Angola margin : regional tectonic evolution based on integrated analysis of seismic reflection and potential field data and modelling

Abstract

The study area of this work belongs to continental margin offshore Angola. Despite the large amount of data acquired, the geometries of subsalt sedimentary layers and lower crustal structure offshore Angola remain much debated due to masking effect of the Aptian salt layer and low seismic resolution at large depths. The robust methodology integrating the analysis of seismic reflection and potential field data with the gravity modelling is suggested in this work as a possible approach for tackling the problems in passive margin studies. The main objectives of the work were to define the crustal structure of the Angola margin, to delineate the continental-ocean boundary/transition (COB/COT), refine the margin segmentation due to a number of transect zones, study magmatism along the margin, refine the plate tectonics, rift and shear structure, to study symmetry/asymmetry in the conjugate part of the Brazilian continental margin. The elements of the margin architecture are together important for understanding of the process of margin formation and therefore essential for defining of hydrocarbon potential and exploration design.