Northern Algeria

Collaborating Authors

Northern Algeria

Northern Algeria, A General Overview of Hydrocarbon Prospectivity

OnePetroSeptember, 2005

Abstract: Northern Algeria is a foreland fold and thrust belt zone of Alpine deformation. It is located in north Africa within a geologically complex area between a stable autochthonous (Saharan platform in the south) and a neo-formed oceanic domain (west Mediterranean basin in the north). It is an under explored petroleum province, a significant oil and gas shows have been encountered, and oil seeps are well known in most parts of the area. Oil has been collected from surface seeps since 1875 in Cheliff basin. The first commercial oil discovery in Algeria was registered in Oued Gueterini field in the Tellian nappe in 1948. This field is producing until present time from allochtonous formations (Eocene reservoirs). Mitigated exploration success ratio registered so far is mainly due to seismic control of mapped prospects as well as depth of targeted reservoirs. This area exhibits similar geodynamic and structural framework as the Apennines (Italy), the Zagros (Iran), Alberta (Canada) and south America where important hydrocarbon reserves have been discovered. Main plays are related to Miocene, Cretaceous and Jurassic deposits (sandstone and limestone reservoirs). The petroleum system is proved in the shallow plays (Miocene & Cretaceous) and the new concepts consider that the Jurassic could be an important deeper target. The main potential areas are: the western Mediterranean basin in the north, Tellian Atlas in the central part and the Constantine basin in the east part of saharan atlas. INTRODUCTION The northern Algeria is a zone of Alpine deformation, and it is situated in a geologically complex area, encompassing offshore Mediterranean basin, Tellian atlas and Saharan atlas. Northern Algeria is an under explored petroleum province. Significant oil and gas shows have been encountered and a number of small discoveries were made over 50 years ago (Oued Gueterini, Djebel Foua and Djebel Onk). Most recently oil was discovered in the south east part (Constantine basin). Crude oil has been extracted for centuries from dug tunnels and collected from surface seeps. The first commercial oil discovery in Algeria has been made in the Hodna basin (Oued Gueterini Field). The success rate for exploration is relatively poor due to some wells were drilled on surface structure without understanding the shifting nature in the subsurface, and without seismic control, whereas others, were not drilled deep to reach the deepest target. Four main basins are developed, offshore western Mediterranean basin, Cheliff & Hodna basins in the Tellian atlas and Constantine basins in the east part of Saharan atlas. ALGERIAN OFFSHORE Represents the main part of the south side of the western Mediterranean basin. It is a Neocene basin, constituted by Algero-provençal basin on the east (included sub-baleares basin) and Alboran basin on the west. The Algerian Offshore is still a frontier zone related to deep water play where the shelf is much narrower and plunges steeply into the abyssal plain. The coast lies over, 1200 km from east to west and is characterised by several bays where the shelf is relatively larger (35km).

OnePetro

WPC

WPC-18-1004

18th World Petroleum Congress

basin, Cheliff basin, exploration, forum 21, general overview, hodna basin, Hydrocarbon Prospectivity Africa Session, Mediterranean basin, northern algeria, Offshore Area, oued gueterini field, Reservoir Characterization, source rock, structural geology, Upstream Oil & Gas, western mediterranean basin

Country:

Africa > Middle East > Algeria > M'Sila Province (0.56)
Africa > Middle East > Algeria > Northern Algeria (0.47)

Geologic Time:

Phanerozoic > Mesozoic (1.00)
Phanerozoic > Cenozoic > Neogene > Miocene (1.00)

Geophysics: Geophysics > Seismic Surveying (1.00)

Industry: Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)

Oilfield Places:

Asia > Middle East > Turkey > Mediterranean Sea > Mediterranean Basin > Cilicia Basin (0.99)
Africa > Middle East > Algeria > Tébessa Province > Constantine Basin (0.99)
Africa > Middle East > Algeria > Northern Algeria > Hodna Basin (0.99)
(4 more...)

SPE Disciplines: Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Exploration, development, structural geology (1.00)

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ALGERIA, NORTHERN FOLDBELT AND OFFSHORE AREA: A FUTURE HYDROCARBONS PROVINCE

Mohamed, Messaoudi (Sonatrach Algeria)

OnePetroSeptember, 2002

Abstract The North Algeria is an under explored petroleum province. Significant oil and gas shows have been encountered, and oil seeps are well known in the most part of the area. Oil has been extracted for the century in the Cheliff basin (Tliouanet and Ain Zeft fields). The first oil commercial discovery in Algeria on 1948 is noted in Oued Gueterini field in the Hodna basin and it's produce until present time. The North Algeria is in a geologically complex area encompassing the Offshore, Tellian atlas, Saharian atlas and constitute the zones of alpine age deformation. Although petroleum exploration in the northern foldbelt has been unsuccessfull; several wells were drilled on surface structure without seismic control and understanding the shifting structure in the subsurface, whereas others were not drilled deep enough to reach the deeper targets. The northern foldbelt area is expected to have a similar geodynamic and tectonic as the Apennines (Italia), the Zagros (Iran), which contains important oil and gas discoveries. The Offshore is a continental shelf with a tertiary and quaternary formation. The petroleum target is the mio-pliocene sands reservoirs, sourced from the messinian shales with a TOC values 0.56 to 2.60% at HBB–1 well in the occidental part. A new seismic have been acquired on 2000 by Western Geco shows a thick sedimentary deposit in the deep water zone with a variety of trapping styles related to the conventional anticline, faults, salt dome... In the Tellian atlas, two main basins are developed, the Cheliff in the west (mointain basin) and the Hodna in the central part (for deep basin). The petroleum system is proved on this basins by small fields and oil seeps from the miocene sands (shallow reservoirs). The cretaceous could be an important deep target no reached by wells. The upper miocene reservoir is charged from the messinian shales; the lower miocene reservoir sands and upper cretaceous carbonates are charged from the cretaceous shales and marls source rocks. In the saharian atlas which is an elongate trough between the saharian platform in the south and the Tellian atlas in the north, a potential basin is developed in the oriental part (south east constantine basin) where four oil fields and one gas field have been discovered in the cretaceous play. The north province could be a promising area for hydrocarbons exploration, detailled structural work based on adequate and high resolution seismic is needed to define the model and geometry of traps related to this complex area. BLOCK 1 - - FORUM 2 131 ALGERIA, NORTHERN FOLDBELT AND OFFSHORE AREA: A FUTURE HYDROCARBONS PROVINCE Introduction Northern Algeria is an under explored petroleum province. Significant oil and gas shows have been encountered and a number of small discoveries were made over 40 years ago (Oued Gueterini, Djebel Foua and Djebel Onk)

OnePetro

WPC

WPC-32124

17th World Petroleum Congress