Oil in Somalia-A comprehensive Look

[Twisted_Logic]

I have started this thread to exchange the prospects of oil and gas in Somalia. A lot is known about the oil presence in Somaliland and Puntland, and I was interested in furthering overall knowledge of oil potential in other region such as off-shore Hobyo and Afmadow regions of Southern Somalia. An honest and mature discussion of the topic will be highly appreciated.

[Twisted_Logic]

Abdulkadir Abiikar; London, UK; moolkaal@aol.com, +4420 8838 4153



This article is based on some declassified Conoco and Chevron documents obtained by Mohamed Hashi Ahmed, a Somali who specialised in collecting petroleum data on Somalia. Although confidential parts of the document was erased, seismic reports and drilling logs (the technical part) were also not available, I felt it is worth to make the public know about some scenarios of the past on oil exploration in Somalia.


These years were the period of time in which some international oil companies were pursuing intensive exploration efforts aggressively in North Somalia. In this context, North Somalia is what is called currently Somaliland and Puntland. Among those international oil companies were Chevron, Conoco, Amoco and Phillips.


Chevron Oil: At that time Chevron Oil has begun exploratory drilling at the first of the two sites in Northern Somalia. Company representatives said that they anticipate about 6 months of work. There has been no security problem in the area despite of the insurgency of Isaaq Clan at that time. The reason was simple: the area was inhabited by Gadabursi and Issa clans. In addition the Isaaq movement, the SNM saw the exploration work going on was “beneficial” to the whole region, and there was no point of attacking the rig. SNM refrained from attacks for its own good reasons, but occasional threats came from government forces led by General Morgan. At one point, Chevron obtained orders for Morgan Forces to withdraw 5 miles away from the camp.


The exploration site was located on the western part of the Somali coastal plain (Guban), along the Gulf of Aden Sea. It was 33 miles south of Zeila, 4 - 5 miles east of Zeila – Gerisa Road, and about 15 miles from the Gulf of Aden coast. Equipment, material, and crew were all transported from Jibouti airport or harbour.


The camp at the rig site was staffed by Chevron’s only 2 employees, in addition to 30 – 35 expatriates (Canadians, British, Americans and Phillipinos) who were present at any given time. The expatriates who spent one month on and one month off the site were employees of other specialised drilling firms such as Halliburton or Bawden. Living or dining quarters were contained in a dozen 40 ft. trailers. There were also some large tents for the local Somali work-force. The site also contained sun-shaded workshop areas and some empty shipping containers.


If nothing was discovered at Zeila location, Chevron would move to the next site for oil exploration drilling. The next site was near Lughaye, and it was expected to begin after 6 months of drilling the first site.


Whether oil was discovered or whether the drilling showed good sign of oil remains unknown today because the State of Somalia ceased its existence in January 1991 and Chevron claimed Force Majeure, and to-date Chevron retains its documents.


Conoco: Conoco was investing in oil exploration in Somalia on a scale unmatched by its rivals, building roads and airstrips, chartering one of Somalia national airline’s 3 planes on a full time basis, and sending seismic survey teams to the edge of SNM-controlled territory. Conoco has also recruited a well-armed force of over 100 police to provide security.


Conoco Somalia’s president, Mr. Raymond Marchand, seemed undaunted and undeterred by such problems. He lead his operation from the front and has been highly successful in getting needed support from the Somali government (GSDR). Part of the full story which explains to GSDR Officials was that an oil strike in Somalia would have little or no value unless the country achieves internal peace.


The mode of operation of Conoco Somalia was very interesting: In its quest for oil, President Raymond Marchand, a 50-year old Frenchman, from Algeria gets things done in his own way. He operates from the front and goes first-class, provoking a little envy among his competitors.


Conoco’s concessions: Conoco has concessions in five (5) blocks: (27, 28 and 29 acquired in 1986; and 33 and 34 acquired in 1989), covering most of Somalia east of Buroao. Right from the beginning Marchand planned to stay out of the conflict zone where the SNM was very active and challenged the government. He said, “Basically we are staying in Dhulbahante or Warsangeli (Sool and Sanaag regions).” The western half of Block 27 has been a scene of frequent combat since 1988; and as such Conoco has stopped work in all Block 27, but without declaring Force majeure (as Amoco did in Block 35, northwest of Erigabo in 1988. The Somali government appreciated that Conoco has avoided in granting this block to others.


Security: The elders of Dhulbahante assured Marchand that they would take care of Conoco’s crews and rig. A force of 117 policemen (called locally the Daraawishta, who wore blue berets) was detailed to Conoco. For firepower they relied on a truck-mounted 37 mm anti-aircraft cannon, 12 calibre .50 machine guns, and numerous RPG7s. Individual police are armed with west German G-3 rifles (even better that AK 47 Kalashnikovs).Conoco paid the salaries and provided food for the contingent. But this army did not use their weapons and the force acted as deterrence rather than being offensive on any group.


Seismic surveys: Western Geophysical was performing seismic surveys for Conoco in the south of Block 29 and would move from there into Block 33. Marchand led the exploratory party (including 10 policemen) from Qardho into the general direction of Eirgaabo. They conferred with the nomads along the way, and when they reached rangeland devoid of nomads (camels and goats), they knew to turn back, for this was the beginning of no-man’s land, separating Dhulbahante from Isaaq, adhering to the SNM. The Seismic Crew was accompanied by 40 policemen, thus far with little apparent risk. They had a base camp and an airstrip, and logistics which are independent of the Conoco drilling site.


Air transport: Dornier 228 twin-engine, 19 passenger transport planes were used on full time basis for transport. The Dornier made 5 flights per week: 3 to the rig and 2 to the seismic team. Fuel was stored at the airstrip to eliminate the need to fly to the port of Bosaso to refuel before returning to Mogadishu. The Dornier made many flights in support of the activities of Conoco and its sub-contractors.


The 3rd plane of Somali Airlines fleet of 3, was their airbus 310 for international flights. For this service, Conoco paid Somali Airlines USD $250,000 per month, an injection of hard currency sufficient to pay one third of Somali Airlines’ debt service for Airbus.


The size of Conoco’s operation was such that they needed additional air service to Kenya. For this purpose, a six-seater aircraft was used to fly between Nairobi and the site on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Somali Airlines flew on Sundays and Wednesdays.


Rig Transport to site: Conoco brought its rig from overseas on a ship to Bosaso, which is on the Gulf of Aden and from there the rig was hauled to site. Other equipment was hauled all the way from Mogadishu to Las Anod (780 miles) on Chinese built-road. Independent truckers were hired to haul, and there was a fair queue.


Conoco’s staff: Conoco’s staff consisted of ten expatriates in the Mogadishu office, 23 on the rig and 23 to 25 on the seismic team. Except for 3 or 4 Conoco direct hires, most of these were employees of Parker Drilling, Schlumberger, EXLOG and /or Western Geophysical (which was also doing seismic work for the other oil companies gearing up for operations in Somalia, such as Amoco and Pecten (a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell).


Operations: Most of Conoco’s dealings with the Somali government were trouble free. Raymond Marchand has direct access to President Siyad Barre if the need arises. At one point, the Director of Civil Aviation of Somalia, Colonel Ali Garad wanted to cause some trouble, and Marchand had to see Siyad Barre to contain and compel Ali Garad to cease his interferences. Since December 1989 the three worked together very smoothly.


The Drill Site: Conoco started drilling its first well, Nogal-1, on the 1st of November, 1989. This well was situated at a site in Block 28, in the desert about 50 km. north of Las Anod. According to their schedule at the time, Conoco would be drilling the second well around mid April 1990 in a site 170 km east-northeast of Nogal-1, which is near Garowe. The second rig will be in an area predominantly with a population of Majertain. New security arrangements and new relationships of patronage will be established.


Impact on the economy, relations with the government: For an enterprise to be successful, obtaining the cooperation of the government is essential. The Conoco operation by its size, dynamism and bountiful expenditures, has overcome the squeeze system by which Somali bureaucrats make their living. The benefits to all, if Conoco finds oil, and the immediate benefits to the local and Somali economy due to Conoco’s spending, whether oil is found or not, are so apparent that no one has tried to kill this “goose laying golden eggs”.


