Gabon Gabon exploration basin

The Gabon Basin is bordered by the Rio Muni Basin in the north and the Lower Congo basin to the south. It comprises the vast majority of Gabon s licensed acreage extending from the ultra deepwater in the west across the continental shelf and coast to the onshore jungle interior. The shelf and onshore areas of the basin are considered to be relatively mature. Several exploration opportunities remain open to companies. Onshore activity has focussed on the Cretaceous pre salt horizons whilst offshore activity has been primarily focussed on post salt reservoirs. However deepwater drilling in the post salt has yielded few returns and future activity is expected to focus on the pre salt: Total's Diaman discovery in 2013 proved the existence of a working hydrocarbon system which was confirmed by Shell's Leopard gas field discovery in 2014. Value will only be created from such gas finds when a viable gas monetisation scheme is developed be it a domestic market or via LNG exports.