Alluvial Fan Facies and Their Distribution in the Lower Talang Acar Formation, Northeast Betara Oilfield, Indonesia

This paper studies the alluvial fan facies characteristics and distribution in the Lower Talang Acar Formation in the Northeast Betara Oilfield. The conglomerate sedimentary characteristics and its distribution were studied based on core data, logging interpretation and seismic property analysis. The research indicated that alluvial fan deposits of Bed F in the Lower Talang Akar Formation were characterized by coarse granularity, poor sorting and low quality. Sand-bodies accumulate longitudinally, and inter-layers are poorly developed, extending locally in the transverse orientation. Typical logging response of alluvial fan system is summarized, and conglomerate is characterized by low gamma-ray (GR) intensity, low resistance, high density and low value between DLD and LLD, which reflects poor physical reservoir properties, coarse rocks and relatively high density. Conglomerate is developed mainly in the northeast and middle-south of the studied area. The upper part of bed F is found in a small area in the middle-south, while the lower part of bed F is developed in a relatively large area in the middle-south.     

THE HYDROCARBON PROSPECTIVITY OF LOWER OLIGOCENE DEPOSITS IN THE MARAGH TROUGH, SE SIRT BASIN, LIBYA

The main phase of rifting the Sirt Basin (Libya) had ceased by the mid-Cretaceous but Alpine-related tectonic pulses in the late Eocene resulted in northward tilting of the basin. In the Maragh Trough (SE Sirt basin), a regional unconformity consequently separates Eocene carbonates from the overlying Oligocene succession. The unconformity marks a change from Eocene carbonate sedimentation to more mixed shallow-marine deposition in the Oligocene. A regional transgression re-established fully marine conditions in the Miocene.
Deeply-buried (Triassic) source rocks in the Maragh Trough reached peak oil generation during the Oligocene. Two potential reservoir intervals have been identified: upper Eocene rudstones of the Augila Formation, and unconformably-overlying sandstones of the Lower Oligocene Arida Formation. Mid-Oligocene shales provide a regional seal.
Facies distributions and reservoir properties are related to rift-related structural highs. Despite the absence of a nearby source kitchen, Upper Eocene carbonates have been found to be oil-bearing in the Maragh Trough at wells D1- and F1–96. This indicates that hydrocarbons have migrated along graben-bounding faults from deeply-buried source rocks to platform and sub-platform areas. Traps are of combined structural and stratigraphic type.     

哥伦比亚西努-圣哈辛托盆地油气地质特征

运用盆地分析及石油地质学的理论与方法,系统分析了哥伦比亚西努-圣哈辛托盆地的沉积构造演化和油气地质特征,结果表明:西努-圣哈辛托盆地主要发育白垩系及新生界沉积盖层;主要烃源岩为上白垩统Cansona组海相页岩、古新统San Cayetano组页岩及渐新统Maralu组页岩,主要储集层为古新统San Cayetano组砂岩、渐新统Cienaga de Oro组砂岩及灰岩、渐新统Pavo组砂岩,上古新统San Cayetano组泥岩、中新统Floresanto组泥岩以及部分不整合面可作为盖层。西努-圣哈辛托盆地内,与逆冲断层相关的构造圈闭和地层圈闭、与不整合面相关的地层圈闭具有良好的勘探前景。     

南苏门答腊盆地构造演化对沉积演化及成藏条件的控制

南苏门答腊盆地是新生代弧后裂谷盆地,盆地的构造演化明显地控制了沉积演化和成藏条件。早始新世—早渐新世为同生裂谷早期,地堑和半地堑发育,以陆相沉积为主,前三角洲页岩为重要的烃源岩,冲积扇和辫状河砂砾岩为主要储层;晚渐新世盆地处于同生裂谷后期的早期,西南方的海侵使盆地中央为海相沉积,边缘为三角洲和河流相沉积,三角洲中的含煤页岩为主要烃源岩和重要盖层,河流—三角洲相砂岩是重要储层;早中新世为同生裂谷后期末,盆地以海相沉积为主,深海—半深海泥页岩、泥灰岩是重要烃源岩和区域性盖层,而储层主要是滨浅海的碳酸盐岩滩和生物礁灰岩;中中新世—上新世,盆地遭受挤压,发生海退,海相、陆相和海陆过渡相同时发育,滨浅海的海退砂岩是良好的储层,而三角洲相泥页岩是好的烃源岩和盖层。     

