PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN THE ETHIOPIAN RED SEA

The Red Sea is a pericratonic Upper Tertiary basin which developed on the continental margin of Africa during the separation of Arabia from Africa, and is characterized by halokinetic tectonics in the upper stuctual stage and block‐rifting in the lower strctual stage. The margin is overprinted on a pre‐rift Mesozoic platform. Hydrocarbon exploration interest in the Ethiopian Red Sea area is based on three objectives, which correspond to stages in geotectonic evolution: Mesozic pre‐rift targets; Miocene rift presalt targets; and upper Miocene‐Pliocene post‐rift drift sequences. Reservoirs with appropriate sealing units (salt or shale) have been recorded. Models of sourcerock maturation using observed geothermal gradients are consistent with anaytical resuits, and prove that oil generation and preservation is to be xpected in the Ethiopian Red Sea. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved