Formation of Gas Accumulation on the East African Continental Margins

Abstract

At present the continental margin of the South-East Africa is in the process of actives search prospecting. However on like of the West African continental margins, where throughout its entire length discovered mainly liquid hydrocarbons, in researching region known on the whole only gas accumulations. The reason for this is most likely the Karoo complex formation dating at early Permian, which is widespread at the East African basins. Enormous reserves of coal contained in the section of the Karoo formation in different basins (basin Karoo in SAR). Complex Karoo extending from south-west to north-east and little by little reduced not only by thickness, but in the content of coal reserve in it. The regions where the complex reduced at the north – east of the South- East Africa, appeared oil accumulation, like as in Lamu basin (Kenia), Somali and etc. Large gas reserves are discovered at the continental margin of the South-East Africa in Rovuma basin, North Mozambique and South Tanzania. This basin is nearest neighbor just the Karoo basin. Today Mozambique becomes a gas State in the Indian Ocean.