However, over the long-term, Conoco may have difficulties with senior leaders of the Somali Government to understand the whole story. Although the formations may look promising, there may be no oil there. Government officials tend to be filled with giddy optimism. A recent hydrogen sulphide safety alert at the drilling site confused some people into thinking that Conoco had struck oil. Getting government leaders to accept bad news should a well did not produce oil, may not be easy. Fortunately, the new Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Mr. Abidrasak Ali Elmi, is a geologist who understands what is happening. Marchand has also made sure to keep former Interior Minister, (and now the Deputy Secretary General of the Ruling Party), Ahmed Suleiman Abdalla, himself a Dhulbahante get briefed on the progress of operations.


An incentive for achieving peace: The most important part of the whole story is that even if Conoco has found oil in significant amounts, there must be additional steps towards peace and much more investment to come before Somalia feels the benefit of oil. The first pre-requisite was that Somalia must achieve peace and stability. Marchand explained that, “If oil is discovered in Somalia, but there is no peace, then neither Conoco nor anyone else, will be able to get the oil out.”


A pipeline, pumping station and a terminal would cost approximately USD $ 500 – 800 million. For example, Chad, where Marchand worked and oil was discovered in 1973 and Sudan are examples of countries that internal strife has prevented the exploitation and the export of any oil. Somalia could fall into the same unhappy category.


Abdulkadir Abiikar

London, UK; moolkaal@aol.com

[galia]

The real wealth on somalia is in the south, so somaliland and puntland can go to hell, cos us southern somalis would like to keep all dis oil in our lands for ourselfs.

Offshore oil in hobyo belongs to HG, and oil in Mudug and Galgaud also belong to HG 8)

[Twisted_Logic]

Abdulkadir Abiikar, Petrosom (E-mail: moolkaal@aol.com ); July 2007

Somalia has been sparsely explored and several exploration plays with world-class potential remain to be tested. Just prior to the onset of the civil war in December of 1990, several concessions were held by major international petroleum companies and at least three key wells were scheduled to be drilled. In addition giant oil companies became keen and interested on different sedimentary basins of Somalia.

These basins include:

1. The Somali Coastal Basin, from Adale to Ras Kiyamboni (joins the Lamu Embayment at Oddo Alimo or Halima Addey, south of Kismayo)
2. The Luuq-Mandhera Basin
3. The Somali Embayment or Galmudug Basin
4. The Nugal Uplift Basin
5. Borama ?Bihindula Basin or the Northern Coastal Basin
6. The Aal-Madow /Daroor and Sagaleh Basin

Geographical location of the Somali Embayment
The Somali Embayment covers the regions of South Mudug and Galgaduud and extends west across the border into the Ogaden Basin. In terms of coastal towns, it is from Gara?ad to Mareeg on the Indian Ocean coast. To the east, the continental shelf ranges from 25 ? 50 km in width offshore Galmudug, and it is terminated seaward by a shelf/slope break. The continental slope is steeper than normal, and the continental rise is mature. Beyond the rise is the margin of the Western Somali Basin that forms the seafloor for western part of the Indian Ocean.

Exploration history
In the Mudugh Basin (or the Somali Embayment) of the Central Regions of Gal-Mudug, exploration geologists regard it as one of the highly prospective sedimentary basins of Somalia. Knowing that, in 1987 Shell (Pectin) signed a production sharing agreement with the then Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources of Somalia. Shell got a concession covering the whole of the continental shelf from Mudug through Galgaduud through Middle Shabelle to South of Mogadishu in Lower Shabelle region. This runs from the north-east, at a point just south of Conoco's Block 34, down to the south of Mogadishu. The concession consists of five offshore blocks, from north to south, M-5, M-4, M-3, M-6 which ends off Mogadishu, and M-7. Agip, Arco, Sinclair, and others drilled and explored the area.

Interesting gas and condensate discoveries were made near Mogadishu before the civil war broke out. Western geologists had indicated since the 1950s that the continental shelf could be an area of high prospectivity. This region is believed to be potentially rich in hydrocarbons.

Further to the South, in the Somali Coastal Basin, Amoco has the three equally interesting Blocks 6, 9 and 12 onshore to the west of Mogadishu. These areas are in the Afgoi region and are said to contain gas and condensates. In one area 30 km west of Mogadishu it was said in 1984 that about 200 billion cubic feet of gas had been found. The coastal Block 6, the southernmost of the three, is said to have good oil possibilities. If more investment, exploration and development are carried out, the region could earn petro-revenue which is needed for development in all its aspects. Furthermore, deforestation and charcoal production could stop in a country where there are scarse resources for wood and domestic energy.

