Full Description

Special Publication 80

** Limited print copies available **

Provides an overview of the geology and hydrocarbon habitat of rift basins in a variety of geographical settings and of diverse geological ages. It stems from the boom in rift basin exploration which occurred throughout the 1980s, from recognition early in the decade that lacustrine shales can be excellent source rocks, and from some notable exploration successes. This exploration activityled to a substantial increase in the available subsurface data which, in turn,fuelled a rapid expansion in the understanding of rift basin geology, a topic which remains at the forefront of geological research for both academic and petroleum industry workers.

Collectively the various papers on models and case studies lead the reader to the inescapable conclusion that each rift basin is a unique geological entity, yet that all are variations on a common theme. The models illustrate the major progress that has been made recently towards defining that theme and in recognizing the variations on it. The case studies clearly demonstrate that it is often those variations which determine the hydrocarbon habitat of a specific rift basin. Future research and continued hydrocarbon exploration in rift basins will further refine the models, define more clearly the general characteristics of all rifts, better delineate the range of possible variations on the common theme and refine and improve exploration strategies.

The book will be of interest to petroleum geologists in industry and academia.