Petroleum Geology of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Republic of Yemen

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2008 Vol.45, Issue 4 Preview Page

Petroleum Geology of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Republic of Yemen 예멘 홍해 및 아덴만 해역의 석유지질: 고재홍, 윤준일, 이원표
Jaehong Ko, Junil Yoon and Wonpyo Lee

31 August 2008. pp. 412-431

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Abstract

The international bidding round administered by the Ministry of Oil and Minerals of the Republic of Yemen is on progress since August 2007 for eleven offshore petroleum exploration blocks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are newly opened oceans resulting from separation of the Middle East and Africa, where pre-rift and rift related sedimentary rocks constitute the petroleum system. In the Red Sea syn- and post-rift sandstones with good porosity and permeability are abundant, and the Miocene Maqna shale that deposited under the restricted condition during the early rift stage possesses good source rock quality. Overmaturation is a risk due to high geothermal gradients here. In the Gulf of Aden Tertiary rift sediments are immature and do not enter the oil window. Therefore, the petroleum generative potential of pre-rift sediments and extension of petroliferous Mesozoic basins on land are the key for hydrocarbon occurrences. The discovery of 3,000 b/d of 43°API oil was made and considerable flows were identified from drill stem tests in numerous wells, however without commercial success. The Socotra basin southeast of the Gulf of Aden displays structural elements of Mesozoic basins on land, Tertiary rifting, and the North Somali Basin developed in relation to separation of Gondwana. It is questionable whether an independent petroleum system, especially source rocks, could exist because of small basin size.

Keywords

Red Sea

Gulf of Aden

Socotra

Rift

Petroleum system

예멘 석유성은 지난 2007년 8월부터 홍해 및 아덴만 해역의 11개 광구에 대한 국제 입찰을 진행 중이다. 홍해와 아덴만은 중동과 아프리카의 분리에 의해 형성된 신생 해양으로 열개전 및 열개 관련 퇴적층이 석유 시스템을 구성하고 있다. 홍해에는 양호한 저류 조건을 갖춘 열개 동시성 및 열개후 사암이 풍부하며, 열개 초기 폐쇄된 환경에서 퇴적된 마이오세 마크나 셰일이 양호한 근원암 조건을 갖추고 있는데 지온 구배가 높아 과성숙 위험이 있다. 아덴만에서는 열개로 퇴적된 제3기층이 석유 생성단계에 도달하지 못해 열개전 퇴적층의 생산성과 육상 중생대 분지의 연장 여부가 석유 부존을 결정할 것으로 보인다. 일산 3,000 배럴, 43°API의 원유 발견과 여러 시추공의 산출 시험에서 상당량의 유동이 확인되었지만 상업 생산에 이르지는 못하였다. 아덴만 동남단의 소코트라 분지는 육상의 중생대 열개 분지, 제3기 아덴만 열개, 북 소말리 해분 형성과 관련된 구조 요소들을 포함하고 있다. 하지만 분지의 크기가 작아 독립된 석유 시스템, 특히 근원암의 존재 여부가 관건이다.