PETROLEUM SYSTEMS OF THE BONGOR BASIN AND THE GREAT BAOBAB OILFIELD,SOUTHERN CHAD

The Bongor Basin in southern Chad is an inverted rift basin located on Precambrian crystalline basement which is linked regionally to the Mesozoic – Cenozoic Western and Central African Rift System. Pay zones present in nearby rift basins (e.g. Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene reservoirs overlying Lower Cretaceous source rocks) are absent from the Bongor Basin, having been removed during latest Cretaceous – Paleogene inversion-related uplift and erosion. This study characterizes the petroleum system of the Bongor Basin through systematic analyses of source rocks, reservoirs and cap rocks. Geochemical analyses of core plug samples of dark mudstones indicate that source rock intervals are present in Lower Cretaceous lacustrine shales of the Mimosa and upper Prosopis Formations. In addition, these mudstones are confirmed as a regional seal. Reservoir units include both Lower Cretaceous sandstones and Precambrian basement rocks, and mature source rocks may also act as a potential reservoir for shale oil. Dominant structural styles are large-scale inversion anticlines in the Lower Cretaceous succession whilst underlying “buried hill” -type basement plays may also be important. Accumulations of heavy to light oils and gas have been discovered in Lower Cretaceous sandstones and basement reservoirs. The Great Baobab field, the largest discovery in the Bongor Basin with about 1.5 billion barrels of oil in-place, is located in the Northern Slope, a structural unit near the northern margin of the basin. Reservoirs are Lower Cretaceous syn-rift sandstones and weathered and fractured zones in the crystalline basement. The field currently produces about 32,000 barrels of oil per day.     

BACH HO FIELD, A FRACTURED GRANITIC BASEMENT RESERVOIR, CUU LONG BASIN, OFFSHORE SE VIETNAM: A "BURIED-HILL" PLAY

A combination of seismic, wireline, FMI and core data shows that Bach Ho field in the Cuu Long Basin, offshore SE Vietnam, is an unusual “buried hill” reservoir. There is little or no production from associated siliciclastic “grus” or granite wash, and the fractured reservoir matrix is largely made up of unaltered acid igneous lithologies (mostly granites and granodiorites). A major NE‐SW late Oligocene reverse fault system cross‐cuts the field, with about 2000 m of lateral displacement in the highly productive Central Block. The associated fracture meshwork greatly enhances reservoir quality. Transpressional wrench faulting in the late Oligocene in this part of the field emplaced a block of brittle granitic rock on top of organic‐rich Eocene – Oligocene mudstones, and facilitated the early migration of hydrocarbons into the fracture network. Structure, not erosion, set up the 1000 m column of liquids in the fractured granodiorites which form the reservoir at Bach Ho. Faulted intervals with associated damage zones create an enhanced secondary porosity system in the granodiorite; effective porosities range from 3‐5% and occasionally up to 20%. Some associated fractures are partially blocked by authigenic calcite and kaolinite. Features that degrade reservoir quality at Bach Ho include: (i) a thin, low‐permeability clay‐plugged “rind” created by surface‐related (meteoric) Eocene – Oligocene weathering — this rind variably overprints the uppermost 10‐40 m of exposed basement throughout the Cuu Long Basin; and (ii) widespread hydrothermal cements which largely predate late Oligocene wrench faulting; cementation mostly took place during post‐magmatic cooling and precipitated zeolites, carbonates and silica in fractures which cut across both the igneous and the country rocks. Porosity‐occluding hydrothermal and authigenic precipitates developed in pre‐existing fractures in the Bach Ho granodiorite. These pre– late Oligocene mineral‐filled fractures acted as zones of structural weakness during and after subsequent late Oligocene structural deformation. Together with new fractures formed during thrusting, the older fractures may have reopened during thrust emplacement, and subsequent gravitational settling of, the Central Block.     

