The petroleum exploration database in Tanzania consists of numerous geological and geochemical studies, geological and drilling records from more than 100 boreholes and 45 deep wells with status  and many thousands of kilometers of gravity, airborne magnetometer, and seismic surveys. A summary of each well, a full list of electric logs, mud logs, geological and engineering reports, and composite logs are available for inspection at TPDC's Exploration Office in Dar es Salaam. Several technical reports have been prepared from these data and provide an assessment of the hydrocarbon potential of Tanzania. Data packages for each of the exploration areas are also available for purchase.

Geology and Surface Information
The country was initially mapped by the Tanganyika Geological Survey, based in Dodoma, and geological maps are available at a scale of 1:50,000.

Only twenty-five wildcat exploration wells and eight development wells have been drilled in Tanzania, over a sedimentary area, more than 700 km long and 400 km wide. A number of these wells, both early and more recent, were located on the basis of poor quality or inadequate seismic control and, in retrospect, were invalid structural tests. Other wells were drilled on the less prospective basin margins.

The whole country has been covered by topographic maps available in convenient scales of 1:100,000, 1:250,000 available from the Government mapping department.

Magnetic And Gravity Surveys
There is excellent coverage of aeromagnetic data over Tanzania. Onshore and offshore, the data include magnetic surveys of 1971 by Aerosurvey for AGIP and a 1976 survey by Geosurvey International for the Government. The data from these surveys are in the form of maps and are available for inspection at the TPDC offices.

The coverage of gravity data is 'patchy', consisting mainly of regional surveys. The best coverage is in the coastal area over the Mandawa and Ruvuma basins, the larger offshore islands and in the Rukwa Rift Basin. In the Ruvu, Selous and Rufiji areas the gravity coverage is limited mainly along the recently acquired seismic lines

Seismic Surveys
A total of over 24,000 km of onshore seismic data and 28,000 km of offshore seismic data have been recorded in Tanzania. Details of all seismic surveys with a listing of acquisition and processing parameters and a shot point map at a scale of 1:500,000 are available. Most of these data can be obtained in the form of paper prints and films. A certain amount of digital is also available. Efforts are currently underway to have all old seismic data and reports in electronic form.

Companies wishing to review the previous reports and/or inspect public domain data may visit the TPDC offices located at 37/38 Ally Hassan Mwinyi road in Upanga Dar es Salaam or may contact;

The Managing Director
Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation
P.O. Box 2774
Tel: 255-22-2118535
Fax: 255-22-2129663
Mobile: 255-748-777066
E-mail:tpdcmd@tpdc-tz.com or tpdcexploration@tpdc-tz.com

There is more than 11,000 line km of modern seismic data acquired in 1999/2000 on multiclient basis over the deepsea areas.  Four blocks (5,9,10,11,12) have since been taken up by oil companies.  The remaining blocks are still open and data viewing may be arranged through TPDC or Western Gecco offices in London.

Arrangements for a third licensing round to cover the open blocks in the deep sea are being finalised.