Algeria Megaregional Project - Principles and Results of a Regional Study

Allen J. Bertagne, Nat G. Smith, Abdelaziz Gouri

The International Megaregional Project is a worldwide project involving the compilation and interpretation of long regional seismic lines which cross several basins with the same transect. The goal of the project is to synthesize the current geologic knowledge of the areas traversed and to identify new areas of exploration interest. The international Megaregional framework which has been established serves as a focus for the geologic efforts and seismic data compilation. This project is conducted with the cooperation of a consortium of multinational oil companies as well as Sonatrach and CGG.

Megaregional lines can provide new insights into: (1) what is and is not basement, (2) maturation history and migration pathways, (3) regional structure, and (4) regional stratigraphy. The lines can thereby led to the development of new exploration concepts.

The poster session includes examples of Megaregional lines from two regions; (1) Western Algeria (Reggane Basin, Sbaa Basin, Timimoun Basin, Western Atlas), and (2) the Northern Ghadames Basin in the vicinity of Hassi Messaoud. The transects provide a unique perspective on the petroleum setting of key areas of exploration interest in Algeria.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995