Geological Setting and stratigraphy
The first geological studies on the stratigraphic sequence of Central Somalia were carried out by G. Stephanini and were published from 1920 ? 1938., with a rich series of works in ?Paleontograhia Italica?. A. Silvestri soon followed by studying the Formaminifera in 1938 ? 1948. Then in 1948 -1958 A. Azzaroli studied the stratigraphy in relation to the fauna fossils in the sediments. However, the best information comes from the well logs during the drilling of this area and its neighbourhood, specifically in the Coastal Basin. Among other important documents are those of Agip Mineraria ? Agip Somalia; 1957- 1977; P. Lyons, A. Bennison and Barnes, S.U of Sinclair Somali Corporation (1960; 1976); Rompetrol (1975), the publication of the Geological Survey Team of the People?s Republic of China (1972), S.U. Barnes (1976), Beltrandi and Pyre (1973), and most recently by Michael J. Brady (1989; 2002); Mike Coffin (1988 ? 2002); Du Toit, S.R. and Slind, OL (Alconsult International) and Bill St. John (2005) on offshore East Africa. Alconsult completed the East Africa Hydrocarbon Study (EARHS) funded by the Canadian International Development Agency [CIDA] in the late 1990's and through data storage agreements with the participating countries maintained detailed, country-specific reports and additional seismic and well data for 8 of the original 9 countries of EARHS. The report covered eight countries of East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.



The geology of the basin
Precambrian granite and metamorphic rocks dominate the basement rocks of Northern Somalia and southern ?Bur? basements. Then the present sea-margins of Somalia began developing in Permo-Carboniferous Time as rift and pull-apart basins formed, and these basins evolved intermittently over 150 million years until seafloor spreading commenced in the Late Jurassic. A salient aspect of the basin?s break-up stratigraphy is salt in isolated grabens and presumed salt diapirs offshore Southern Somalia.

At the initiation of seafloor spreading between West Gondwana [Africa] and East Gondwana [Madagascar, Seychelles, Greater India, Australia and Antarctica] at about 165 Ma, sediment facies changed throughout the basins from dominantly continental to marine. Volcanism and normal faulting occurred at the same time. Thermal subsidence and mechanical (sediment) loading dominated margin evolution following margin breakup, and seafloor spreading ceased in the Western Somali Basin in Neocomian /Aptian Time. Vigorous ocean currents along the East African margin probably commenced in Mid-cretaceous Time, and widespread regional volcanism occurred in the late Cretaceous.

By the close of the Middle Jurassic, oceanic crust separated Eastern Africa from Madagascar-Seychelles, and the respective shorelines began to subside, leading to Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous marine transgression. The Middle Cretaceous was a period of alternating transgression and regression phases. Late Cretaceous-Early Cretaceous transgression followed. The Early Oligocene was a quiet period of gentle regression marked by the absence of Oligocene sediments in some areas. Late Oligocene-Miocene transgression with accompanying tectonic movement followed. Subsequent regression established the present-day coastlines.

Pre-Jurassic
No pre-Jurassic sedimentary rock has been reported from outcrop in the Somali Coastal basin. However, the Brava 1 Well bottomed in quartz sandstone 120 m thick, which bears resemblance to the continental Triassic ? Lower Jurassic Adigrat Formation described in other wells. Both Kamen-Kaye (1978) and Kamen-Kaye and Barnes (1978) noted that palynomorphs of Permo-Triassic age were found in the shale overlying the quartz sandstone in the Brava 1 Well. Nevertheless, Beltrandi and Pyre (1973) considered both units to be Jurassic in age. Until more documentation becomes available, it is considered that the basal sandstone to be the top of Adigrat Formation, the lower part of which is Triassic in age.

