Where next offshore East Africa? Mega-regional seismic dataset highlights new play potential

Summary The offshore East African margin has proven a rich exploration province over the last 10 years. We use a mega-regional integrated seismic dataset stretching from Northern Kenya to the Angoche Basin, Mozambique to highlight new play potential across the region. In Kenya, we demonstrate two distinct provinces in the offshore, separated by the Davie-Walu Ridge. To the north, the system is dominated by a narrow shelf and steep slope with gravitational deformation prevalent. To the south the Tembo trough presents a confined recently deformed system with multiple trapping geometries with clastic and carbonate targets. Intense recent deformation and structural inversion has created the uplifted areas of Zanzibar and Pemba islands. We show how this deformation presents likely trapping geometries and targets. Outboard tectonism along the Davie Fracture Zone has resulted in several Lower Cretaceous structures upon which potential reservoir systems onlap or cover. In the Comoros, our investigation focuses on the potential for Cretaceous and Palaeogene deep-water sand systems charged by Lower Cretaceous source rocks. Multiple, large low relief structures provide significant volume potential. The Angoche Basin, Mozambique provides the last area of discussion. We show some of the potential reservoir and trap architectures in the thick post rift section of this basin.