A Conceptual GeoAI Framework for Sustainable Hydrocarbon Exploration in Libya: SustainGeo Explorer

Abstract

The growing demand for environmentally responsible hydrocarbon exploration has increased the need for digital tools capable of integrating geological, geochemical, spatial, and environmental information within a unified decision-support framework. In Libya, hydrocarbon exploration continues to rely on fragmented datasets, conventional interpretation procedures, and limited integration of sustainability indicators, which can reduce decision-making efficiency and increase uncertainty. This study proposes SustainGeo Explorer (SGE), a conceptual digital geochemical framework designed to support sustainable hydrocarbon exploration in Libya. The framework was developed through the integration of key requirements identified from the literature on petroleum geochemistry, artificial intelligence, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and environmental assessment. SGE is structured around interconnected modules for multidisciplinary data integration, geochemical interpretation, AI-assisted prediction, GIS-based visualization, sustainability assessment, and exploration decision support. The proposed framework is intended to facilitate source-rock evaluation, petroleum-system analysis, exploration-risk mapping, sweet-spot identification, and environmental performance assessment. It also introduces a conceptual sustainability index that combines hydrocarbon potential and expected economic return with environmental indicators, including carbon footprint, water consumption, waste generation, and land disturbance. The main contribution of the study is the development of a Libya-oriented architecture that integrates geological prospectivity and environmental responsibility within a single conceptual platform. However, SGE has not yet been implemented or empirically validated; therefore, its expected benefits should be interpreted as design propositions rather than demonstrated performance outcomes. Future research should develop a functional prototype, apply it to a selected Libyan petroleum basin, and evaluate its predictive accuracy, operational feasibility, and environmental decision-support value.