Events & Courses

The Gulf of Mexico is a world class prolific hydrocarbon system. As a result of recent energy reform the Mexican sector of this basin has been open to international companies for the first time through a series of competitive licence rounds. The first phase of drilling on these newly awarded permits has resulted in the discovery of giant hydrocarbon accumulations in the Mexican offshore sector. Geologically, the offshore and onshore basins of Mexico offer a diverse range of play types with multiple source / reservoir pairs and are characterised by complex tectonic evolution with associated halokinesis and shale tectonics.  

More widely within the Northern Caribbean region, exploration activities are ongoing in several countries targeting both proven and frontier petroleum systems. Some of these play elements are potential extensions of the proven systems in Mexico. While geologically complex, these areas have the potential to emerge as major hydrocarbon basins.

An excellent series of abstracts have been submitted for the conference which have been arranged into the following themed sessions - Mexico Regional Tectonics, Mexican Basins - Sureste, Campeche, Burgos, Perdido Basins, Onshore Basins, Northern Caribbean Regional Tectonics, Northern Caribbean Basins Reservoir Distribution, Petroleum Systems and Salt Tectonics with the following Keynote Presentations:

• The Greater Gulf of Mexico: What we know, and what we don’t. Jim Pindell, Tectonic Analysis Ltd.
• Analysis of modern Mexico drainage systems: insights and predictions for post-Middle Miocene deepwater reservoir distribution and quality. John Snedden, The University of Texas.
• The Zama Discovery: Subsurface Uncertainty in Exploration and Appraisal. Iain MacEwen, Premier Oil.
• Diapirism, contraction and extension in the shelf and deepwater provinces of the southern Gulf of Mexico. Mark Rowan, Mark Rowan Consulting.
• The source rock provinces of the Caribbean by recourse to biomarker and stable isotope data assemblages from produced oils, shows and seeps. Chris Matchette Downes, CaribX Limited
• The Mexican fold and thrust belt: structure, timing and tectonics. Elisa Fitz-Diaz, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

The committee look forward to you joining us on the 14-16^th May 2019 for what promises to be a stimulating conference on the petroleum geology of the region. 

Registration: 

Registration is now open. Please register online or download the registration form and return to [email protected]

If you wish to register for the Dinner only, please contact [email protected]. Dinner bookings will close on the 10 May 2019.