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文章系统总结了银根—额济纳旗盆地（以下简称银—额盆地）的油气地质特征,并通过多种方法分析了盆地油气资源潜力,评价了勘探前景。经综合评价认为银—额盆地是在前寒武纪结晶地块和古生代褶皱基底上发育起来的中新生代断陷湖盆群,下白垩统、侏罗系是盆地的两套主要油气勘探目的层,下白垩统巴音戈壁组湖相泥质烃源岩分布面积广,有机质丰度高,以II型有机质为主,是盆地主力烃源岩。下白垩统苏红图组和巴音戈壁组储层是盆地两套重要的储层,岩石类型总体以长石岩屑砂岩、岩屑长石砂岩及岩屑砂岩为主,储层属特低孔特低渗型。盆地发育侏罗系和下白垩统两套成藏组合,下白垩统成藏组合遍布全盆地各凹陷,是一套完整的成藏组合。断层对油气藏的形成具有重要的控制作用,早白垩世末—晚白垩世是盆地重要成藏时期。盆地远景资源量较丰富,油气总资源量达12.42×108 t,勘探前景广阔。     

川东北二叠系长兴组碳酸盐岩云化成储机制

四川盆地是我国重要的含油气盆地,其中川东北二叠系长兴组碳酸盐岩是重要的产气地层。近年来发现的普光、龙岗、元坝等天然气田是重要的西气东输基地,对国家油气战略安全具有重要贡献作用。通过野外露头样品及钻井岩心分析,对川东北二叠系长兴组碳酸盐岩云化成储机制及主控因素进行了系统梳理。研究结果表明：①川东北二叠系长兴组气藏主要是一种白云岩气藏,生物礁灰岩储集能力较差与沥青充填有关,为气源层。野外露头考察发现礁盖白云岩具有更优的储集性能,但普光长兴组顶部的白云岩为一种非礁盖白云岩,揭示了长兴顶部的纯白云岩本身就是含气储层,与生物礁关系不大。②川东北长兴组白云岩储层的储集空间包括溶洞、晶间孔、晶内溶孔和晶间缝,为成岩过程中彻底云化而成。③川东北长兴组白云岩化存在5种成因机理：暴露淡水淋滤与蒸发泵流作用、渗透回流或盐水回流台地交代作用、埋藏成岩白云岩化、热液白云岩化、风化交代白云岩化,以前两种为主。表生和早期成岩的白云岩受沉积微相控制,不同区域具有不同的成因模式。川东北生物礁常常发生白云岩化作用,尤其是生物礁顶部,白云岩化后储集性能得到较大改善。④研究区长兴组中上部白云岩气藏的发现具有重要的理论意义和工业价值,尤其是长兴组顶部的白云岩自身具有良好的天然气储集能力,在封盖条件较好的广大区域均可形成工业气藏,川东北开江—梁平海槽台缘外（包括平昌海槽）长兴组也存在发育工业大气田的潜力。     

