Abstract:

The passive continental marginal basins of South America have developed into one of the most active regions for petroleum exploration. The passive continental marginal basins of South America formed in Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous as Gondwana land splitting, underwent pre-rift stage, synrift stage, transitional period and drift episode, formed sets of generating rock and reservoir-cover rock compages. Lacustrine generating rock of synrift periods is the most important oil source rock. Salt rock of transitional period dominated hydrocarbon reservoirs generation. Almost major fields were found in recent years, situated in continental clastic container rock and lacustrine carbonate rock. The passive continental marginal basins of South America were classified into three levels by hydrocarbon potential. The largest petroleum accumulations are situated in central south offshore of Brazil. Along with exploration technical progress, it presents well feasibility in this area to prospect reservoirs.

Key words: South America, passive continental margin, potentiality of hydrocarbon resources, salt laye