Online Journal for E&amp;P Geoscientists

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uSirte Basin

uGhadamis Basin

uMurzuq Basin

uEastern Tripolitania Basin

uSelected Sirte Basin fields

uReferences (Gong)

uReferences (Rusk)

Figures 1-7

	Figure 1. Tectonic elements of Libya, with oil and gas fields, areas of underexplored basin-centers (Rusk’s areas of study), and structural contours in the west (modified after Rusk, 2001, 2002).
	Figure 2. Structural elements of the Sirte Basin, with oil and gas fields, and the three areas of underexplored basin-centers (from Rusk, 2001, 2002).
	Figure 3. Structural contour map, on top Ordovician, of Ghadamis and Murzuq basins, with oil and gas fields and discoveries (from Rusk, 2001, 2002).
	Figure 4. Structural contour map, on top Eocene Metlaoui Group, of the Tripolitania Basin in offshore Libya, showing oil fields and discoveries (from Rusk, 2001, 2002).
	Figure 5. Generalized correlation chart for the underexplored areas of the Sirte Basin, showing lithology, source rock, and reservoir (from Rusk, 2001, 2002).
	Figure 6. Generalized correlation chart for the Ghadamis and Murzuq basins, showing lithology, source rock, and reservoir (from Rusk, 2001, 2002).
	Figure 7. Generalized correlation chart for the Tripolitania Basin, showing lithology, source rock, and reservoir (from Rusk, 2001, 2002).

Sirte Basin

Common features of the three underexplored elements of the Sirte Basin (Figure 2) are:

Nearby oil production
Outstanding source rock (Upper Cretaceous Sirte-Rachmat Shale)
Large areal extent
Limited number of tests to pre-Upper Cretaceous units

South Ajdabiya Trough

The underexplored parts of the Ajdabiya Trough cover 8500 km². In addition to the Sirte-Rachmat Shale (Campanian-Coniacian in age), the Cenomanian-Turonian Etel Formation is an effective source rock, and the Lower Cretaceous lacustrine to lagoonal shale in the Nubian (Sarir) section probably should be considered a minor source (Figure 5). Reservoirs include the Nubian sandstones and Paleocene Lower and Upper Sabil carbonates.

Maradah Graben

The underexplored part of Maradah Graben is 10,000 km² in areal extent. The Sirte-Rachmat Shale and the Etel Formation are the known source rocks in this sector (Figure 5). Important reservoirs are the Nubian sandstones, carbonates of the Zelten Formation (equivalent to the Sabil), and Upper Cretaceous Bahi Sandstone, overlying the Nubian.

Southern Zallah Trough – Tumajam Trough

These troughs in the southern to southwestern part of the Sirte Basin contain 25,000 km² that are underexplored. The Sirte-Rachmat Shale is the known source rock of this area (Figure 5). Nubian sandstones and the commonly indistinguishable Bahi Sandstone are important reservoirs, along with Paleocene Defa and Beda and lower Eocene Facha limestones. Also, as potential reservoirs are Upper Cretaceous sandstones in the Sirte-Rachmat interval.

Table 1. Database for giant fields of Libya (from M.K. Horn, 2003).

Central Ghadamis Basin

The basin-center sector encompasses more than 20,000 km². Two very good source rocks are distributed throughout the entire basin: Lower Silurian Tanezzuft and Middle to Upper Devonian Uennin formations (Figure 6). The main reservoirs are the Upper Silurian Acacus and the Lower Devonian Tadrart and Kasa formations. Three other objectives are the Middle Devonian Uennin Sandstone, Upper Devonian Tahara Formation, and the Triassic Ras Hamia Formation.

Central Murzuq Basin

In this area of more than 30,000 km², up to the year 2000 only four wells had been drilled. In the area to the north, where oil reserves are some 1 billion barrels, the reservoirs are the sandstones of the Ordovician Memouniat Formation (Figure 6).

The documented source rock is the Tanezzuft Shale, although some oil may have been sourced from the Uennin Shale. The potential reservoirs include the Acacus and Tadrart-Kasa sandstones, as well as the Memouniat.

Eastern Tripolitania Basin

This offshore basin, which is a highly faulted, deep trough, extends from the Gulf of Gabes to the northwestern margin of the Sirte Basin. The eastern sector is some 20,000 km² in extent and is essentially unexplored, with only one dry hole (up to the year 2000); known accumulations are 100-150 km west of the area.

