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Super basin is a modern term referring to sedimentary basins where the cumulative production and the remaining recoverable resources are higher than 5 billion BOE.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> They are characterized by having more than one petroleum system, a solid field infrastructure and abundant data sets for studies. The access to the market is also an essential element in this definition.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020>Sternbach, C.A., 2020, Super basin thinking: Methods to explore and revitalize the world’s greatest petroleum basins: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, p. 2463-2506</ref>

Super basin is a modern term referring to sedimentary basins where the cumulative production and the remaining recoverable resources are higher than 5 billion BOE.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> They are characterized by having more than one petroleum system, a solid field infrastructure and abundant data sets for studies. The access to the market is also an essential element in this definition.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020>Sternbach, C.A., 2020, [https://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/2020/12dec/BLTN20073/bltn20073.html Super basin thinking: Methods to explore and revitalize the world’s greatest petroleum basins]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, p. 2463-2506</ref>

In a world demanding more energy every decade, ideas involving lower costs and reduced environmental impacts are crucial to optimize hydrocarbon production. Although certain favorable geological conditions are needed for basins to become super basins, a key for this transformation includes changes in paradigms and technology advances, which increase the prospectivity and production of fields.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 />

In a world demanding more energy every decade, ideas involving lower costs and reduced environmental impacts are crucial to optimize hydrocarbon production. Although certain favorable geological conditions are needed for basins to become super basins, a key for this transformation includes changes in paradigms and technology advances, which increase the prospectivity and production of fields.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 />

Super Basins are associated with rifts, passive margins, foreland and intracratonic tectonic settings. Most are Mesozoic-aged (J-K), although there are Paleozoic-age examples.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Understanding the stratigraphy and timing of these settings help predict the localization of the petroleum system components.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Globally, 31 basins have been identified within the super basin category so far ([[:file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure1.jpg|Figure 1]]).<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Many of them (23) are in onshore locations, such as the Permian Basin in the United States and Neuquén Basin in Argentina.<ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> However, significant offshore basins like the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea Basin are also included in this category. Based on the incremental recoverable oil (billions of barrels), super basins are grouped in regions. Leading the list is the Middle East, followed by North America, Latin America, Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States, Far East, Australasia and Europe.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 />

Super Basins are associated with rifts, passive margins, foreland and intracratonic tectonic settings. Most are Mesozoic-aged (J-K), although there are Paleozoic-age examples.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Understanding the stratigraphy and timing of these settings help predict the localization of the petroleum system components.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Globally, 31 basins have been identified within the super basin category so far ([[:file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure1.jpg|Figure 1]]).<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 /><ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Many of them (23) are in onshore locations, such as the Permian Basin in the United States and Neuquén Basin in Argentina.<ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> However, significant offshore basins like the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea Basin are also included in this category. Based on the incremental recoverable oil (billions of barrels), super basins are grouped in regions. Leading the list is the Middle East, followed by North America, Latin America, Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States, Far East, Australasia and Europe.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020 />

[[file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure1.jpg|center|framed|{{figure number|1}}Location map of world’s super basins.  31 tier one global super basins (those with more than 5 billion BOE of cumulative production and remaining recoverable oil and gas) are shown in green. Tier two super basins (those with less than 5 billion BOE of cumulative production or remaining recoverable oil and gas) are shown in light blue. DwGoM = deep-water Gulf of Mexico; E&P = exploration and production; WCSB = Western Canada Sedimentary Basin.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020>Fryklund, B., and P. Stark, 2020, Super basins-New paradigm for oil and gas supply: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, p. 2507-2519.</ref>]]

[[file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure1.jpg|center|framed|{{figure number|1}}Location map of world’s super basins.  31 tier one global super basins (those with more than 5 billion BOE of cumulative production and remaining recoverable oil and gas) are shown in green. Tier two super basins (those with less than 5 billion BOE of cumulative production or remaining recoverable oil and gas) are shown in light blue. DwGoM = deep-water Gulf of Mexico; E&P = exploration and production; WCSB = Western Canada Sedimentary Basin.<ref name=Fryklundandstark_2020>Fryklund, B., and P. Stark, 2020, [https://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/2020/12dec/BLTN17314/bltn17314.html Super basins-New paradigm for oil and gas supply]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, p. 2507-2519.</ref>]]

===Stratigraphy===

===Stratigraphy===

Large clinoform geometries (100s to 1000s m) are a classic feature in many super basins, like in Neuquén, West Siberia, Alaska North Slope, Permian, and Western Canadian basins. These geometries are a response of the depositional environments and the configuration of the basin in which they occur. The recognition and interpretation of these clinoforms can lead to a better understanding of the different elements of the petroleum system, e.g. the bottomsets of the clinoforms can be associated with deep-water shales with source rock potential and associated turbidites that might act as reservoirs.