키워드

홍해

아덴만

소코트라

열개

석유 시스템

References

Ahlbrandt, T. S., 2002, “Madbi Amran/Qishn Total Petroleum System of the Ma’Rib-Al Jawf/Shabwah, and Masila-Jeza Basins, Yemen,” U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2202-G, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, U.S.A., 28p.
Barnard, P. C., Thomson, S, Bastow, M. A., Ducreux, C., and Mathurin, G., 1992, “Thermal Maturity Development and Source-Rock Occurrence in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 173-186.
Bayer, H. J., El-Isa, Z., Hotzl, H., Mechie, J., Prodehl, C., and Saffarini, G., 1989, “Large Tectonic and Lithospheric Structures of the Red Sea Region,” Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 8, Nos. 2/3/4, pp. 565-587.
Bellahsen, N., Faccenna, C., Funiciello, F., Daniel, J. M., and Jolivet, L., 2003, “Why Did Arabia Separate from Africa? Insights from 3-D Laboratory Experiments,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 216, No. 3, pp. 365-381.
Beydoun, Z. R., 1989, “The Hydrocarbon Prospects of the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden: A Review,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 125-144.
Beydoun, Z. R. and Sikander, A. H., 1992, “The Red Sea-Gulf of Aden: Re-assesment of Hydrocarbon Potential,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 474-485.
Birse, A. C. R., Bott, W. F., Morrison, J., and Samuel, M. A., 1997, “The Mesozoic and Early Tertiary Tectonic Evolution of the Socotra Area, Eastern Gulf of Aden, Yemen,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 675-684.
Bosence, D. W., 1997, “Mesozoic Rift Basins of Yemen,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 611-616.
Bosworth, W., Huchon, P., and McClay, K., 2005, “The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Basins,” Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 43, Nos. 1-3, pp. 334-378.
Bott, W. F., Smith, B. A., Oakes, G., Sikander, A. H., and Ibraham, A. I., 1992, “The Tectonic Framework and Regional Hydrocarbon Prospectivity of the Gulf of Aden,” Jounal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 211-243.
Csato, I., Habib, A., Kiss, K, Kocz, I., Kovacs, Z., Lorinez, K., and Williams, D., 2001, “Play Concepts of Oil Exploration in Yemen,” Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 99, No., 23, pp. 68-74.
Cole, G. A., Abu-Ali, M. A., Colling, E. L., Halpern, H. I., Carrigan, W. J., Savage, G. R., Scolaro, R. J., and Al-Sharidi, S. H., Petroleum Geochemistry of the Midyan and Jaizan Basins of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 12, No. 6, pp. 597-614.
Crossley, R., Watkins, C., Raven, M., Cripps, D., Carnell, A., and Williams, D., 1992, “The Sedimentary Evolution of the Red Sea,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 157-172.
d’Acremont, E., Leroy, S., Maia, M., Patriat, P., Beslier, M.-O., Bellahsen, N., Fournier, M., and Gente, P., 2006,
“Structure and Evolution of the Eastern Gulf of Aden: Insights from Magnetic and Gravity Data (Encens-Sheba MD117 Cruise),” Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 165, No. 3, pp. 786-803.
El-Anbaawy, M. I. H., Al-Aawah, M. A. H., Al-Thour, K. A., and Tucker, M. E., 1992, “Miocene Evaporites of the Red Sea Rift. Yemen Republic: Sedimentology of the Salif Halite,” Sedimentary Geology, Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 61-71.
Ghebreab, W., 1998, “Tectonics of the Red Sea Region Reassessed,” Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 45, No. 1, 1-44.
Haitham, F. M. S. and Nani, A. S. O., 1990, “The Gulf of Aden Rift: Hydrocarbon Potential of the Arabian Sector,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 211-220.
Hughes, G. W. and Beydoun, Z. R., 1992, “The Red Sea-Gulf of Aden: Biostratigraphy, Lithostratigraphy and Palaeoenvironments,” Jounal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 135-156.
Leroy, S., Gente, P., Fournier, M., d’Acremont, E., Patriat, P., Beslier, M.-O., Bellahsen, N., Maia, M., Blais, A., Perrot, J., Al-Kathiri, A., Merkouriev, S., Fleury, J.-M., Ruellan, P.-Y., Lepvrier, C., and Huchon, P., 2004, “From Rifting to Spreading in the Eastern Gulf of Aden,” Terra Nova, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 185-192.
Lindquist, S. J., 1998, “The Red Sea Basin Province: Sudr-Nubia and Maqna Petroleum Systems,” U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 99-50-A, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, U.S.A., 21p.
Lepvrier, C., Fournier, M., Berard, T., and Roger, J., 2002, “Cenozoic Extension in Coastal Dhofar (Southern Oman): Implications on the Oblique Rifting of the Gulf of Aden,” Tectonophysics, Vol. 357, Nos. 1-4, pp. 279-293.
McKenzie, D., 1978, “Some Remarks on the Development of Sedimentary Basins,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 25-32.
McKenzie, D. P. and Morgan, W. J., 1969, “Evolution of Triple Junctions,” Nature, Vol. 224, pp. 125-133.
Mitchell, D. J. W., Allen, R. B., Salama, W., and Abouzakm, A., 1992, “Tectonostratigraphic Framework and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Red Sea,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 187-210.
Morrison, J., Birse, A., Samuel, M. A., Richardson, S. M., Harbury, N., and Bott, W. F., 1997, “The Cretaceous Sequence Stratigraphy of the Socotran Platform, the Republic of Yemen,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 685-699.
Nagati, M., 1992, “Red Sea Oil Shows Attract Attention to Miocene Salt, Post-Salt Sequence,” Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 90, No. 49, pp. 46-53.
Redfern, P. and Jones, J. A., 1995, “The Interior Rifts of the Yemen-Analysis of Basin Structure and Stratigraphy in a Regional Plate Tectonic Context,” Basin Research, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 337-356.
Richardson, S. M., Bott, W. F., Smith, B. A., Hollar, W. D., and Bermingham, P. M., 1995, “A New Hydrocarbon “Play” Area Offshore Socotra Island, Republic of Yemen,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 5-28.
Sengor, A. M. C. and Burke, K., 1978, “Relative Timing of Rifting and Volcanism on Earth and its Tectonic Implications,” Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 419-421.
Tesfaye, S., Harding, D. J., and Kusky, T. M., 2003, “Early Continental Breakup Boundary and Migration of the Afar Triple Junction, Ethiopia,” Geological Society of America Bulletin, Vol. 115, No. 9, pp. 1053-1067.
Tiberi, C., Leroy, S., d’Acremont, E., Bellahsen, N., Ebinger, C., Al-Lazki, A., and Pointu, A., 2007, “Crustal Geometry of the Northeastern Gulf of Aden Passive Margin: Localization of the Deformation Inferred from Receiver Function Analysis,” Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 168, No. 3, pp. 1247-1260.
Ukstins, I. A., Renne, P. R., Wolfenden, E., Baker, J., Ayalew, D., and Menzies, M., 2002, “Matching Conjugate Volcanic Rifted Margins: 40Ar/39Ar Chrono-stratigrpahy of Pre- and Syn-Rift Bimodal Flood Volcanism in Ethiopia and Yemen,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 198, Nos. 3-4, pp. 289-306.
Wegener, A., 1929, “Die Entstehung der Kortinente und Ozeane,” Vieweg und Sohn, Braunschweig, Germany, 231p. Wernicke, B., 1985, “Uniform-Sense Normal Simple Shear of the Continental Lithosphere,” Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 108-125.
White, R. and McKenzie, D., 1989, “Magmatism at Rift Zones: The Generation of Volcanic Continental Margins and Flood Basalts,” Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 94, No. B6, pp. 7685-7729.

