A Geologist Shares Insights on Hydrocarbon Exploration in Mozambique
Maputo, October 09th 2020 –Mozambique has a very great potential for the occurrence of hydrocarbons. The launch of the 5th Bidding Round for Hydrocarbons Exploration and Production Concession Areas corroborates this assertion. However, until the production phase is reached, there are meticulous routes to go and one of them is conducting exploration, both onshore and offshore.
Speaking in an interview, José Branquinho, Geologist and Resource Evaluation Director at the National Petroleum Institute-INP, explains that hydrocarbon exploration is the set of processes aimed at delimiting the areas where there may be a potential for hydrocarbon accumulation in a given sedimentary basin. On the same occasion, the manager clarifies that the exploration may take place, both in the sea, the case in which the designation used is offshore or in on the continental side, the case in which the designation adopted is onshore, highlighting those that led to the development of gas projects in Pande and Temane, in the south region of the country, both based in the Mozambique Basin.
Branquinho also points out that a sedimentary basin is a geological entity that has conditions to receive and accumulate sediments, stressing that sediments refers to the fragments resulting from rock weathering processes and that are subsequently transported to that space called sedimentary basin.
The records suggest that the first hydrocarbon exploration in the country dates back to 1904. These explorations resulted in the discovery of large-thick sedimentary basins, with prospects for the occurrence of oil or gas. However, given the technological constraints at that time, the final results were not the expected ones. However, it is reported that since 1948, some oil companies have carried out extensive exploration operations, especially in coastal areas. As a result, in 1961 the Pande gas field was discovered, followed by gas discoveries in Búzi in 1962 and Temane in 1967. Recently, as part of the 2nd Bidding Round for Hydrocarbons Exploration and Production Concession Areas, Anadarko Mozambique Area 1, Rovuma Basin Offshore Area 1 former operator announced the discovery of natural gas in a field called Windjammer.
The Geologist José Branquinho provided these insights in an interview to Rádio Moçambique, the national broadcasting service, in an INP initiative, aimed to improve the literacy in matters related to the oil and gas industry in Mozambique.
For further information, please contact the Communication and Cooperation Unit through email comunicacao@inp.gov. or dial 21248300.