Source rocks include the Turonian Bahloul limestone, Necomian-Cenomanian Sidi Kralif – Fahdene shales, Silurian Tanezzuft Shale (in the southwesternmost part), and lower Eocene Chouabine Limestone (in the western part) (Figure 7). Potential reservoirs are (1) limestone comprising the lower Eocene El Garia Formation (of the Metlaoui Group), the main pay in the basin, (2) the Jirani and Bilal carbonates, the equivalent of, or underlying, the El Garia, (3) carbonates of the Alagah and Makhabaz formations (or Lidam-Argub) (Cenomanian-Turonian), and (4) marine sandstones and rudist carbonates of the Lower Cretaceous Turghat-Kiklah sequence.

Table 1

Giant Fields

The giant fields in Libya (Horn, 2003) are listed below according to basin; the database of selected features of these fields, prepared by M.K. Horn (2003), is presented in Table 1.

Sirte Basin

Augila-Nafoora

Bahi

Beda

Bu Attifel

Dahra East

Defa

Gialo

Intisar A

Intisar D

Mabril

Masrab

Messlah

Nasser (Zelten)

Samah

Sarir C

Sarir L

Waha

Ghadamis Basin

Al Wafa

Murzuk Basin

Elephant

Tripolitania Basin

Bouri

Figure 8-19

	Figure 8. Schematic cross-section of the northwestern part of Sirte Basin, noting stages of graben development, as well as showing character of traps and lithology and stratigraphic positions of productive reservoirs, as of 1984 (from Harding, 1984).
	Figure 9. Structural contour map, on base of Upper Cretaceous Rakb Formation, of Amal Field, showing large north-northwest-plunging nose (from Roberts, 1970).
	Figure 10. East-west electric cross section of Amal field, illustrating unconformity at base of Upper Cretaceous and the positions of Cambro-Ordovician Amal Formation, the main pay, and the transgressive Maragah Formation, which produces on the northeast flank of the field.
	Figure 11. Location map of five fields, representing five Paleocene pinnacle reefs (from Brady et al., 1980).
	Figure 12. Structural contour map, top lst porosity (Paleocene Upper Sabil Formation), of circular Intisar D Field. Pinnacle shows about 1000 feet of relief. Line is for cross-section in Figure 13. (From Brady et al., 1980).
	Figure 13. Stratigraphic cross-section of Intisar D reef, illustrating relations of reservoir rock to shale and marls in trough and capping reef (from Brady et al., 1980).
	Figure 14. Structural elements in the area of Sarir (Nubian) Sandstone fields, including Sarir and Messlah. The latter is on the east margin of an extensive basement high. (From Ambrose, 2000).
	Figure 15. Structural contour map, on intra-Sarir Sandstone zone, with limit of field. Over much of the field, the dip is rather uniformly ½ to 1^o east to northeast. (From Clifford et al., 1980).
	Figure 16. West-east cross-section A-A’ in Concession 80, Messlah Field, showing sand development, wedge-out, and truncation (from Clifford et al., 1980).
	Figure 17. West-east cross-section B-B’ in Concession 65, Messlah Field, showing sand development, wedge-out, and truncation (from Clifford et al., 1980).
	Figure 18. Location map of Nasser (Zelten) Field and platform-bounding fault, with generalized structure on top of “reservoir unit.” B-B’ is line for facies cross-section in Figure 19. (Modified after Bebout and Pendexter, 1975; Harding, 1984).
	Figure 19. Facies cross-section B-B’, showing the facies with the highest porosities in color; datum is top Meghil Member (lower Eocene) overlying the main pay (Zelten “Member”). Structure shows modest growth during deposition of the productive shelf limestones. (Modified from Bebout and Pendexter, 1975).

Selected Sirte Basin Fields

Producing reservoirs in the giant fields of the Sirte Basin range from Precambrian basement (igneous rocks) to Oligocene sands. Fracture porosity is important not only in the basement rocks but also in Cambro-Ordovician sandstone at Amal field. Pre-Upper Cretaceous sandstones are important reservoirs in the Sarir, Messlah, Bu Attifel, and Masrab fields. Paleocene and Upper Cretaceous carbonates are the main reservoirs in the other Sirte Basin giant fields.

The primary trap in the giant fields ranges from anticline (the most common type), nose, and fault block, to reef and wedge-out/truncation (Horn, 2003). Together, they reflect the tectonic history of the basin, with Mesozoic pre-graben arching, pre-Late Cretaceous faulting and nonmarine sedimentation, Late Cretaceous graben development, represented by several arms, and, to a less extent, Eocene-Neogene sag (Harding, 1984) (Figure 8).