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society for Geosystem Engineering
Journal Title(Ko) :한국지구시스템공학회지
Volume : 45
No :4
Pages :412-431

[1] Ahlbrandt, T. S., 2002, “Madbi Amran/Qishn Total Petroleum System of the Ma’Rib-Al Jawf/Shabwah, and Masila-Jeza Basins, Yemen,” U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2202-G, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, U.S.A., 28p.

[2] Barnard, P. C., Thomson, S, Bastow, M. A., Ducreux, C., and Mathurin, G., 1992, “Thermal Maturity Development and Source-Rock Occurrence in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 173-186.

[3] Bayer, H. J., El-Isa, Z., Hotzl, H., Mechie, J., Prodehl, C., and Saffarini, G., 1989, “Large Tectonic and Lithospheric Structures of the Red Sea Region,” Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 8, Nos. 2/3/4, pp. 565-587.

[4] Bellahsen, N., Faccenna, C., Funiciello, F., Daniel, J. M., and Jolivet, L., 2003, “Why Did Arabia Separate from Africa? Insights from 3-D Laboratory Experiments,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 216, No. 3, pp. 365-381.

[5] Beydoun, Z. R., 1989, “The Hydrocarbon Prospects of the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden: A Review,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 125-144.

[6] Beydoun, Z. R. and Sikander, A. H., 1992, “The Red Sea-Gulf of Aden: Re-assesment of Hydrocarbon Potential,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 474-485.

[7] Birse, A. C. R., Bott, W. F., Morrison, J., and Samuel, M. A., 1997, “The Mesozoic and Early Tertiary Tectonic Evolution of the Socotra Area, Eastern Gulf of Aden, Yemen,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 675-684.

[8] Bosence, D. W., 1997, “Mesozoic Rift Basins of Yemen,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 611-616.

[9] Bosworth, W., Huchon, P., and McClay, K., 2005, “The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Basins,” Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 43, Nos. 1-3, pp. 334-378.

[10] Bott, W. F., Smith, B. A., Oakes, G., Sikander, A. H., and Ibraham, A. I., 1992, “The Tectonic Framework and Regional Hydrocarbon Prospectivity of the Gulf of Aden,” Jounal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 211-243.

[11] Csato, I., Habib, A., Kiss, K, Kocz, I., Kovacs, Z., Lorinez, K., and Williams, D., 2001, “Play Concepts of Oil Exploration in Yemen,” Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 99, No., 23, pp. 68-74.

[12] Cole, G. A., Abu-Ali, M. A., Colling, E. L., Halpern, H. I., Carrigan, W. J., Savage, G. R., Scolaro, R. J., and Al-Sharidi, S. H., Petroleum Geochemistry of the Midyan and Jaizan Basins of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 12, No. 6, pp. 597-614.

[13] Crossley, R., Watkins, C., Raven, M., Cripps, D., Carnell, A., and Williams, D., 1992, “The Sedimentary Evolution of the Red Sea,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 157-172.

[14] d’Acremont, E., Leroy, S., Maia, M., Patriat, P., Beslier, M.-O., Bellahsen, N., Fournier, M., and Gente, P., 2006,

[15] “Structure and Evolution of the Eastern Gulf of Aden: Insights from Magnetic and Gravity Data (Encens-Sheba MD117 Cruise),” Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 165, No. 3, pp. 786-803.

