SANAM Superbasin: Antecedent Structural Controls on Cretaceous Reservoir Systems Offshore South Africa and Namibia

Summary The antecedent structural controls on the deposition of deepwater clastic systems across the South African-Namibia (SANAM) Superbasin are investigated. There are clear antecedent controls on basin paleo-topography and therefore the distribution of Cretaceous sediments within the SANAM Superbasin. These structures are interpreted to have formed during Jurassic rifting associated with the earliest break-up of East and West Gondwana and are well-understood in the conjugate basins along the South American margin. These antecedent structural elements have served to deliver focussed sedimentary input points for Middle to Upper Cretaceous deepwater clastic systems which overlie widespread oil mature high quality Lower Cretaceous marine source rocks. The exploration of these emerging deepwater systems has only just begun but the extraordinary success rate thus far points to significant future resource potential for this underexplored margin.