济阳坳陷孤南洼陷油气成藏系统

孤南洼陷是渤海湾盆地济阳坳陷内的一个洼陷,根据其烃源岩特征,油气成藏演化与分布特征,可以划分出两个油气成藏系统,即成藏系统Ⅰ和成藏系统Ⅱ。成藏系统Ⅰ以沙河街组三段为烃源岩,从东营组末期开始进入生烃门限,目前处在成熟阶段,储集岩从基底中生界直至馆陶组都有分布;成藏系统Ⅱ以沙河街组一段为烃源岩,自馆陶组末期进入生烃门限,目前处于低成熟阶段,储集岩主要分布在沙河街组二段、沙河街组一段及东营组。尽管两个系统的油源区基本重叠,但油气的性质和空间分布有很大差别。成藏系统Ⅰ的范围可以从洼陷内部延伸到周围的突起,成藏系统Ⅱ的原油主要聚集在洼陷内部。另外,两个成藏系统的油气运移、聚集方式也不同。成藏系统Ⅱ主要以侧向运移、侧向充注为主,形成单源油藏。成藏系统Ⅰ在i洼陷外围通过断裂带的垂向运移及垂向充注,可以形成混源油藏。这两个系统一方面是独立的,另一方面又被断层所关联,空间相互叠置,时间相互衔接。     

THE VENEZUELAN HYDROCARBON HABITAT, PART 2: HYDROCARBON OCCURRENCES AND GENERATED-ACCUMULATED VOLUMES

Venezuela's most important hydrocarbon reserves occur in the intermontane Maracaibo Basin and in the Eastern Venezuela foreland basin. Seeps are abundant in these areas. Lesser volumes occur in the Barinas‐Apure foreland basin. Most of the oil in these basins was derived from the Upper Cretaceous La Luna Formation in the west and its equivalent, the Querecual Formation, in the east. Minor volumes of oil derived from Tertiary source rocks occur in the Maracaibo and Eastern Venezuela Basins and in the Falcdn area. Offshore, several TCF of methane with some associated condensate are present in the Cadpano Basin, and gas is also present in the Columbus Basin. Oil reserves are present in La Vela Bay and in the Gulf of Paria, and oil has been encountered in the Cariaco Basin. The Gulf of Venezuela remains undrilled. The basins between the Netherlands and Venezuelan Antillian Islands seem to lack reservoirs. Tertiary sandstones provide the most important reservoirs, but production comes also from fractured basement (igneous and metamorphic rocks), from basal Cretaceous sandstones and from fractured Cretaceous limestones. Seals are provided by encasing shales, unconformities, faults and tar plugs. There is a wide variety of structural and stratigraphic traps. The Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt of the Eastern Venezuela Basin, one of the world's largest accumulations (1.2 times 10¹² brl) involves stratigraphic trapping provided by onlap and by tar plugging. Stratigraphic trapping involving unconformities and tar plugging also plays a major role also in the Bolivar Coastal complex of fields along the NE margin of Lake Maracaibo. Many of the traps elsewhere in the Maracaibo Basin were influenced by faulting. The faults played an extensional role during Jurassic rifting and subsequently suffered inversion and strike‐slip reactivation. This created anticlines as well as fracture porosity and permeability, and influenced the distribution of sandstone reservoirs, unconformities and related truncation traps. The faults probably also provided migration paths as well as lateral seals. This is very likely the case also in the large, thrust‐related traps of the Furrial Trend in Eastern Venezuela. Normal faults, many antithetic to basement dip, provide important traps in the Las Mercedes, Oficina and Emblador complexes on the southern flanks of the Eastern Venezuela Basin. Similar faults seem to control the Sinco‐Silvestre complex of the Barinas‐Apure Basin. Much of VenezuelaS crude (around 1.5 trillion brls original STOIIP) has been degraded and is heavy, Perhaps two to three trillion brls of precursor, lighter oil existed. While the known Upper Cretaceous La Luna and Querecual Formations are known to include prolific source rocks, a reasonable generation/accumulation efficiency of 10% implies volumes too large to have come from the reported kitchens. The country's vast reserves are perhaps better explained by recognizing that the present‐day basins are remnants of much broader sedimentary areas. The source rocks originally had a much more regional distribution. They suffered widespread, earlier phases of generation that probably charged early‐formed traps on a regional scale. These, together with more recent kitchens, provided oil to the present‐day accumulations. This history involved long‐distance migration and remigration.     

