics of the eastern Mediterranean margin, salt tectonics of passive margins of the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil, and papers on the NW Shelf margin of Australia. The volume provides readers with new insights into the complexities of passive margin systems that are in reality, not so passive.
