Abstract
Burial history, temperature variations, and organic matter maturation in the sedimentary rocks in the Ghadames Basin were numerically reconstructed using the GALO system for basin modeling taking into account repeated tectonic (stretching) and thermal activation events in the basin lithosphere. The modeling improved the reconstruction of the thermal history of the basin and hydrocarbon generation potential compared with previous model estimates based on the assumption of a constant temperature gradient during the whole period of basin development. In particular, the results of modeling suggest that the amplitude of Cenozoic erosion was smaller than that proposed in previous studies. The central part of the Ghadames Basin, which was considered in this study, is the western part of the Libyan sector of the basin, which underwent intense subsidence reaching 4000 m already in the Carboniferous. Given the relatively active thermal history of the basin, the modeling suggests high degrees of organic maturity in the source rocks of the Lower Silurian in the modern section of the basin and confirms the high generation potential of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in these formations. Significant hydrocarbon generation has occurred there since the Late Carboniferous. On the other hand, the generation potential of the Late Devonian (Frasnian) sequences is limited and strongly dependent on burial depth. The main stage of hydrocarbon generation in these rocks coincided with the Cenozoic thermal activation of the basin lithosphere. In all the areas considered, the oil window overlaps a significant portion of the modern sedimentary section of the Ghadames Basin.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D. Hallet, Petroleum Geology of Libya (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2002).
Yu. I. Galushkin, Modeling of Sedimentary Basins and Estimation of Their Petroleum Potential (Nauchnyi mir, Moscow, 2007) [in Russian].
R. Underdown and J. Redfern, “The importance of constraining regional exhumation in basin modeling: A hydrocarbon maturation history of the Ghadames Basin,” North Africa Petrol. Geosci. 13, 253–270 (2007).
R. Underdown, J. Redfern, and F. Lisker, “Constraining the burial history of the Ghadames Basin, North Africa: An integrated analysis using sonic velocities, vitrinite reflectance data, and apatite fission track ages,” Basin Res. 19, 557–578 (2007).
L. C. Conant and G. H. Gondarzi, “Stratigraphic and tectonic framework of Libya,” AAPG Bull. 51(5), 719–730 (1967).
K. Echikh and M. A. Sola, “Geology and hydrocarbon occurrences in the Murzuq basin, SW Libya,” in Geological Exploration in the Murzuq Basin, Ed. by M.A. Sola and D. Worsley, Elsevier Sci. 5, 175–222 (2000).
A. H. Sikander, “Structural development, geology, and hydrocarbon potential of the Ghadamis and Murzuq basins—an overview,” Ed. by M.J. Salem, K.M. Oun, and H.M. Seddiq, in The Geology of Northwest Libya (Ghadamis, Jifarah, Tarabulus and Sbratah Basins) (2000), Vol. 5(3), pp. 281–323.
J. Gong, “Framework for the exploration of Libya: an illustrated summary. Search and discovery article,” AAPG / Datapages, #10061 (2004).
L. Davidson, S. Beswetherick, J. Craig, M. Eales, A. Fisher, A. Himmali, J. Jho, B. Mejrab, and J. Smart, “The structure, stratigraphy, and petroleum geology of the Murzuq Basin, southwest Libya,” in Geological Exploration in Murzuq Basin, Ed. by M.A. Sola and D. Worsley (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000), pp. 295–320.
E. Ramos, M. Marzo, J. De Gibert, K. Tawengi, A. A. Khoja, and N. D. Bolatti, “Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Middle Ordovician Hawaz Formation (Murzuq Basin, Libya),” AAPG Bull. 90(9), 1309–1336 (2006).
A. A. Van de Weerd and P. L. G. Ware, “A review of the East Algerian Sahara oil and gas province (Triassic, Ghadames and Illizi Basins),” First Break 12, 363–373 (1994).
K. Echikh, “Geology and hydrocarbon occurrences in the Ghadames Basin, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,” in Petroleum Geology of North Africa, Ed. by D.S. MacGregor, R.T.J. Moody, and D.D. Clark-Lowes, Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ. 132, 109–129 (1998).
