The Petroleum Potential of Antarctica

David I.M. Macdonald, Department of Geology & Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, School of Geosciences, Meston Building, Aberdeen AB24 3UE United Kingdom, phone: +44-1224-273458, d.macdonald@abdn.ac.uk

Antarctica is the only continent where no petroleum exploration wells have been drilled. Its petroleum potential has been the subject of (mostly poorly informed) debate and political controversy. It is now protected under the terms of the Madrid protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, but speculation continues. This paper reviews the development of Antarctic sedimentary basins in the context of Jurassic-Tertiary breakup of Gondwana and outlines current knowledge of the elements of potential petroleum systems.

Gondwana: Geology of the Break-up
2006 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, (November 5-8, 2006) Technical Program