Perupetro Assesses 765 Million Barrels of Potential Oil and Gas in Lima and Pisco Basins

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Perupetro has assessed that the Lima and Pisco basins, located in the central-western offshore waters of Peru, hold approximately 765 million barrels of potential hydrocarbon resources, with about 158 million barrels in the Lima Basin and 607 million barrels in the Pisco Basin. This assessment was announced by Carlos Quevedo, the company's executive for potential evaluation, during a recent webinar on the oil and gas potential of the two basins.

The assessed area covers the Lima Basin and the northern part of the Pisco Basin, located off the coasts of Áncash and Lima, spanning approximately 24,800 square kilometers. The study integrated geological, geochemical, gravity, magnetic, and seismic data collected over several decades, supplemented by new data obtained through multi-client agreements. The analysis reveals that the Lima Basin, as a frontier basin, still has large areas with relatively sparse information; seismic data has identified faults, structural blocks, unconformities, and graben structures that may constitute hydrocarbon traps. Multiple gas chimneys or gas columns may correspond to thermogenic natural gas, indicating the presence of an active petroleum system in the area.

Ocean drilling research wells ODP-679 and ODP-688 provided further evidence. The former, drilled in 1986 for scientific purposes, recorded thermogenic light hydrocarbons at a depth of approximately 788 meters; the latter reported the presence of natural gas and pyrite. Regarding petroleum system elements, the assessment identified potential source rocks and reservoirs in the Lima and Pisco basins—with the Lima Basin represented by units such as the La Zorra Formation, while the potential of units such as the Ambo Group was recognized in the Pisco Basin. Multiple sandstone sequences and volcanic facies may serve as reservoirs, with some volcanic facies possessing natural fracture potential.

Perupetro has currently identified 7 prospects, 3 leads, and 14 plays in the area, distributed across six bidding blocks. The Pisco Basin exhibits a higher degree of exploration maturity due to the quantity and quality of available data, while the Lima Basin still requires deeper geological understanding. Carlos Quevedo stated that continued acquisition of seismic information and seafloor geochemical analyses is needed to reduce geological risks and improve structural definition, thereby creating conditions to attract investment in the Lima Basin, emphasizing that the basin still holds significant undiscovered oil and gas potential.