With the lifting of economic sanctions, western companies have come back to explore for hydrocarbons in Libya, onshore and offshore. However, virtually no modern marine seismic data has been acquired over the past twenty-five years to assist in this renewed exploration effort. During the past year, new 2D pre-stack time migrated seismic data has been acquired and used to examine the large-scale structural and depositional features of the Libyan shelf and slope. The data cover approximately 38,000 line kilometers in water depths ranging between 15 to 2200 meters.

The present day Libyan shelf margin has a demonstrably progradational character....