Large clinoform geometries (100s to 1000s m) are a classic feature in many super basins, like in Neuquén, West Siberia, Alaska North Slope, Permian, and Western Canadian basins. These geometries are a response of the depositional environments and the configuration of the basin in which they occur. The recognition and interpretation of these clinoforms can lead to a better understanding of the different elements of the petroleum system, e.g. the bottomsets of the clinoforms can be associated with deep-water shales with source rock potential and associated turbidites that might act as reservoirs.

Understanding factors like anoxic events, sea level and climate fluctuations help predict and insight the distribution of source rocks.<ref name=Vailandmitchum_1979>Vail, P. R., and R. M. Mitchum, 1979, Global cycles of relative changes of sea level from seismic stratigraphy, in Geological and geophysical investigations of continental margins: AAPG memoir 29, p. 469–472.</ref><ref name=Haqetal_1987>Haq, B., J. Hardenbol, and P. R. Vail, 1987, Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic: Science, v. 235, no. 4793, p. 1156–1167, doi:10.1126/science.235.4793.1156.</ref><ref name=Sorkhabi_2016>Sorkhabi, R., 2016, Rich petroleum source rocks, GeoExPro, v. 6, no. 6, p. 16–22. </ref> Source rock mapping can enhance productive super basins evaluations, potentially identify deeper or underappreciated petroleum systems, and help anticipate new plays in emerging super basins.<ref name=Dolson_2016>Dolson, J. C., 2016, Understanding oil and gas shows and seals in the search for hydrocarbons: Cham, Switzerland, Springer, 486 p., doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29710-1.</ref><ref name=Dolson_2017>Dolson, J. C., 2017, Hunting for NULFs: GeoExPro Magazine, v. 14, no. 2, p. 30–33.</ref>

Understanding factors like anoxic events, sea level and climate fluctuations help predict and insight the distribution of source rocks.<ref name=Vailandmitchum_1979>Vail, P. R., and R. M. Mitchum, 1979, [https://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/history2/data/a109/a109/0001/0450/0469.htm Global cycles of relative changes of sea level from seismic stratigraphy], ''in'' J. S. Watkins, L. Montadert, P. W. Dickerson, eds., Geological and geophysical investigations of continental margins: [https://archives.datapages.com/data/alt-browse/aapg-special-volumes/m29.htm AAPG Memoir 29], p. 469–472.</ref><ref name=Haqetal_1987>Haq, B., J. Hardenbol, and P. R. Vail, 1987, Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic: Science, v. 235, no. 4793, p. 1156–1167, doi:10.1126/science.235.4793.1156.</ref><ref name=Sorkhabi_2016>Sorkhabi, R., 2016, Rich petroleum source rocks, GeoExPro, v. 6, no. 6, p. 16–22. </ref> Source rock mapping can enhance productive super basins evaluations, potentially identify deeper or underappreciated petroleum systems, and help anticipate new plays in emerging super basins.<ref name=Dolson_2016>Dolson, J. C., 2016, Understanding oil and gas shows and seals in the search for hydrocarbons: Cham, Switzerland, Springer, 486 p., doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29710-1.</ref><ref name=Dolson_2017>Dolson, J. C., 2017, Hunting for NULFs: GeoExPro Magazine, v. 14, no. 2, p. 30–33.</ref>

Structural traps have historically driven exploration and have been responsible for most reserves in super basins. However, stratigraphic and combined trap discoveries have significantly increased over the last 20 years and are now the most prospectable plays along with the unconventionals. Historically, these traps have only comprised 10% of giant fields.<ref name=Halbouty_1986>Halbouty, M. T., 1986, Basins, and new frontiers: An overview, in M. T. Halbouty, ed., Future petroleum provinces of the world: AAPG Memoir 40, p. 1–10.</ref> From 1988 to 1999, hydrocarbon volumes in stratigraphic traps increased to 15%, driven by advances in 3D seismic imaging.<ref name=Halbouty_2003>Halbouty, M. T., 2003, Giant oil and gas fields of the decade 1990–1999: AAPG Memoir 78, 340 p., doi:10.1306/M78834.</ref> However, since 2000, resources attributed to giant stratigraphic and combined traps have grown to 60%, primarily related to thick, evaporite-sealed carbonate reefs and buildups that effectively form four-way dip structures in the Caspian Basin, Egypt, Brazil, and Turkmenistan.<ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Large passive margin turbidite fans, channels, and contourites are the second-most significant stratigraphic play type.<ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Many tectonic uplifts create unconformities that can be correlated within and between other super basins; they can play a major role, controlling pinch-outs, truncations, wedge belts of porosity, and migration pathways.<ref name=Levorsen_1943>Levorsen, A. I., 1943, Discovery thinking: AAPG Bulletin, v. 27, no. 7, p. 887–928</ref><ref name=Sloss_1963>Sloss, L. L., 1963, Sequences in the Cratonic interior of North America: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 74, no. 2, p. 93–113, doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[93: SITCIO]2.0.CO;2.</ref><ref name=Sloss_1984>Sloss, L. L., 1984, Comparative anatomy of Cratonic unconformities, in Interregional unconformities and hydrocarbon accumulation: AAPG Memoir 36, p. 1–6.</ref><ref name=Fosterandbeaumonta_1990>Foster, N. H., and E. A. Beaumont, 1990a, Structural traps: Atlas of oil and gas fields: AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology, v. 1–8, 2520 p.</ref><ref name=Fosterandbeaumontb_1990>Foster, N.H., and E. A. Beaumont, 1990b, Stratigraphic traps: AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology, v. 1-3, 1100 p.</ref> In super basins with carbonate reservoirs, unconformities can dramatically dissolve and create karst reservoir fabrics.<ref name=Derbyetal_2012>Derby, J., R. Fritz, S. Longacre, W. Morgan, andC.A. Sternbach, 2012, eds., The great American carbonate bank: The geology and economic resources of the Cambrian-Ordovician Sauk Megasequence of Laurentia: AAPG Memoir 98, 504 p.</ref><ref name=Sternbach_2012>Sternbach, C. A., 2012, Petroleum resources of the great American carbonate bank, in J. Derby, R. Fritz, S. Longacre, W. Morgan, and C. A. Sternbach, eds., The great American carbonate bank: The geology and economic resources of the Cambrian-Ordovician Sauk Megasequence of Laurentia: AAPG Memoir 98, 504 p.</ref><ref name=Sternbacha_2017>Sternbach, C. A., 2017a, Lessons from a decade of discovery thinking forums.</ref><ref name=Sternbachb_2017>Sternbach, C. A., 2017b, Petroleum resources of the great American carbonate bank: Exercising unconformity thinking: AAPG Search and Discovery article 70276,</ref>  

