A Study Of Petroleum Systems Offshore Malta Through Updated Basin Modelling Providing Enhanced Regional Prospectivity

Abstract

TGS have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Malta, having first acquired ~10,000 km of 2D seismic data surrounding the islands in 2000/01. In 2013/4, ~6,500 km was reprocessed to better delineate a range of features from Triassic to Tertiary. With 11 wells drilled in Maltese waters between 1971 and 1998, exploration has significantly slowed down with only two wells being drilled since. Despite an absence of commercial hydrocarbons encountered, there have been numerous oil and gas shows ranging from Triassic to Tertiary. The petroleum potential of Malta is prospective and varied since the various working petroleum systems from the prolific neighbouring offshore regions of Tunisia, Sicily and Libya are postulated to be present. TGS have been granted data from the Maltese government to produce an updated temperature model. Using Fobos Pro, TGS’ internal basin modelling software package, a regional temperature model will be built and adjusted to to output ‘optimal temperature zones’ pertaining to source and reservoir. Preliminary reviews of the data suggest that there are clear trends such as an increased geothermal gradient in the Mesozoic basins (south of Malta) in contrast to the lower gradient on the Malta Plateau. Full details will be presented at the Workshop.