Resource potential of contourites

Leader: A. Viana

Contourites have previously passed beneath the radar when it comes to the assessment of potential economic resources along continental margins and in deeper basin settings. However, as a principal constituent of deepwater sedimentary systems, they must constitute an essential element in the exploration of progressively deeper waters by the hydrocarbon industry. This objective has strong links to the IGCP Topic on Earth Resources and already has strong support from the industry sector (e.g. Petrobras, Repsol).

Specific topics:

• Evaluating the potential of sandy contourite systems as potential reservoirs for oil and gas - using modern, subsurface and ancient outcrop examples.
• Evaluating the potential of muddy contourites both as potential source rocks for hydrocarbons and as potential unconventional reservoirs.
• Working with other groups to clarify the role of bottom currents in the growth of deepwater metalliferous deposits (including ferromanganese nodules).

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