Sedimentary Characteristics and Evolution of Asri Basin,Indonesia,in Early Tertiary

1.Introduction The Asri basin is oval in shape,covering about2500km2from north to south.The maximum thickness at the depocenter is around18,000feet(5,500m).It is adjacent to the Hera basin in the west and to the Sunda basin in the southwest(Fig.1).Now it is under the Java sea.The basement consists of granites,granodiorites,marbles,schists and quartzites(Tonkin and Himawan,1999).In the early Tertiary,the eastern side of the basin was a steep slope controlled by syn-rifting,and the western s…     

川西北地区下二叠统栖霞组滩相储层特征及其分布

四川盆地西北部下二叠统栖霞组白云岩储层为生物颗粒滩储层,目前对该套地层中的滩体类型及其特征研究较少。为此,在分析该区栖霞组储层特征的基础上,重点研究生物颗粒滩在纵向上的岩相组合、储集空间发育情况和物性特征,探讨滩体的储集性能与储层的平面分布。根据野外露头资料及钻井岩心的宏观及微观特征,结合物性分析结果,认为滩体形成时的古地理背景及经历的成岩作用不同,导致沉积的岩性组合、储集性能和分布差异极大。天井山—矿2井—西北乡一带的浅水高能生物滩位于栖霞组二段的中部,形成于龙门山古断裂上升盘的局部高地,由中—粗晶白云岩、生屑白云岩和云质"豹斑"石灰岩组成,累计厚度为60～90 m,滩体频繁暴露于水体之上,发生混合水云化作用和溶解作用,物性较好,是最有利的储层分布区;通口—水根头、余家沟—曾家山和鱼洞河—旺苍—巴中一带的深水低能生物滩发育于栖二段的顶部,形成于浅缓坡下部的浪基面附近,水体较深,能量较低,储集空间欠发育,为区内差—非储层分布区。     

四川盆地西北部栖霞组碳酸盐岩储层特征及主控因素

四川盆地西北部中二叠统栖霞组已成为近期重点及热点勘探领域之一。针对该地区栖霞组碳酸盐岩储层特征和主控因素不清的问题,通过露头及岩心观测、岩石薄片鉴定、储层物性测试等方法,系统分析了栖霞组储层岩石学、储集空间及物性特征,并利用三维地震资料,通过古地貌恢复,讨论了储层发育的主控因素。结果表明：栖霞组储集层岩石类型主要为晶粒白云岩、豹斑状灰岩/白云岩以及少量颗粒灰岩;储集空间以晶间孔、晶间溶孔为主,溶孔（洞）及裂缝次之,具有中-低孔渗特征,其中中-粗晶白云岩储层物性最佳。栖霞组储层分布受沉积相和沉积古地貌控制,其中台缘滩、台内滩等高能沉积相带是储层形成的物质基础;沉积古地貌高地不但控制了高能相带的分布,而且还有利于后期白云石化作用和溶蚀作用的发生。位于栖霞组沉积古地貌高地的中坝-双鱼石构造带,台缘滩相白云岩储层发育,是该区最重要的勘探区带。在该区首次提出的沉积古地貌控制优质储层分布这一重要认识为该区储层地震预测提供了新的思路。     

