| Rio Muni Basin in Equatorial Guinea is a Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary basin. The tectonostratigraphic evolution of the basin is divided into a number of separate stages: the rifting stage (Neocomian through Mid-Aptian), the transitional stage (Mid-Late Aptian) and the drifting stage (Albian through Late Tertiary). Major source rocks are Late Aptian to Early Albian marine shales, and the proved reservoirs are Santonian and Campanian turbidites. Fault blocks and transpressional anticlines are main trap types during rifting phase whereas salt-related anticlines, stratigraphic traps and combination traps are main trap types during post-rifting phase. Salt-related structures, gravity glides and slumps, faults as well as reservoirs control hydrocarbon accumulation in Rio Muni Basin. The most favorable exploration areas are in the middle zone of the basin where salt-related structures, gravity glides and slumps are developed while the outer zone, the most favorable exploration areas are the ones which comprise favorable traps, effective reservoirs and good migration pathways. The Upper Cretaceous Santonian-Maastrichtian Turbidites are the most promising exploration targets. |
