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Houston Geological Society Bulletin

Abstract


The Houston Geological Society Bulletin
Vol. 63 (2021), No. 8. (April), Page 17

Abstract: Following the Pre-Salt Play to its Outermost Extent in the Campos and Santos Basins, Brazil — An Analog for Gulf of Mexico Presalt?

Cian O'Reilly1

 

This presentation reviews the major elements of the Brazilian pre-salt play in the Campos and Santos Basin: source, reservoir, trap and seal and how the evolution of these elements through the different depositional and structural domains can be seen on well and seismic (2D and 3D) data. We will then look at well and seismic data onshore and offshore Mexico to see if these same successful play elements can be seen in the Mexican Gulf of Mexico and answer the question: is there a pre-salt play in Mexico?

A major Previous HitproblemTop with considering the existence and viability of pre-salt play(s) in Mexico was the lack of a proven pre-salt source rock. Stabler and Gonzalez (2020) have demonstrated the existence of such a Middle Jurassic lacustrine source rock in the Huehuetepec-3 well onshore Tampico-Misantla province. The other major elements (reservoir, trap, seal) for a pre-salt play can be shown to exist at a variety of depths throughout the Mexican Gulf of Mexico. We show seismic examples of possible such plays and conclude that the best location for testing such a play is in the shallow water Campeche Salt Basin.

hgs630017-fgu1.jpg (1,912 bytes)Figure. Regional pre-salt geology (Campos Basin, Brazil)

hgs630017-fgu2.jpg (1,912 bytes)Figure. Regional pre-salt geology (Salina del Istmo Basin, Mexico)

Acknowledgments and Associated Footnotes

1 Cian O'Reilly: TGS

Cian O'Reilly is a Senior geoscientist at TGS with over 18 years of experience in international oil and gas exploration, onshore and offshore. His main areas of interest are in the North Sea, Middle East, Pakistan, India, the South Atlantic salt basins, the Gulf of Mexico and onshore USA.

He obtained a BSc from the University College at Dublin, Ireland and a PhD from the National University of Ireland. He is currently employed at TGS as a Senior Geoscientist in their Houston office. He has also worked for Navan Resources (mining) and Fugro (Oil & Gas consultancy). Responsibilities in his current position include seismic interpretation, survey planning, and communication. He is a member of AAPG and HGS.

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