[16] El-Anbaawy, M. I. H., Al-Aawah, M. A. H., Al-Thour, K. A., and Tucker, M. E., 1992, “Miocene Evaporites of the Red Sea Rift. Yemen Republic: Sedimentology of the Salif Halite,” Sedimentary Geology, Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 61-71.

[17] Ghebreab, W., 1998, “Tectonics of the Red Sea Region Reassessed,” Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 45, No. 1, 1-44.

[18] Haitham, F. M. S. and Nani, A. S. O., 1990, “The Gulf of Aden Rift: Hydrocarbon Potential of the Arabian Sector,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 211-220.

[19] Hughes, G. W. and Beydoun, Z. R., 1992, “The Red Sea-Gulf of Aden: Biostratigraphy, Lithostratigraphy and Palaeoenvironments,” Jounal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 135-156.

[20] Leroy, S., Gente, P., Fournier, M., d’Acremont, E., Patriat, P., Beslier, M.-O., Bellahsen, N., Maia, M., Blais, A., Perrot, J., Al-Kathiri, A., Merkouriev, S., Fleury, J.-M., Ruellan, P.-Y., Lepvrier, C., and Huchon, P., 2004, “From Rifting to Spreading in the Eastern Gulf of Aden,” Terra Nova, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 185-192.

[21] Lindquist, S. J., 1998, “The Red Sea Basin Province: Sudr-Nubia and Maqna Petroleum Systems,” U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 99-50-A, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, U.S.A., 21p.

[22] Lepvrier, C., Fournier, M., Berard, T., and Roger, J., 2002, “Cenozoic Extension in Coastal Dhofar (Southern Oman): Implications on the Oblique Rifting of the Gulf of Aden,” Tectonophysics, Vol. 357, Nos. 1-4, pp. 279-293.

[23] McKenzie, D., 1978, “Some Remarks on the Development of Sedimentary Basins,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 25-32.

[24] McKenzie, D. P. and Morgan, W. J., 1969, “Evolution of Triple Junctions,” Nature, Vol. 224, pp. 125-133.

[25] Mitchell, D. J. W., Allen, R. B., Salama, W., and Abouzakm, A., 1992, “Tectonostratigraphic Framework and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Red Sea,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 187-210.

[26] Morrison, J., Birse, A., Samuel, M. A., Richardson, S. M., Harbury, N., and Bott, W. F., 1997, “The Cretaceous Sequence Stratigraphy of the Socotran Platform, the Republic of Yemen,” Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 685-699.

[27] Nagati, M., 1992, “Red Sea Oil Shows Attract Attention to Miocene Salt, Post-Salt Sequence,” Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 90, No. 49, pp. 46-53.

[28] Redfern, P. and Jones, J. A., 1995, “The Interior Rifts of the Yemen-Analysis of Basin Structure and Stratigraphy in a Regional Plate Tectonic Context,” Basin Research, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 337-356.

[29] Richardson, S. M., Bott, W. F., Smith, B. A., Hollar, W. D., and Bermingham, P. M., 1995, “A New Hydrocarbon “Play” Area Offshore Socotra Island, Republic of Yemen,” Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 5-28.

[30] Sengor, A. M. C. and Burke, K., 1978, “Relative Timing of Rifting and Volcanism on Earth and its Tectonic Implications,” Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 419-421.

[31] Tesfaye, S., Harding, D. J., and Kusky, T. M., 2003, “Early Continental Breakup Boundary and Migration of the Afar Triple Junction, Ethiopia,” Geological Society of America Bulletin, Vol. 115, No. 9, pp. 1053-1067.

[32] Tiberi, C., Leroy, S., d’Acremont, E., Bellahsen, N., Ebinger, C., Al-Lazki, A., and Pointu, A., 2007, “Crustal Geometry of the Northeastern Gulf of Aden Passive Margin: Localization of the Deformation Inferred from Receiver Function Analysis,” Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 168, No. 3, pp. 1247-1260.

[33] Ukstins, I. A., Renne, P. R., Wolfenden, E., Baker, J., Ayalew, D., and Menzies, M., 2002, “Matching Conjugate Volcanic Rifted Margins: 40Ar/39Ar Chrono-stratigrpahy of Pre- and Syn-Rift Bimodal Flood Volcanism in Ethiopia and Yemen,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 198, Nos. 3-4, pp. 289-306.

[34] Wegener, A., 1929, “Die Entstehung der Kortinente und Ozeane,” Vieweg und Sohn, Braunschweig, Germany, 231p. Wernicke, B., 1985, “Uniform-Sense Normal Simple Shear of the Continental Lithosphere,” Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 108-125.

[35] White, R. and McKenzie, D., 1989, “Magmatism at Rift Zones: The Generation of Volcanic Continental Margins and Flood Basalts,” Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 94, No. B6, pp. 7685-7729.

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