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An Exhumed Major Oil Field Trapped Against the Sao Pedro de Moel Salt Diapir, Lusitanian Basin
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 81st EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2019, Jun 2019, Volume 2019, p.1 - 5
Abstract
Summary
The Lusitanian Basin was affected by salt diapirism though most of its history, with diapirism initiating in the Early Jurassic and reactivation of salt structures occurring during the Alpine orogeny. Extensive exploration has taken place in the basin but no significant hydrocarbon fields have been discovered. This study indicates that a major oil field is in fact present in the basin with possibly over 360 million barrels in place. However, it escaped recognition because the oil has been biodegraded to asphalt, and it has previously been recorded only as an oil seep. The oil field is trapped in clastic strata on the upturned flank of a salt diapir. T our knowledge, this is the only example of a large salt flank oilfield which is currently exposed at the Earth's surface. Its presence indicates that the Lusitanian Basin has a viable petroleum system that has produced a commercial volume of oil, and this significantly improves the hydrocarbon potential in this basin.
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