Lower Jurassic
Deposition of the Adigrat Formation continued uninterrupted from Triassic through Pliensbachian time. The formation consists of as much as 130 m of quartz sandstone with intercalations of gypsum and dark shale. Interestingly, the Qoryoley 1 Well bottomed in extrusive igneous rock after penetrating at least part of the Adigrat Formation. This rock may be the manifestation of the rifting process that ultimately led to the separation of Madagascar and Africa in the Middle Jurassic time (Segoufin and Patriat, 1980; Parson and others, 1981; and Rabinowitz and others, 1983). Overlying this sandstone, and extending to the middle of the top of the Middle Jurassic are basinal dark grey shale and dark grey argillaceous fossiliferous limestone that grade to pure limestone seaward. At the Marai Asha Well this section ? the Hamanlei Formation ? is at least 1,525 m thick; just to the north at the Hobyo 1 Well (not on this map), the thickness is at least 2, 175 m.

Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous

The Oxfordian ? Kimmeridgian Warandab Formation consists of yellowish, marly limestone containing belemnites and ammonites in Southern Somalia. The formation is represented in the boreholes by basinal dark grey marly limestone stringers, and in the Marai Asha Well a total thickness of 538 m was recorded. The remainder of the Upper Jurassic (Late Kimmerdgian ? Tithonian) section is expressed as basinal dark gray and dark brown shale, with some gray, finely crystalline foraminifera ? bearing limestone, of the Garbaharrey Formation, which attains a maximum thickness of 350 m.

In south-central Somalia, the lower Cretaceous crops out as a series of gypsum and limestone with inter-bedded shale. In the subsurface fore-reef limestone and medium-depth neritic shale make up the Cotton Formation, that is entirely of Early Cretaceous age (dated by foraminifera). At Marai Asha the section is 130 m thick and is in unconformable contact with both the Upper Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous rock.

Upper Cretaceous
At Marai Asha, the Upper Cretaceous is represented by 1,025 m of deep-water grey shale and marl (Sagaleh Formation) and the section thins seaward. Farther to the south, at the Marka Well, the entire Upper Cretaceous column was not penetrated, but 360 m of dark gray shale of that age with interbedded splitic basalt flows were recovered. In Southern Somalia, the Upper Cretaceous section is approximately the same thickness as at Marai Asha, but consists of open marine sandstone and siltstone with shale intercalations. The Sageleh Formation is rich in foraminifera.

Paleocene
Paleocene rock is abundant in boreholes of the Somali Embayment Basin. In the Marai Asha Well, the Sagaleh Formation ? a foraminifera-bearing deep-water gray shale and marl ? continues into the Paleocene from the Upper Cretaceous; Paleocene thickness of the unit is ~100 m. Overlying the shale is a 200-m thick transitional zone, the fossiliferous (foraminifera) Marai Asha Formation, between the shale and the overlying Auradu limestone. The Auradu Formation, 320 m thick in the Marai Asha borehole, is a finely crystalline, compact, hard, tan to light brown limestone with local thin gray shale horizons; the unit grades to a deeper water facies towards the Somali continental margin. Rich in foraminifera, the formation continues into the Eocene. At Marka 1 Well, the Paleocene section consists of 960 m of dark gray to brown , fine to medium grained, calcareous well-cemented quartz sandstone beds. Sills of spilitic basalt intrude this section. Farther to the south, the epoch (plus the early Eocene) is represented by 2,745 m (Halima Addey, S17 in Fig1) of predominantly terrigenous quartz sandstone interbedded with shale, mudstone, and some anhydrite.

Eocene
Deposition of the Auradu Formation, a finely crystalline, compact hard tan to light brown, foraminifera-bearing limestone with local thin, gray shale horizons, continued uninterrupted from Paleocene through Ypresian time. This Formation grades seaward to a deeper water shale facies. At Marai Asha, the undifferentiated Paleocene ? Lower Eocene is represented by 320 m of Aurado Formation. The Taleh Formation consisting of 117 m of pink, very fine-grained, hard, calcareous quartz sandstone, immediately overlies the Aurado. To the South, the Marka 1 borehole records 430 m of Lower Eocene dark gray to brown shale of the Aurado Formation. The shale contains some dark gray to brown limestone-layers and also some light gray to brown, fine to medium grained, calcareous well-cemented quartz sandstone beds. Overlying the Aurado are 174 m of Taleh Formation, consisting of dark gray to dark green calcareous finely micaceous shale-containing glauconite and pyrite, and a few thin sandstone beds. Very similar fossiliferous shale (Karkar Formation), 268 m thick, lies above the Taleh Formation and extends to the top of the Eocene section. As previously mentioned, 2,745 m of undifferentiated Lower Tertiary clastic sediments, extending through the lower Eocene are preserved in the Oddo Alimo (Halimo Addey) borehole (S17 in Fig.1) in extreme south-eastern Somalia.

