Abstract: Gas Potential of the Rharb Basin, Morocco

Dakki Mohamed, Costagliola Anas

The Rharb basin in northern Morocco is a Tertiary foreland filled by clastic series during Miocene and Pliocene times. These sediments, derived from the Prerif to the North-East and the Meseta to the South, are characterized by two main turbiditic sequences during much of the Upper Tortonian/Messinian and Lower Pliocene. These deep water sand deposits were probably related to both uplifting of the Rif and prerif and relative change of sea level.

Although the first oil discovery in the basin was made by the beginning of the 1920's and that over 25 billions cf of gas have been discovered by exploration drilling, the problem still facing exploration in the area is seismic resolution and reprocessing.

Recent studies, based on high seismic resolution techniques and general integrated basin study have permitted to gain a deep insight of stratigraphy and distribution of deep water sand within the Upper Miocene series and their fluid content and provide critical data for evaluating hydrocarbon potential.

Such evaluation combined with structural configuration and seals allows assessment of different prospects for gas exploration.

Out of more 100 amplitude anomalies identified in the area based on new exploration concepts, 7 are recently drilled with 4 discoveries and 8 are proposed for drilling.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90956©1995 AAPG International Convention and Exposition Meeting, Nice, France