West-Central Coastal

Commentary

The continued opening up of host country E&P sectors continues to strengthen the Outlook for the basin, which remains a rich target for exploration and development, especially as advances in technology make deeper water developments cheaper.

Updated

June 18, 2024

Location

Description

Basin development along the coast of West Africa commenced in the Late Mesozoic due to rifting and separation of the South American and African continental masses during the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean. Although comprised of numerous sub-basins, only four have been defined. The area of the province north of the Congo Basin contains two total petroleum systems: the Melania-Gamba basin, consisting of Lower Cretaceous source and reservoir rocks, and the Azile-Senonian basin, consisting of Albian to Turonian source rocks and Cretaceous reservoir rocks. The remaining basins are the Congo Basin and the Gabon basin, which consists of Subsalt and Suprasalt Units.

Summary

The area has had significant exploration for petroleum; more than 295 oil fields have been discovered since 1954. Since 1995, several giant oil fields have been discovered, especially in the deep-water area of the Congo Basin. Although many sub-basins may exist in the West-Central Coastal, only four major sub-basins have been defined. Activity remains high as geology, production advances and improving host governments buoy the outlook.