Play concepts-northwest Palawan, Philippines

Abstract The offshore area of northwest Palawan, Philippines, contains a number of provenexploration plays. These include u • pinnacle reefs developed on Nido carbonate platforms (e.g. Nido, Matinloc, Cadlao); • a seaward horst block reef fairway with large pinnacle reefs (e.g. Malampaya—Camago trend); • early Miocene Galoc Clastic Unit turbidites (e.g. Octon, Galoc); and • four-way dip closures (e.g. West Linapacan, Octon). The recent discovery by Fletcher Challenge Petroleum at Calauit Field has shown a potentialexploration play in deep-water Nido Limestone turbidites. The traditional and, to date, only economically productive play in northwest Palawan has been the Nido Limestone reefs. This paper presents a review of the old play types and presents new untested play types. These new play types include u • pre-Nido syn-rift plays; • pre-Nido marine turbidite play: and • mid-Miocene reefs. It also presents new insights into factors controlling reef development on the carbonate platforms where four reef types are now recognized. The Galoc Clastic Unit turbidite play is discussed and new play fairways presented.