Spatial distribution of petroleum system elements in the Pangani rift basin of north-eastern Tanzania based on interpretation of gravity and magnetic datasets

Abstract

There are limited studies on the occurrence and spatial distribution of petroleum system elements in the Pangani Rift Basin (PRB) of northeastern Tanzania. The elements include magmatic intrusions, sediment thickness, and faults and fold structures. This study aimed at assessing the petroleum potential of the PRB based on distributions of these elements. To meet the focus of this work, interpretation of gravity and magnetic datasets was employed. Results show that the basin contains thin and thick sedimentary covers ranging from 0.25 to 2.5 km, respectively. Thick sedimentary successions are found in the northern and southern parts of the basin; the central part contains thin sedimentary cover. Overall, sedimentary fills are thickening westward, toward the NNW-SSE trending master fault. Other mapped faults have the N-S and NNE-SSW trends. Results of magnetic data interpretation also show that igneous intrusions are present in the PRB and they have produced several fold structures; are dominantly increasing toward the northern part of the basin. The locations of these intrusions conform to locations of different faults suggesting tectonic influence in magmatism. The mapped and estimated features (faults, igneous intrusions, and sediment thickness) indicate possible presence of petroleum accumulations in the PRB.