Abstract: Structure and Hydrocarbon Potential of Northeastern Offshore Tunisia

F. Messaoudi, F. Hamouda, A. Meskini, Z. Hmidi, A. M'rabet

The northeastern offshore Tunisia is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic province including carbonate platforms, local highs and deep marine sub-basins. Its geological evolution was structurally controlled by mid-Cretaceous to Tertiary Alpine compressional/distensional phases in addition to Pliocene extension associated with spreading in the central Mediterranean. This led to the development of dominant structural traps including fault blocks, low and high amplitude anticlines trending NE-SW and nearly NS, wrench faulting structures, in addition to stratigraphic traps associated with clastics. Major proven reservoirs comprise Lower Cretaceous sandstones, Senonian and Eocene fractured limestones, Oligocene limestones and Miocene carbonates and sandstones. Potential reservoirs include Jurassic and Apti n carbonates. The Albian organic rich Fahdene shales are the primary potential source rocks; geohistory modelling indicates that they are oil mature to over-mature in most of the area. Generation timing is generally late Miocene, hence well placed for migration into early (mid-Cretaceous-late Eocene) and some late (Mio-Pliocene) traps. The existence of four producing fields and numerous discoveries indicate that the northeastern offshore Tunisia still remains a prospective area.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994