Seismic interpretation and tectonic regime of Sudanese Rift System: Implications for hydrocarbon exploration in Neem field (Muglad Basin)

Abstract

The Muglad Basin is located in the hinterland of the Africa Continent. The weakness zones on the rigid basement of Sudanese Rift System and the relative movement occurring under the united action of regional stress field played controlling roles in the structural framework and its evolution in the overlying sedimentary covers. It is interesting that the present geological locations of the Central Africa rift system including the Muglad Basin are well coincident with the inhomogeneity of the Africa Continent. This further proved the controlling roles of the basement on the development of the basin. The alternately arranged high-and-low structural framework on the basement, reflected by seismic data, not only proved the large thickness variation of the sediment infills within the depression from south to north but also reflected the critical action of pull-apart movement on the structural evolution of the basin. The Cretaceous NNW structural belts were formed earlier and thus controlled the development of the early paleostructures. The exploration achievements of the Muglad Basin have proven good oil potential in this kind of structural belts. The NW structural belts in the Kaikang Trough were strongly active predominantly during the Paleogene, resulting in many new structures, whose oil potential is relatively poorer than the former ones, with only secondary oil accumulations being the key targets of exploration. Through tectonic and structural analysis, a complete overview of the structuration of the basin was displayed, from which we can observe the important roles of the tectonic and structural activities on the forming of the petroleum geological conditions of the Muglad Basin. This understanding favors prediction of the source rock, reservoir and seal, and also favors analysis and assessment of the forming history and oil bearing conditions of the structural belts.