About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Houston Geological Society Bulletin

Abstract


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

Abstract: Following the Pre-Salt Previous HitPlayNext Hit 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 Previous HitplayNext Hit in the Campos and Santos Previous HitBasinNext Hit: 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 Previous HitplayNext Hit elements can be seen in the Mexican Gulf of Mexico and answer the question: is there a pre-salt Previous HitplayNext Hit in Mexico?

A major problem with considering the existence and viability of pre-salt Previous HitplayNext Hit(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 Previous HitprovinceNext Hit. The other major elements (reservoir, trap, seal) for a pre-salt Previous HitplayNext Hit 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 Previous HitplayNext Hit is in the shallow water Campeche Salt Previous HitBasinNext Hit.

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

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

Copyright © 2021 by HGS (Houston Geological Society)