Kosmos Energy 2013 Annual Report 2013 (with 10K) | Page 17

Consistent with this strategy, we may also evaluate potential corporate and asset acquisition opportunities as a source of new ventures to support and expand our asset portfolio. Kosmos Exploration Approach Kosmos’ exploration philosophy is deeply rooted in a fundamental, geologically based approach geared toward the identification of misunderstood, under-explored or overlooked petroleum systems. This process begins with detailed geologic studies that methodically assess a particular region’s subsurface, with particular consideration to those attributes that lead to working petroleum systems. The process includes basin modeling to predict oil charge and fluid migration, as well as stratigraphic and structural analysis to identify reservoir/seal pair development and trap definition. This analysis integrates data from previously drilled wells and seismic data available to Kosmos. Importantly, this approach also takes into account a detailed analysis of geologic timing to ensure that we have an appropriate understanding of whether the sequencing of geological events could support and preserve hydrocarbon accumulation. Once an area is high-graded based on this play/fairway analysis, geophysical analysis is conducted to identify prospective traps of interest. Alongside the subsurface analysis, Kosmos performs an analysis of country-specific risks to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ‘‘above-ground’’ dynamics, which may influence a particular country’s relative desirability from an overall oil and natural gas oper F