Petroleum geology and hydrocarbon potential of Somaliland

Fewer than 10 exploration wells have been drilled in Somaliland (Northern Somalia), mostly in the northern onshore and offshore areas, making it one of the least explored countries in the world. Although tectonic developments have controlled the accommodation space available for sediment deposition since Early Jurassic, the wells drilled on both onshore and offshore have encountered source, reservoir and seal rocks. In this study seismic, well and outcrop data have been used to determine the petroleum system of the country. The results show that Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous units, and possibly Oligocene-Miocene units in the offshore area, show potential for hydrocarbon generation. Traps are provided by rollover anticlines associated with listric growth faults and rotated basement fault and horst blocks. These are controlled by Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous tentional stresses. Basins which have potential for hydrocarbons include Berbera (Bihendual) basin (conjugate side of the Balhaf basin in Yemen), Las Durch, Raguda, and Al Mado basin between Eragavo and Puntland (conjugate side of the Masilah basin in Yemen).