While adequate and mature source rock is believed to be in the JDZ, nobody has drilled deep-enough to confirm it in ERHC's blocks, but it is obviously present in the upper part of JDZ Block 1.
Assuming the existence of adequate source rock, what is needed is sufficient faulting for the hydrocarbons to migrate to reservoir sands where they are trapped in either structural or stratigraphic traps, or a combination of both. The most common discoveries in the GOG so far are structural, but Jubilee is primarily stratigraphic and Akpo has a large stratigraphic overlay.
Alternatively, there can be significant reservoirs in the source rock, or deeper in deeper reservoirs and traps with deeper source rock. For this reason I have theorized that Total may drill deeper into the basement, especially if they are looking at other JDZ blocks and for alternative plays. Also if there is further exploration in ERHC's JDZ blocks, it could require deeper drilling, or additional studies to identify new plays. Or they could just drill some of the remaining structures.
The below image shows the necessary components of a hydrocarbon system. The source rock rich with the "bio-content", under the right conditions, faulting to create a migration path, porous reservoir rock (sands) to serve as the reservoir, and non-porous cap rock the prevent the oil and gas from migrating up and dissipating.
It all has to be just right, and the Gulf of Guinea is chock full of just right. What remains to be determined is if the conditions extend into the Toe Thrust zone, as Addax bet on in the JDZ and OPL 291.
It wasn’t the thinking that got me the BIG money, it was the sitting and waiting – Livermore
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ERHC Energy Inc. (ERHE)
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