Miocene
The undifferentiated Miocene section recovered from Marka 1 Well (S8 in Fig.1) is 837 m thick. At the base are 91 m of multicoloured shale, overlain by 213 m of sandstone. Red, green and gray silt-shale totalling 107 m succeeds the sandstone, and at the top of the section are 426 m of white to gray, hard, fine-t0-medium grained, calcareous sandstone with some gray-green and brown soft clay layers in the lower 91 m, along with one cream to white, finely crystalline, gypsum-bearing fossiliferous limestone bed. At Brava 1 Well 914 m of Miocene marly limestone interbedded with calcareous shale, and a few sandstone beds were encountered, unconformably overlying lower Cretaceous rock. The Halimo Addey (S17 in Fig.1) borehole records Miocene calcareous shale, farther to the south, the facies changes to marine limestone several hundreds metres thick.

Pliocene
At Marka 1 Well: 11 metres of Pliocene clastic and carbonate deposits were recovered. In the south, more than 500 m of limestone, clay and sandstone are present just to the north of the Lamu Embayment.

Quaternary
The Quaternary period is marked by reef development and clastic (alluvial and dune formation) deposition in the Somali Embayment Basin.

Prospectivity
The Mudug contains very thick Jurassic to Tertiary sedimentary succession that reaches more than 5 km in the deeper parts and includes non-marine to deep marine clastics, shallow-to-deep marine carbonates and evaporates. This sedimentary succession has no proven petroleum potential. Inland, the Jurassic to Tertiary section consists primarily of inter-bedded platform limestones and shales, locally with evaporites. This section is transitional eastward to deeper water shelf and basinal deposits along the coastal margin, on the continental shelf. The Hobyo 1 and El-Qabobe 1 both drilled up to Hamanlei Formation to depths of
5,253 m and 4,426 m respectively and did not reach the basement.

Conclusion
Mature, oil-prone source beds combined with potential reservoir rocks and structures occur in a variety of geological settings. Viable exploration plays include rift basins, regional arches, carbonate platform margins, and faulted basin margins. Galmudug basin is under-explored, and 5 wells in 60 years of ?exploration? is noting to mention, and the basin needs exploration and investment. The region is considered highly prospective and relatively unexplored and untested.

References

1. Abdi Salah Hussein, 1978. Ricerche and Prospettive Petrolifere nel Bacino di Mogadishu; the Somali National University; Dept. of Geology, unpublished graduation work; Mogadishu; Somalia.

2. Agip Mineraria ? Agip Somalia; 1957 ? 1977. Reports; unpublished, Mogadishu, Somalia.

3. Andrews S.M., 1968; Final Reports. Sinclair Somali Oil Corporation; unpublished; Mogadishu, Somalia.

4. Barnes, S.U. (Sinclair - Somalia Oil Corporation); 1976, Geology and oil prospects of Somalia, East Africa; The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin [AAPG]; Vol. 60, No. 3 (March 1976). pp. 389 ? 413; 10 fig. and 3 tables

5. Beltrandi M. and Pyre A. , 1973; Geological Evolution of Southwest Somalia in Blant, G., ed., Sedimentary Basins of the African Coasts; Part 2- South and East Coast: Paris; Association of African Geological Surveys; p. 159 ? 178.


6. Coffin, M.F., and Rabinowitz, P.D., 1988, Evolution of the conjugate East African-Madagascan margins and the Western Somali Basin, Geological Society of America Special Paper, published by Geological Society of America, vol. 226, p. 78.

7. Coffin, M.F., and Rabinowitz, P.D., 1982, Multichannel seismic transect of the Somali continental margin, Proceedings of the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, Report OTC, vol. 4259, p. 421-428.

8. Do Toit, S.R. and Slind, O.L. (Al-consult Int.); Hydrocarbon potential of the East Africa continental margin (from Somalia to South Africa), Offshore Journal; v.59, no.2; 1999.

