Cretaceous–Tertiary Rift Basins of Northwestern Kenya: Tectonics, Stratigraphy, and Petroleum Implications

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Year : 2026 | Volume : 13 | Issue : 01 | Page : 22 52
    By

    Bernard Kipsang Rop,

Abstract

This study looks at the potential for oil and gas in northwest Kenya, giving a broad overview of the geology, tectonic (earth movement) features, and underground rock layers in four main basins from the Cretaceous to Tertiary periods: Lotikipi, Lake Turkana, Lokichar–Kerio, and Chalbi. These are part of the larger East African Rift System. Recently, important signs of oil and gas structures have been found in the Lokichar Tertiary Basin in northwestern Kenya. The area’s earth movements started with the splitting of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana in the Late Paleozoic era, continuing through the Mesozoic and Tertiary periods. This caused massive lava flows and created raised (horst) and sunken (graben) blocks due to stretching forces, faults, and sinking land, which made good spots for oil exploration.The study used gravity maps and seismic (sound wave) profiles to understand the structures, faults, depth of the basement rocks, and areas likely to hold oil. The basins built up thick layers of sediment (approximately 2,000 to 6,000 m deep) that could contain oil, deposited on very old Precambrian basement rocks. These were later covered by volcanic basalt flows mostly from the Miocene period.Drilling records showing rock types were available for wells LT-1 and LT-2 in the Lokichar and North Kerio-Turkana basins (Tertiary period), and C1, C2, and C3 in the Chalbi basin (Cretaceous period). The northwestern Lotikipi basin (possibly spanning Cretaceous to Tertiary) was drilled by CEPSA in 2017, proving a working oil system with a Tertiary source rock and gas prospects, which supports the idea of strong exploration potential in future.

 

Keywords: Asymmetric half‑grabens, gravity–seismic integration, lacustrine source rocks, Northwestern Kenya rifts, petroleum prospects and systems

[This article belongs to Journal of Geotechnical Engineering ]

How to cite this article:
Bernard Kipsang Rop. Cretaceous–Tertiary Rift Basins of Northwestern Kenya: Tectonics, Stratigraphy, and Petroleum Implications. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):22-52.
How to cite this URL:
Bernard Kipsang Rop. Cretaceous–Tertiary Rift Basins of Northwestern Kenya: Tectonics, Stratigraphy, and Petroleum Implications. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):22-52. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/joge/article=2026/view=241509


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Issue 01
Received 21/01/2026
Accepted 28/01/2026
Published 30/01/2026
Publication Time 9 Days
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