MULTIPLE PETROLEUM SYSTEMS IN TERTIARY EXTENSIONAL BASINS, EAST CHINA: A CASE STUDY OF THE GUNAN-FULIN BASIN

The Gunan-Fulin Basin, a small, extensional basin of Tertiary age, is located within the Shenglipetroleum "province" which structurally corresponds to the Jiyan megabasin in East China. The Lower Tertiary succession in the Gunan-Fulin Basin is dominated by the Eocene-lower Oligocene Shahejie Formation, which is divided into four members. Major source rocks are present in the Es3 Member (Eocene), and the Es 1 Member (Oligocene). Both units were deposited during lacustrine transgressions in the Early Tertiary. They are composed of dark, organic-rich mudstones and oil shales of lacustrine origin, and contain good quality Type I-II kerogen. The Es 1 source rock was deposited in a saline lake occasionally invaded by the sea, while the Es3 unit was laid down in a fresh-water lake.
The maturity and characteristics of these source rocks and the related crude oils can be distinguished on the basis of their biomarker contents. Es 1 source rocks and related oils are of relatively low maturity, while those of Es3 derivation are mature to highly-mature. There are therefore two separate petroleum systems in the Gunan-Fulin Basin — Eocene and Oligocene.
These petroleum systems are isolated hydraulically, and have independent migration pathways in which fault planes and unconformity surfaces play important roles. The distribution of oil accumulations in the two systems is different as a result of faulting. Oil from the Eocene source rocks is trapped in reservoirs which are distributed stratigraphically from the basement to the Tertiary, while oil from the Oligocene source rock is confined to Oligocene and Miocene reservoir rocks.
The existence of multiple petroleum systems is an important feature of Tertiary extensional basins in East China, and results from multiple phases of block faulting and a high geothermal gradient.     

四川盆地震旦系岩相古地理及有利储集相带特征

四川盆地震旦系是我国最古老的含油气层系之一,历经了60多年的勘探研究,先后发现了威远气田和资阳含气构造,近期又取得了天然气勘探突破。为了对该区有利储集相带的分布进行预测和评价,基于前人的研究成果,详细分析了震旦系露头、岩心和钻井资料,结合大量分析化验数据,对震旦系沉积相和岩相古地理进行了研究。结果表明:①以桐湾运动和澄江运动所形成界面为界,可将震旦系划分为陡山沱组和灯影组,陡山沱组以砂泥岩沉积为主,灯影组以厚层白云岩沉积为主;②灯影组主要发育潮坪相,潮坪包括泥云坪、藻云坪、膏盐坪、颗粒滩和灰泥坪;③陡山沱组以陆棚相沉积为主。结论认为:灯影组在四川盆地内部大面积发育白云岩坪和颗粒滩两类有利的储集相带,为盆地内储层大面积分布提供了物质基础,优质储层在威远、资阳、高石梯、磨溪、安平店和盘龙场等地区较为发育,储层分布面积约6×104 km2。     

海陆对比看南黄海海相中-古生界的生储盖组合特征

作为下扬子主体的南黄海盆地发育分布广泛、厚度大且较全的中-古生代海相地层,通过对比扬子陆域的烃源岩、储层及盖层特征,结合南黄海盆地近几年采集的地震剖面、钻井资料以及陆上野外露头资料,总结和分析了南黄海海相中-古生界的生储盖组合特征。南黄海海相地层发育下寒武统荷塘组/幕府山组、下志留统高家边组、下二叠统栖霞组和二叠系龙潭-大隆组4套烃源岩,对比扬子区陆域烃源岩特征,确定为较好的烃源岩。苏北-南黄海盆地储集层以碳酸盐岩为主,发育白云岩孔隙储层、礁滩相储层、风化壳储层和裂隙储层4种类型。研究认为南黄海发育扬子陆区已发现的典型油气藏的成藏层位,海相地层发育3套区域性的盖层和3套完整的生储盖组合,具有很好的油气远景。      

塔里木盆地塔河地区泥盆系东河塘组储层特征及其含油气性

塔里木盆地塔河地区泥盆系东河塘组砂体总体上呈近南北向展布,北西厚南东薄。储层的岩石类型以石英砂岩为主,次为岩屑石英砂岩和少量的长石岩屑砂岩。储集空间以原生粒间孔隙、粒间溶蚀孔隙、粒内溶蚀孔隙等次生孔隙为主,其他类型孔隙较少。该区东河砂岩储层经历了比较普遍的成岩作用,主要发育压实作用、胶结作用和溶蚀作用等成岩作用类型。受成岩作用影响和沉积作用控制,储层砂岩为中低孔、中低渗储层,平均孔隙度为11.25%,平均渗透率23.99×10-3μm2,孔渗正相关性好。根据储层物性及评价标准,该区储层可划分为3类,并对其进行了分类评价。通过研究认为,储层的沉积环境、岩性及物性对其含油气性具有控制作用。      