Structural traps have historically driven exploration and have been responsible for most reserves in super basins. However, stratigraphic and combined trap discoveries have significantly increased over the last 20 years and are now the most prospectable plays along with the unconventionals. Historically, these traps have only comprised 10% of giant fields.<ref name=Halbouty_1986>Halbouty, M. T., 1986, Basins, and new frontiers: An overview, in M. T. Halbouty, ed., Future petroleum provinces of the world: AAPG Memoir 40, p. 1–10.</ref> From 1988 to 1999, hydrocarbon volumes in stratigraphic traps increased to 15%, driven by advances in 3D seismic imaging.<ref name=Halbouty_2003>Halbouty, M. T., 2003, Giant oil and gas fields of the decade 1990–1999: AAPG Memoir 78, 340 p., doi:10.1306/M78834.</ref> However, since 2000, resources attributed to giant stratigraphic and combined traps have grown to 60%, primarily related to thick, evaporite-sealed carbonate reefs and buildups that effectively form four-way dip structures in the Caspian Basin, Egypt, Brazil, and Turkmenistan.<ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Large passive margin turbidite fans, channels, and contourites are the second-most significant stratigraphic play type.<ref name=Sternbach_2020 /> Many tectonic uplifts create unconformities that can be correlated within and between other super basins; they can play a major role, controlling pinch-outs, truncations, wedge belts of porosity, and migration pathways.<ref name=Levorsen_1943>Levorsen, A. I., 1943, Discovery thinking: AAPG Bulletin, v. 27, no. 7, p. 887–928</ref><ref name=Sloss_1963>Sloss, L. L., 1963, Sequences in the Cratonic interior of North America: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 74, no. 2, p. 93–113, doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[93: SITCIO]2.0.CO;2.</ref><ref name=Sloss_1984>Sloss, L. L., 1984, Comparative anatomy of Cratonic unconformities, in Interregional unconformities and hydrocarbon accumulation: AAPG Memoir 36, p. 1–6.</ref><ref name=Fosterandbeaumonta_1990>Foster, N. H., and E. A. Beaumont, 1990a, Structural traps: Atlas of oil and gas fields: AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology, v. 1–8, 2520 p.</ref><ref name=Fosterandbeaumontb_1990>Foster, N.H., and E. A. Beaumont, 1990b, Stratigraphic traps: AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology, v. 1-3, 1100 p.</ref> In super basins with carbonate reservoirs, unconformities can dramatically dissolve and create karst reservoir fabrics.<ref name=Derbyetal_2012>Derby, J., R. Fritz, S. Longacre, W. Morgan, andC.A. Sternbach, 2012, eds., The great American carbonate bank: The geology and economic resources of the Cambrian-Ordovician Sauk Megasequence of Laurentia: AAPG Memoir 98, 504 p.</ref><ref name=Sternbach_2012>Sternbach, C. A., 2012, Petroleum resources of the great American carbonate bank, in J. Derby, R. Fritz, S. Longacre, W. Morgan, and C. A. Sternbach, eds., The great American carbonate bank: The geology and economic resources of the Cambrian-Ordovician Sauk Megasequence of Laurentia: AAPG Memoir 98, 504 p.</ref><ref name=Sternbacha_2017>Sternbach, C. A., 2017a, Lessons from a decade of discovery thinking forums.</ref><ref name=Sternbachb_2017>Sternbach, C. A., 2017b, Petroleum resources of the great American carbonate bank: Exercising unconformity thinking: AAPG Search and Discovery article 70276,</ref>