Issue 4

This edition of GEO ExPro focuses on South America and the South Atlantic Margin; Deepwater Exploration; Geophysics; and Alternative Energy

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Columns

5 Editorial

6 Regional Update

8 Licensing Update: Sharjah – 1st Onshore Round

10 A Minute to Read

18 Hot Spot: Global Hotspots 2018

26 Exploration: Mystery Carbonates

30 Industry Issues: Geothermal in the Future Energy Mix

56 Industry Issues: Diversity – It’s Up to Us All

70 GEO Media: A Fine Book

72 Exploration Update

74 Q&A: Plenty of Potential Off Namibia

76 Global Resource Management

Features

14 Cover Story – Exploration: Is a Conjugate an Analog?

20 Seismic Foldout: Pre-Salt – The Brazilian Shining Star

34 GEO Tourism: The Puna Plateau – Treasures Behind Desolation

38 Exploration: Deepwater Exploration – The Importance of Crustal Structure

42 Seismic Foldout: The Utica – Point Pleasant Shale

48 GEO Physics: Advancing Geophysics Through Cooperation

50 Industry Issues: Solar Powers E&P

52 Recent Advances in Technology: Finite Difference Modeling II

60 GEO Profile: Mike Forrest – It’s All About the Rocks

64 Seismic Foldout: Ceará to Portiguar

Articles

Deepwater Underexplored Basins

The geological exploration success of two deepwater underexplored basins; the Ceará and Potiguar Basins of Brazil, indicate working petroleum systems and potential deepwater reservoirs. New Insights into a Deepwater Underexplored Read More

Pre-Salt Seismic: The Santos Basin

The next phase for Santos Basin appraisal and development will require new seismic data that captures the pre-salt accurately. Top: Location of the XArray Triple Source project which will cover Read More

Hydrocarbon Exploration History of Uganda

With over 1.4 Bbo of resources discovered in Uganda in recent years, including several giant fields, we look at the history of recent hydrocarbon exploration and its progress to first Read More

Côte d’Ivoire: Undiscovered Opportunities and New Data in Open Blocks

PGS modern broadband seismic coverage of Côte d’Ivoire now provides complete coverage of the area from source to sink. Stratigraphy and Tectonic Phases: West Africa Transform Margin (WATM) Figure 1a: Read More

Advancing Geophysical Science

Propelling the science of geophysics through cooperation to meet the grand challenges of tomorrow. Geophysical research needs to continue to forge ahead to ensure that the acquisition, processing and imaging Read More

Utica – Point Pleasant Shale

Revealing your drilling target’s sweet spots using seismic reservoir characterization techniques. Using seismic reservoir characterization techniques is essential in the identification of sweet spots that represent the most favorable drilling Read More

Carbonate Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

The 2006 discovery at Tupi, offshore Brazil, opened up a new chapter for petroleum reservoirs: lacustrine carbonates capable of producing hydrocarbons at extremely high rates. Introduction The 2006 discovery at Read More

Is a Conjugate Margin an Analog?

Since the discovery of Tupi in Brazil and Jubilee in Ghana, the search has been on to prove that discoveries on one side of the Atlantic can be mirrored across Read More

Bright Spots in Petroleum Exploration

Michael Forrest, also known as the ‘Father of Bright Spots’ from his work in petroleum exploration with Shell, tells us about the success of his career in geophysics. Introducing Mike Read More

Deepwater Oil and Gas Exploration in Frontier Acreage

Cost-effective screening of frontier acreage is an essential early part of any deepwater exploration strategy at continental margins. Deepwater Exploration: The Importance of Crustal Structure Screening of deepwater frontier acreage Read More

Plenty of Hydrocarbon Potential off Namibia

David Sturt, Chief Operating Officer of Azinam Limited, a Namibia-focused exploration company, tells us about the hydrocarbon potential off Namibia. Q&A with David Sturd, Chief Operating Officer of Azinam Limited Read More

Diversity in the Energy Sector

Ask not what the energy industry can do for you, but what you can do for the energy industry to improve diversity in the energy sector. © POWERful Women. Read More

A Must Have Book for Any Geophysicist

A a brief review of the book titled “An Introduction to Exploration Geophysics with Recent Advances”. In 2007 Halfdan Carstens, then editor of GEO ExPro , asked Martin Landrø Read More

Future Energy Consumption

Primary energy consumption grew by 2.2% in 2017, which sets oil to be the largest provider of future energy consumption. Global Energy Consumption 2017 Primary energy demand (btoe) by (a) Read More

Hydrocarbon Hotspots Around the World

Worldwide exploration performance: how successful has 2018 been so far? Oil and Gas Exploration Success in 2018 Worldwide exploration performance. Exploration success is spread far and wide in mid-2018, against Read More

Geological Treasures of The Puna Plateau

A tour of the geological treasures of The Puna Plateau in northern Argentina and Chile. Continuing Olivier and Caroline’s epic cycle journey through South America. “What’s the altitude?” I look Read More

Growth Potential for Tight Oil

Breakeven prices are similar, but tight oil has the largest growth potential. Improved Oil Prices Average breakeven prices and potential 2025 liquid supply for different offshore and tight oil regions. Read More

Licencing Update: Sharjah, UAE

In 2018, Sharjah’s first onshore licencing round opened, offering companies 30-year contracts in an area with a production history demonstrating a 90% recovery factor. Map showing location of the Sharjah Read More

Exploration Update: Offshore USA

Shell encountered more than 244m of net hydrocarbon pay in the Mississippi Canyon Block; exploration update Gulf of Mexico Basin, offshore USA. Hydrocarbons Discovered in Mississippi Canyon Block, Offshore USA Read More

Exploration Update: Offshore Angola

Eni has made a new offshore oil discovery in Angola; exploration update offshore Angola. Map showing location of the Kalimba-1 well, offshore Angola. Eni has made a new offshore oil Read More

Using Solar Energy in Oil & Gas

A revolution is underway in the Omani desert: renewable solar energy is being used in oil & gas to help lower the cost of production of heavy oil and conserve Read More

Geothermal in the Future Energy Mix

Geothermal energy is still a marginal player in the energy mix, but geoscientists will be needed to help it play its part in the energy transition. The Energy Transition Estimated Read More

The Global Energy Transition

The energy transition is a chance for companies in the oil and gas industry to look at the opportunities that their technologies and expertise offer and collaborate for a brighter Read More

Victoria Falls: The Smoke That Thunders

With an annual average of 1,100 cubic metres of water plunging down its 108m-high face each second, Victoria Falls is unquestionably one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Location Map Read More

Sub-Saharan Africa and North West Europe

Both Sub-Saharan Africa and North West Europe have a long history in oil and gas production and they both continue to keep on surprising us. Hydrocarbons in Sub-Saharan Africa and Read More

The global energy sector from a subsurface perspective