玛湖凹陷二叠系风城组碱湖云质岩储层成岩作用

通过偏光显微镜和扫描电镜观察,结合能谱、包裹体温度、同位素、X射线衍射及有机地球化学等分析方法,研究了准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷二叠系风城组碱湖云质岩储层的成岩作用类型和成岩演化序列。研究结果表明：①玛湖凹陷二叠系风城组云质岩储层为典型的碱湖沉积,发育多种云质岩类,以云质凝灰岩和云质沉凝灰岩为主。②云质岩中成岩作用类型较多,其中脱玻化作用较为普遍,析出矿物主要有硅质矿物、钙镁碳酸盐矿物、铝硅酸盐矿物和非钙镁碳酸盐类矿物等;云质岩中的溶蚀作用主要为铝硅酸盐矿物和盐类矿物的溶蚀,发育成岩缝和多期构造缝,具有3期油气充注。③研究区风城组多数云质岩演化已进入中成岩A期,少量进入中成岩B期,脱玻化作用发生在早成岩A期;发育3期白云石,主要发育于早成岩B期;非钙镁碳酸盐矿物主要形成于同生期;存在3期溶蚀作用,以中成岩A期为主;油气最早充注于早成岩B期,以中成岩B期充注时间最长。脱玻化作用、长石和非钙镁碳酸盐矿物溶蚀作用及构造形成的裂缝是玛湖凹陷风城组云质岩成储的关键。④脱玻化作用形成的孔隙为早期油气充注提供了储集空间,碱湖优质烃源岩热演化释放的酸性流体对云质岩中铝硅酸盐矿物和盐类矿物进行溶蚀,有效改善了储层的储集性能。     

PETROLEUM GEOLOGY OF THE NOGAL BASIN AND SURROUNDING AREA,NORTHERN SOMALIA,PART 2: HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL

Seismic reflection profiles and well data show that the Nogal Basin, northern Somalia, has a structure and stratigraphy suitable for the generation and trapping of hydrocarbons. However, the data suggest that the Upper Jurassic Bihendula Group, which is the main source rock elsewhere in northern Somalia, is largely absent from the basin or is present only in the western part. The high geothermal gradient (～35–49 °C/km) and rapid increase of vitrinite reflectance with depth in the Upper Cretaceous succession indicate that the Gumburo Formation shales may locally have reached oil window maturity close to plutonic bodies. The Gumburo and Jesomma Formations include high quality reservoir sandstones and are sealed by transgressive mudstones and carbonates. ID petroleum systems modelling was performed at wells Nogal‐1 and Kalis‐1, with 2D modelling along seismic lines CS‐155 and CS‐229 which pass through the wells. Two source rock models (Bihendula and lower Gumburo) were considered at the Nogal‐1 well because the well did not penetrate the sequences below the Gumburo Formation. The two models generated significant hydrocarbon accumulations in tilted fault blocks within the Adigrat and Gumburo Formations. However, the model along the Kalis‐1 well generated only negligible volumes of hydrocarbons, implying that the hydrocarbon potential is higher in the western part of the Nogal Basin than in the east. Potential traps in the basin are rotated fault blocks and roll‐over anticlines which were mainly developed during Oligocene–Miocene rifting. The main exploration risks in the basin are the lack of the Upper Jurassic source and reservoirs rocks, and the uncertain maturity of the Upper Cretaceous Gumburo and Jesomma shales. In addition, Oligocene‐Miocene rift‐related deformation has resulted in trap breaching and the reactivation of Late Cretaceous faults.