Page 38: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2010)

38 MTR September 2010 announced 10th Gabonese Licensing Round. Jim Martin,

Chief Geophysicist, EAME Data Library, CGGVeritas, commented, 'We expect the ARKeX gravity gradiometry data to be extremely useful on this survey. Imaging the pre-salt is complex and the key is to accurately constrain the geometry of the salt bodies for accurate Earth

Modeling and prestack depth migration. Gravity gra- diometry data will provide a higher resolution model of the shallow section which will also improve the estimate of depth-to-base salt and therefore improve the estimate of the syn-rift sediment thickness to identify potential tar- gets in the pre-salt section'. There is considerable untapped potential in the salt province of Gabon, espe- cially in the pre-salt section which is currently poorly resolved on seismic. Petroleum systems have been identi- fied in all the coastal basins and rich source rocks are pres- ent, the Melinia shale, for example, averaging 5-6% TOC (Total Organic Content). Sand-rich sediment supply along with both pre- and post-salt deposition provides excellent reservoir potential while an active tectonic histo- ry, together with salt movement, are ideal for generating large structural traps with potentially very significant reserves.

According to the president of Petrobras, Mr. José Sergio

Gabrielli, there are important similarities between the pre- salt geological systems in Brazil and West Africa, and

Petrobras in highly interested in participating in the devel- opment of the West African pre-salt potential, especially in countries such as Nigeria, Angola and Namibia where

Petrobras has many assets in place and is expected to acquire new E&P blocks during the 10th Gabonese licensing round this year.

The importance of the pre-salt to local economies

For O&G producers and exporters, higher oil prices are expected to be a blessing rather than a curse. Yet evidence shows that in many of the net oil exporting countries (such as Africa, Mexico and Venezuela), it has been a major source of economic, social, political and environ- mental problems, rather than only as a treasure. The co- existence of significant oil wealth and large-scale poverty remains a “paradox of plenty,” if not an outright resource curse in itself, for nations experiencing these problems. It can be said that Brazil managed to escape this curse, but only just, as this is due mostly to the government, institu- tional and reasonable economic stability the country has enjoyed along the last two decades. It is also important for

Brazil that other national production markets have remained reasonably stable and sometimes even growing.

Agriculture, mining, general industrial manufacture,

O&G refining capabilities, industrial equipment manu- facture, recently shipbuilding and even tourism, are all thriving industries in Brazil. This has helped to avoid the economic and social symptoms associated to the oil curse.

Brazil is not totally dependent on O & G, although the pre-salt combined with new post-salt discoveries will be a major economic help to a country which is still far from eradicating poverty and unemployment.

The essential issue is that to create and sustain long-term wealth—rather than a short-term O&G boom—mineral resources have to be converted into other forms of capital (human, financial, and infrastructure) and more sustain- able livelihood opportunities.

The West African pre-salt potential does exist and quite a few O&G geologists in Brazil believe that new pre-salt discoveries in WA are imminent. The greatest problems

WA countries will face is related the lack of proprietary technology to explore and produce in these regions, reduced industrial bases, reduced refining capabilities, regional conflicts and institutional instability. In terms of

Illustration of exploratory blocks in Brazil.

Cr edit Petr obras