Yu. I. Galushkin, Ali El Maghbi, and M. L. Gtlawi, “Thermal regime and amplitude of lithosphere extension in the Sirte Basin, Libya: Numerical estimates in the plane basin modeling system,” Izv. Phys. Solid Earth 50(1), 73–86 (2014).
Ph. Ungerer, I. Burrus, B. Doligez, P. Chenet, and F. Bessis, “Basin evolution by integrated two-dimensional modelling of heat transfer, fluid flow, hydrocarbon generation, and migration,” AAPG Bull. 74(3), 309–335 (1990).
Ph. Ungerer, “Modeling of petroleum generation and migration,” in Applied Petroleum Geochemistry, Ed. by M.L. Bordenave (Technip, Paris, 1993), pp. 397–442.
D. H. Welte, B. Horsfield, and D. R. Baker Petroleum and Basin Evolution (Springer-Verlag, 1997).
A. Sikander, S. H. Basu, and S. M. Rasul, “Geochemical source maturation and volumetric evaluation of Lower Paleozoic source rocks in the west Libya basins,” in The Geology of Northwest Libya (Ghadamis, Jifarah, Tarabulus and Sbratah Basins), Ed. by M.J. Salem, K.M. Oun, and H.M. Seddiq (2000), Vol. 5(3), 3–53.
K. Miscus and Ch. Jalloulich, “Crustal structure beneath the Teil and Atlas mountains (Algeria and Tunisia) through the analysis of gravity data,” Tectonophysics 314(4), 373–385 (1999).
F. Lucazeau and H. B. Dhia, “Heat flow from Tunisia and Pelagian Sea,” Canad. J. Earth Sci. 26, 993–1000 (1989).
A. Hlaiem, B. Biju-Duval, R. Vially, E. Laatar, and A. M’rabet, “Burial and thermal history modeling of the Gafsa-Metlaoui intracontinental basin (sourthern Tunisia): Implication for petroleum exploration,” J. Petrol. Geol. 20(4) (1997).
L. Royden and C. E. Keen, “Rifting processes and thermal evolution of the continental margin of eastern Canada determined from subsidence curves,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 51, 343–361 (1980).
P. J. Wyllie, “Magmas and volatile components,” Am. Mineral. 64, 469–500 (1979).
J. J. Sweeney and A. K. Burnham, “Evolution of a simple model of vitrinite reflectance based on chemical kinetics,” AAPG Bull. 74(10), 1559–1570 (1990).
J. Espitalie, P. Ungerer, I. Irvin, and E. Marquis, “Primary cracking of kerogens. Experimenting and modelling C1, C2–C5, C6–C15 classes of hydrocarbons formed,” Org. Geochem. 13(4–6), 893–899 (1988).
S. Luning, R. Archer, J. Kraig, and D. K. Loudell, “The Lower Silurian ‘hot shales’ and ‘double hot shales’ in north Africa and Arabia,” in The Geology of North-West Libya (Ghadamis, Jifarah, Tarabulus and Sbratah Basins), Ed. by M.J. Salem, K.M. Oun, and M.M. Seddiq (2000), Vol. 5(3), 91–104.
S. Luning, K. Adamson, and A. Kraig, “Frasnian organic-rich shales in North Africa: Regional distribution and depositional model,” Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ. 207, 165–184 (2003).
T. Hodairi and P. Philp, “Geochemical investigation of Tanezzuft Formation, Murzuq Basin, Libya,” in Expanded Abstract Presentation at AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Houston, US, 2011) (Houston, 2011), pp. 10–13.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © Yu.I. Galushkin, M. Sak, 2014, published in Geokhimiya, 2014, No. 10, pp. 924–935.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Galushkin, Y.I., Sak, M. Generation of hydrocarbons in the burial history of Silurian formations in the Libyan part of the Ghadames Basin. Geochem. Int. 52, 857–867 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S001670291410005X
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S001670291410005X