The onshore Cabinda Area, due to peculiar circumstances, has remained unexplored since 1972, and therefore has a great, untapped potential.

Its role as a prime petroleum province has been proven by its production record of almost one billion barrels of oil, almost exclusively from the currently active offshore area.

A review of the exploration data and results obtained by the operator (Cabinda Gulf) before 1972 indicates an onshore petroleum potential similar to the surrounding areas, offshore, as well onshore to the north (Congo) and south (Zaire), which include approximately 30 producing fields.

In comparison with the offshore shallow shelf, the Cabinda onshore potential appears to be greater than its northern and southern neighbors. This is due to the occurrence onshore of well developed and prospective Lower Cretaceous to Jurassic lacustrine sediments (presalt), including thick reservoir rocks and very thick source and cap rocks. Moreover, a thick and competent salt layer is overlain by prospective upper Cretaceous to Paleogene marine sediments, especially along the coast.

The possibility exists for some onshore prospective belts to become as prolific as the Malongo-Limba, the Numbi-Kungulo and the Kambala offshore trends to which they are parallel or on trend, providing attractive stratigraphic and structural trap plays.

The few, modest pre-1972 discoveries from basement, the Vovo and Chela sands, should be regarded as attempts of a preliminary exploration phase relying on archaic seismic and a sketchy exploration philosophy.

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