Characteristics and potential analysis of Madagascar hydrocarbon-bearing basins

Madagascar becomes a large isolated island after its dislocation from East Africa at its western part during the opening of the Mozambique Channel and its separation from India at its eastern part during the opening of the basin of the Mascarene. From a stratigraphic point of view, Karroo of Madagascar shares substantial similarities with the stratigraphic strata of East Africa. While oil companies have taken a liking to the basins of East Africa, they also turn to the basins in the western part of Madagascar especially after the discovery of large oil fields at Tsimiroro and Bemolanga. According to the study of their geological history, the basins of Madagascar contain huge hydrocarbon potential. The western basins, which is more developed than the east coast of the island, have been the subject of many in-depth studies by numerous researchers. The cross-referencing of bibliographic data with geological studies, and knowledge of hydrocarbon formation and maturation stages, carried out in this study served to determine the nature of source rocks, reservoir rocks, bedrock and eventual trapping system of hydrocarbons in Madagascar. This study identified the properties of Madagascar source rocks, reservoir rocks, bedrock and the final oil and gas trap system by cross-referencing the literature and geological research, oil and gas formation and maturity stages, and shows that Madagascar has considerable hydrocarbon potential.©2019 China Geology Editorial Office.