9. Kamen-Kaye, M and Barnes, SU; 1978, Exploration outlook for Somalia, coastal Kenya and Tazania: Oil and Gas Journal; July 24, 1978; p. 80 ? 246.

10. Lyons P and Beninson A.; 1960. Somalia: Geological and geophysical report; Sinclair Somali Corporation; unpublished, Mogadishu.

11. Michael J. Brady; Harms & Brady, Inc. Exploration History and Hydrocarbon Potential of Somalia; Presentation for Kansas Geological Society: Technical talk 2002.

12. Michael J. Brady et al. The Hydrocarbon Potential of Somalia; 1989. Unpublished. Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources. Mogadishu, Somalia

13. Mohamud Arush, Andrew Miall and Schalk Du Toit. Petroleum potential of Somalia. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists; Rock the Foundation Convention 2001; Abstracts June 18 -22, 2001.

14. Rabinowitz, P.D., Coffin, M.F., and Falvey, D.A., 1982, Salt diapirs bordering the continental margin of northern Kenya - southern Somalia, Science, vol. 215, p. 663-665.

15. St. John, Bill, 2005, Eastern Africa Offshore; 25th Annual GCSSEMP Foundation Bob F. Perkins Research Conference, Dec. 4-7, 2005, Houston, TX, USA

Abdulkadir Abiikar
moolkaal@aol.com

[cabdallah252]

the oil that lies under somalia are just 'leftovers' of the greater arabian oil basins. nothing huge and most if not all is found in the north.

the southern part of somalia especially around baydhoba is rich in phosphorus and uranium though

[Twisted_Logic]

[quote="cabdallah252"]the oil that lies under somalia are just 'leftovers' of the greater arabian oil basins. nothing huge and most if not all is found in the north.

the southern part of somalia especially around baydhoba is rich in phosphorus and uranium though[/quote]

I think the notion that whatever oil left in Somalia is a left-over of the Arabian oil basin is just baseless! The biggest deposits of oil known in Somalia might well be off-shore Hobyo and we all know how close Hobyo is to the Arabian oil Basin. I have yet to hear any source claiming that whatever oil remains in Somalia is purely a "left-over" of the arabian oil basin except those in Nugaal valley and other areas in the North.

[Boqor__Daarod]

somalia could make a nuclear weapons we have the chemicals to do so. we just need the money and scientist

[Twisted_Logic]

[quote="Boqor__Daarod"]somalia could make a nuclear weapons we have the chemicals to do so. we just need the money and scientist [/quote]

The nuclear circle is dependent of complex factors and uranium and plutonium is just one factor!

[cabdallah252]

[quote="Twisted_Logic"][quote="cabdallah252"]the oil that lies under somalia are just 'leftovers' of the greater arabian oil basins. nothing huge and most if not all is found in the north.

the southern part of somalia especially around baydhoba is rich in phosphorus and uranium though[/quote]

I think the notion that whatever oil left in Somalia is a left-over of the Arabian oil basin is just baseless! The biggest deposits of oil known in Somalia might well be off-shore Hobyo and we all know how close Hobyo is to the Arabian oil Basin. I have yet to hear any source claiming that whatever oil remains in Somalia is purely a "left-over" of the arabian oil basin except those in Nugaal valley and other areas in the North.[/quote]

if i was a betting man i would bet on that most of somalia's oil would be found off-shore bosaaso between bari and oman in the gulf of aden/arabian sea.

but somalis will keep on fighting for ever and when they finally become peaceful the era of petroleum-derived fuels is probably over

[Boqor__Daarod]

[quote="Twisted_Logic"][quote="Boqor__Daarod"]somalia could make a nuclear weapons we have the chemicals to do so. we just need the money and scientist [/quote]

The nuclear circle is dependent of complex factors and uranium and plutonium is just one factor![/quote]

nuclear weapons are made of uranium these days the reason why uranium is because of it many atoms and its voilent behavor

these atoms need to be charged so that is were the heavy water comes in.

plutonium was used on japan it is very small comparied with the new nuclear weapons.

