The Paleozoic Petroleum System of the The Paleozoic Petroleum System of the BecharBechar--Boudenib Depression, Southeastern Boudenib Depression, Southeastern Morocco, and Exploration Techniques Used Morocco, and Exploration Techniques Used

to Quantify an Undrilled Midto Quantify an Undrilled Mid--Basin Basin Paleohigh StructurePaleohigh Structure

V.J. Hamilton - Tethys Oil, Geneva, Switzerland M.S. James - Martyn James Consulting, Silverthorne, Colorado, USA L. Boutib - Office National Des Hydrocarbures Et Des Mines, Rabat, Morocco P.H. Paris - Eastern Petroleum, Madrid, Spain

Petroleum System of Saharan Africa19-20 April 2006

Burlington House, London, UK

Introduction• Location

– Morocco / Algerian border– South of High Atlas mountains

• Geology– Paleozoic basin

• Petroleum system– Silurian source– Ordovician reservoir– Carboniferous burial– Basement paleostructure

Location Map

Basins Map

Geological Map

A B

Atlas Thrust Front

License Perspective to NE

Petroleum System• Reservoir

– Ordovician sandstone– Cambrian sandstone, Devonian and Carboniferous reefs

• Seals– Silurian and Carboniferous shales

• Source rock– Silurian and Devonian shales

• Maturation – Carboniferous burial

• Kitchens– Multiple charge directions possible

• Trap– Basement cored paleohigh

Geological Map

Ordovician Sandstone

Algeria Porosity Data

Outcrops

Silurian Shales

Burial History in Sub-Basin

Ordovician

Fetch Map

Three possible charge directions:• East from Bechar basin• West from Boudenib sub-basin• North from Pre-Atlas rift

Seismic Base Map

Seismic Line BB-7V

0.00 0.00

0.20 0.20

0.40 0.40

0.60 0.60

0.80 0.80

1.00 1.00

1.20 1.20

1.40 1.40

1.60 1.60

1.80 1.80

2.00 2.00

2.20 2.20

2.40 2.40

2.60 2.60

ShotCMP

ShotCMP

310523

300503

290483

280463

270443

260423

250403

240383

230363

220343

210323

200303

190283

180263

170243

160223

150203

140183

130163

120148

110138

1110123

1100103

109083

108063

107043

106023

Old-BB10VN-BB-10V_st Old-BB19N-BB-08V_st Old-BB9V N-BB-19migrOld-BB18N-BB-07migr Old-BB8V Low Freq-BB-19mig_LFPN-BB-06mig+200msN-BB-18migrOld-BB7VOld-BB7V Old-BB7V Old-BB7V Old-BB7V Old-BB7VOld-BB7V Old-BB7VN-BB-11V_stLow Freq-BB-06mig_LFP Old-BB11VOld-BB6Low Freq-BB-07mig_LFP N-BB-09V_st

Seismic Line BB-7VSW NE

Time Structure Map

Analogous Sturcture

Reggane Basin Timimoun BasinSbaa Sub-Basin

Conclusion• Probable Petroleum System• Work in-progress• Good geology• Easy operating area• Favorable fiscal terms in Morocco• Phased future work program