Petroleum Geology and Reservoir Formation Characteristics of Rio Muni Basin in West Africa

Through hydrocarbon exploration for more than 50 years in Rio Muni Basin, distinguished hydrocarbon exploration results have been obtained in deep-water area. As a typical passive margin salt-bearing basin, Rio Muni Basin has experienced three tectonic evolution periods, mainly rifting, transitional and drift periods. Three sets of source rocks are developed in Rio Muni Basin, of which Albian-Upper Aptian marine shale and micrite are the main source rocks. Upper Cretaceous Campanian and Santonian deep-water turbidite sandstone are the main production layers in the basin. Gravity gliding and salt related structure are developed in the basin. The petroleum geologic conditions for HC accumulation are as follows: the favorable exploration zones are controlled by salt arched thrust faulting, the reservoir types and distribution are controlled by structures and lithology, and the commercial values of oil and gas reservoirs are controlled by reservoir quality.