[Twisted_Logic]

[quote="Boqor__Daarod"][quote="Twisted_Logic"][quote="Boqor__Daarod"]somalia could make a nuclear weapons we have the chemicals to do so. we just need the money and scientist [/quote]

The nuclear circle is dependent of complex factors and uranium and plutonium is just one factor![/quote]

nuclear weapons are made of uranium these days the reason why uranium is because of it many atoms and its voilent behavor

these atoms need to be charged so that is were the heavy water comes in.

plutonium was used on japan it is very small comparied with the new nuclear weapons.[/quote]

Actually Uranium is the smaller of the two. One of the advantages of Uranium based bombs is that it allows you to make miniaturized warheads necessary for tactical or strategic strikes.

[Twisted_Logic]

[quote="cabdallah252"][quote="Twisted_Logic"][quote="cabdallah252"]the oil that lies under somalia are just 'leftovers' of the greater arabian oil basins. nothing huge and most if not all is found in the north.

the southern part of somalia especially around baydhoba is rich in phosphorus and uranium though[/quote]

I think the notion that whatever oil left in Somalia is a left-over of the Arabian oil basin is just baseless! The biggest deposits of oil known in Somalia might well be off-shore Hobyo and we all know how close Hobyo is to the Arabian oil Basin. I have yet to hear any source claiming that whatever oil remains in Somalia is purely a "left-over" of the arabian oil basin except those in Nugaal valley and other areas in the North.[/quote]

if i was a betting man i would bet on that most of somalia's oil would be found off-shore bosaaso between bari and oman in the gulf of aden/arabian sea.

but somalis will keep on fighting for ever and when they finally become peaceful the era of petroleum-derived fuels is probably over [/quote]


Again I disagree with that assertion, from the work done by most oil groups in Somalia, the dominating understanding is that oil off-shore Somalia is far greater than those thought to exist both in the north and the red sea between Yemen and Puntland/Somaliland.

“Further to the South, in the Somali Coastal Basin, Amoco has the three equally interesting Blocks 6, 9 and 12 onshore to the west of Mogadishu. These areas are in the Afgoi region and are said to contain gas and condensates. In one area 30 km west of Mogadishu it was said in 1984 that about 200 billion cubic feet of gas had been found. The coastal Block 6, the southernmost of the three, is said to have good oil possibilities. If more investment, exploration and development are carried out, the region could earn petro-revenue which is needed for development in all its aspects.”

“In the Mudugh Basin (or the Somali Embayment) of the Central Regions of Gal-Mudug, exploration geologists regard it as one of the HIGHLY prospective sedimentary basins of Somalia. Knowing that, in 1987 Shell (Pectin) signed a production sharing agreement with the then Ministry of Water and Mineral Resources of Somalia. Shell got a concession covering the whole of the continental shelf from Mudug through Galgaduud through Middle Shabelle to South of Mogadishu in Lower Shabelle region. This runs from the north-east, at a point just south of Conoco's Block 34, down to the south of Mogadishu. The concession consists of five offshore blocks, from north to south, M-5, M-4, M-3, M-6 which ends off Mogadishu, and M-7. Agip, Arco, Sinclair, and others drilled and explored the area.”

“Geographical location of the Somali Embayment
The Somali Embayment covers the regions of South Mudug and Galgaduud and extends west across the border into the Ogaden Basin. In terms of coastal towns, it is from Gara?ad to Mareeg on the Indian Ocean coast. To the east, the continental shelf ranges from 25 ? 50 km in width offshore Galmudug, and it is terminated seaward by a shelf/slope break. The continental slope is steeper than normal, and the continental rise is mature. Beyond the rise is the margin of the Western Somali Basin that forms the seafloor for western part of the Indian Ocean.”

So as you can see none of the international exploration findings support your claims. The only reason oil is being drilled in the north today is due to the fact that it enjoys a relative degree of stability compared to the south!

[King-of-Awdal]

There is no Oil drilling Allowed in Awdal what so ever. 8) we dont have oil.

[Twisted_Logic]

Guys,

If you have any articles of oil in somalia then post here so we can educate each other!

[Shirib]

Don't find oil in Somalia, or atleast not now. Oil explorations in Somalia makes me nervouse. Wait till we get peace to explore and dig.

We've fought 17 years over clans find oil now we will fight till Yawm'al Qiyama over oil.