Texas A&M University link to www.tamu.edu link to geosciences.tamu.edu
| Overview | Research | Scientists | Contact |
| Deep Water Continental Margins | Alternate Energy Sources From Deep Water |

Resource Geosciences - Deep Water Continental Margins

 

Resource Geosciences has impacted the course of exploration for conventional reserves of oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico and globally by application of innovative hydrocarbon seep geochemistry.

  • The applied energy research of Resource Geosciences is supported by large multinational energy companies including Agip Petroleum, BHP Petroleum, BP Exploration, Chevron, Conoco, Devon Energy, Enterprise, ExxonMobil, Kerr McGee, Marathon, Norsk Hydro, Ocean Energy, PanCanadian, Phillips, Shell Offshore, Statoil, Texaco, TotalFinaElf, and Unocal.

  • The main geographic focus of RG is the Gulf of Mexico. In 1999, energy production from the deep water Gulf of Mexico continental slope for the first time exceeded that of the Gulf shelf, marking an historical turning point in our nation's energy history. The deep water Gulf slope is thought to offer the single greatest opportunity to add to domestic energy reserves.

  • The search for gas and oil seeps prior to Department of the Interior lease sales helped define the productivity of the central and western Gulf slope before drilling. Applied research programs include: the Green Canyon-Mississippi Canyon, Upper Garden Banks-Lower Garden Banks, Alaminos Canyon, Atwater-Lund-Walker Ridge, Keathley Canyon-Walker Ridge, Central Slope Seep Study, Central Gulf Consortium II, and the Western Gulf Consortium Phases I, II, and III.

  • Resource Geosciences pioneered study of hydrocarbon seeps and vents associated with sub-salt discoveries. It was discovered that horizontal salt sheets seep oil and gas along the edges but especially on the crests of salt sheets over known-sub-salt discoveries.

  • In response to the 2001 lease sale in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, major applied research programs included the DeSoto
    Canyon Lloyd Ridge Study and the 2000 Central and Eastern Gulf Biomarker and Isotope Study (CEGBIS).

  • RG's research offshore western Africa provided the first indication of an active petroleum system in deep water offshore Nigeria and Angola. Moreover, Resource Geosciences carried out a program offshore Namibia and key studies elsewhere offshore western Africa. In addition, Resource Geosciences carried out the first large search for gas and oil seeps offshore Brazil in partnership with Petrobras, the Brazilian national oil company.




GERG Sign