ABOUT US

SCOPE & APPROACH
We are a research group dedicated to explore the evolution of continental margins and its petroleum systems, based on a solid basin analysis approach.
Our starting point is the analysis of the lithostratigraphical column and its basin-scale variations, towards the build-up of a tectono-sedimentary evolution model for the margin.
Our Petroleum System Analysis is based on this regional framework and aims to define exploration guide-lines, including predictive models of source-rock and reservoir location, as well as time-constraining on generation, migration and trapping.

BACKGROUND
We have an academic research background, based on classical sedimentological and stratigraphic studies of sedimentary basins. We gradually evolved into basin analysis, integrating regional data from other scientific areas, such as structural geology, geophysics, paleontology or petrography.
In the last decade, exploration hydrocarbon exploration activities in Portugal, gained a renewed interest by several companies. Within the scope of research projects for the industry, we used our integrated approach to adress basin evolution as a geological framework for the ongoing exploration activities.
We have been dealing mainly with portuguese Meso-Cenozoic basins, including the Lusitanian Basin, the Alentejo basin and the Algarve Basin. Our natural habitat is the Western Iberian Margin and its associated basins, either onshore and offshore.
We focus on the close relationships betwen basin evolution and petroleum system analysis, to understand and to build-up predictive concepts for hydrocarbons exploration. We welcome all the scientific and technical knowledge that may contribute to understand the evolution of the margins and its related petroleum systems.

PROVIDED ACTIVITIES
Research Projects – Scientific collaboration focused in basin analysis and petroleum systems, namely at atlantic margins’ basins.
Technical Consultancy – Technical support to Exploration projects, focused on basin analysis and petroleum sustems, both on Conventional and Non-conventional resources.
Field Trips – Organization and coordination of technical/scientific field-trips to Iberian basins, namely the Lusitanian, Alentejo and Algarve basins, as analogues to petroleum basins; focus on basin analysis, petroleum elements characterization and petroleum systems development.
Training – Technical and scientific training of post-graduates, young professionals and E&P geoscientists, with exploratory focus on basin and petroleum systems analysis.

MEMBERS
This Group includes mainly academic researchers with a strong inter-activity with industry.

Coordination
RUI PENA DOS REIS – Bio + CV
NUNO PIMENTEL – Bio + CV

Collaborators
Paulo Fonseca
Roberto Fainstein
Gabriel Barberes
Marta Reis
Rui Alves Vieira
João Casacão