Abstract
North Africa, which is one of the main oil and gas producing regions in the world, is best known for its sub-salt Paleozoic-Triassic reservoirs and Paleozoic source rocks. Hydrocarbon abundance varies greatly from one structural domain to another areally and from one stratigraphic interval to another vertically. Analyses of the essential elements and geological processes of the Paleozoic petroleum system indicate that the distribution of the Lower Silurian shale source rocks, the development of a thick Mesozoic overburden, the presence of the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic evaporite seal are the most important factors governing the distribution of the Paleozoic-sourced hydrocarbons in North Africa. The Mesozoic sequence plays a critical role for hydrocarbons to accumulate by enabling the maturation of the Paleozoic source rocks during the Mesozoic-Paleogene times and preserving the accumulated hydrocarbons. Basins and surrounding uplifts, particularly the latter, with a thick Mesozoic sequence and a regional evaporite seal generally have abundant hydrocarbons. Basins where only a thin Mesozoic overburden was developed tend to have a very poor to moderate hydrocarbon prospectivity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aliev M., Aït Laoussine N., Avrov V., Aleksine G., Barouline G., Lakovlev B., Korj M., Kouvykine J., Makarov V., Mazanov V., Medvedev E., Mkrtchiane O., Moustafinov R., Oriev L., Oroudjeva D., Oulmi M., and Saïd A. (1971)Geological Structures and Estimation of Oil and Gas in the Sahara in Algeria. Spain, Altamira-Rotopress, S.A., 265
Boote D. R. D., Clark-Lowes D. D., and Traut M. W. (1998) Palaeozoic petroleum systems of North Africa. In:Petroleum Geology of North Africa (edited by Macgregor, D.S.et al.), Geological Society Special Publication, 132: 7–68
Coward M. P. and Ries A. C. (2003) Tectonic development of North African basins. In:Petroleum Geology of Africa: New Themes and Developing Technologies (edited by Arthuret al.). Geological Society Special Publication, 207: 61–84
IHS (2005)Petroleum exploration and production database. Houston, Texas, IHS Energy, Inc. (database available from IHS Energy, Inc., P.O.Box 740619, Houston, Texas 77274-0619 USA)
Klett T. R. (2000a) Total petroleum systems of the Trias/Ghadames Province, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya—The Tanezzuft-Oued Mya, Tanezzuft-Melrhir, and Tanezzuft-Ghadames.U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 2202-C, 118
Klett T. R. (2000b) Total petroleum systems of the Illizi Province, Algeria and Libya—Tanezzuft-Illizi.U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 2202-A, 79
Klett T. R. (2000c) Total petroleum systems of the Grand Erg/Ahnet Province, Algeria and Morocco—The Tanezzuft-Timinoun, Tanezzuft-Ahnet, Tanezzuft-Sbaa, Tanezzuft-Mouydir, Tanezzuft-Benoud, and Tanezzuft-Béchar/Abadla.U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 2202-B, 144
Logan P. and Duddy I. (1998) An investigation of the thermal history of the Ahnet and Reggane Basins, Central Algeria, and the consequences for hydrocarbon generation and accumulation. In:Petroleum Geology of North Africa (edited by Macgregor, D.S.et al.): Geological Society Special Publication, 132, 131–155
Luning S., Craig J., Loydell D. K., Storch P. and Fitches W. (2000) Lower Silurian “hot shale” in North Africa and Arabia: regional distribution and depositional model.Earth Science Review, 49, 121–200
Macgregor D. S. (1998) Introduction. In:Petroleum Geology of North Africa (edited by Macgregor, D.S.et al.): Geological Society Special Publication, 132, 1–6
Magoon L. B. and Dow W. G. (1994) The Petroleum system. In:The Petroleum System — From Source to Trap (edited by Magoon L.B. and Dow W. G.)AAPG Memoir, 60, 3–24
Makhous M., Galushkin Y. and Lopatin N. (1997) Burial history and kinetic modeling for hydrocarbon generation, part II, Applying the GALO model to Saharan basins.AAPG Bulletin, 81(10), 1679–1699
Mann P, Gahagan L. and Gordon M. B. (2003) Tectonic setting of the world’s giant oil and gas fields.Giant oil and gas fields of the decade 1990–1999 (edited by Halbouty, M T).AAPG Memoir, 78, 15–105
Peterson J. A. (1985) Geology and petroleum resources of north-central and northeastern Africa.U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 85–709, 54
USGS (2000)U. S. Geological Survey World Petroleum Assessment 2000-Description and Results, USGS Digital Data Series DDS-60
van de Weerd A. A., and Ware P. L. G. (1994) A review of the East Algerian Sahara oil and gas province (Triassic, Ghadames and Illizi Basins).First Break, 12(7), 363–373
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Bai Guoping was born in 1963. He received his BSc degree in geology from the University of Petroleum, China in 1984 and his Ph.D degree in geology from The University of Sydney, Australia in 1992. He has worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in CSIRO Division of Petroleum Resources in Australia and a research assistant professor at The University of Utah. He now works as an associate professor at China University of Petroleum. His principal research interests include global oil and gas distribution, play and prospect evaluation, and reservoir geology. E-mail: baigp@cup.edu.cn
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guoping, B., Lei, Z. Paleozoic composite petroleum system of North Africa: hydrocarbon distribution and main controlling factors. Pet. Sci. 4, 21–29 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03186569
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03186569