Below are sketch-like summaries of fields that together are fairly representative of the range of features the giant fields possess.

Amal Field (Figures 2, 9, and 10)

Amal Field is on a north-northwest plunging nose, locally with more than 100 feet of closure at the Rakb (Upper Cretaceous) level. The nose is bounded by major platform/trough-bounding faults. The field is some 30 miles long and 10 miles wide.

The main reservoirs are the Cambro-Ordovician Amal Formation, with its fractured quartzose sandstone, and the transgressive-marine sandstones of the Maragh Formation, probably Late Cretaceous in age.

Intisar D Field (Figures 2, 11, 12, and 13)

Intisar D Field is one of five productive Paleocene pinnacle reefs that grew in an embayment bounded by three carbonate banks (Brady et al., 1980). It is approximately three miles in diameter. The reef consists largely of corals and algae, with grain- and mud-supported skeletal carbonates. Reef development was responsible for the spectacular reservoir (with 22% porosity) and trap (with 995-foot oil column).

Messlah (Messla) Field (Figures 2, 14, 15, 16, and 17)

Messlah field, more than 25 miles long and 5 miles wide, is a stratigraphic trap located on the east flank of a broad Precambrian basement high (Clifford et al., 1980). The reservoir is Lower Cretaceous fluvial Sarir (Nubian) Sandstone, which wedges-out to the west onto the basement. It is truncated by the widespread unconformity at the base of the Upper Cretaceous section. It is similar in type and size to East Texas Field.

Nasser (Zelten) Field (Figures 2, 18, and 19)

Nasser Field produces from highly porous Paleocene-Eocene limestone in a faulted anticline that borders the Maradah Graben. The field is more than 16 miles long (parallel to the fault) and 9 miles wide. The Paleocene Zelten “Member,” which is the main pay, experienced porosity enhancement due to groundwater leaching, and secondary porosity as high as 40% has been reported from three skeletal grain-supported shelf limestone facies (Bebout and Pendexter, 1975). These limestones characterized deposition on the platforms separating the arms of the Sirte Graben during some of the Late Cretaceous and much of the Paleocene, while deeper-water deposits characterized the troughs. During the sag phase, Eocene carbonates extended across trough and platform alike.

Selected Bibliography

References and Source Documents for GIS Atlas

Al-Shaieb, Z., and J.W. Shelton, 1978, Secondary ferroan dolomite rhombs in oil reservoirs, Chadra sands, Gialo field, Libya: AAPG Bulletin, v. 62, p. 463-468.

Ambrose, G., 2000, The geology and hydrocarbon habitat of the Sarir Sandstone, SE Sirt basin, Libya: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 23, p. 165-191.

Bishop, W.F., 1975, Geology of Tunisia and adjacent parts of Algeria and Libya: AAPG Bulletin, v. 59, no. 3, p. 413-450.

Bishop, W.F., 1988, Petroleum geology of east-central Tunisia: AAPG Bulletin, v. 72, p. 1033-1058.

Bishop, W.F., and G. Debono, 1996, The hydrocarbon geology of southern offshore Malta and surrounding regions: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 19, p. 129 - 160.

Bebout, D. and C. Pendexter, 1975, Secondary carbonate porosity as related to Early Tertiary depositional facies, Zelten Field, Libya: AAPG Bulletin, v.59, no.4, p. 665-693.

Brady, T.J., N.D.J. Campbell, and C.E. Maher, 1980, Intisar 'D' Oil Field, Libya, in M.T. Halbouty, ed., Giant oil and gas fields of the decade, 1968-1978: AAPG Memoir 30, p. 543-564.

Brennan, Philip, 1992, Raguba Field; Libya, Sirte Basin, in E.A. Beaumont and N.H. Foster, eds., AAPG treatise of petroleum geology, Atlas of oil and gas fields: Structural traps, v. 7, p. 267-289.

Clifford, H.J., R. Grund, and H. Musrati, 1980, Geology of a stratigraphic giant: Messla Oil Field, Libya, in M.T. Halbouty, ed., Giant oil and gas fields of the decade: 1968-1978: AAPG Memoir 30, p. 507-524.

Conant, L.C. and G.H. Goudarzi, 1967, Stratigraphic and tectonic framework of Libya: AAPG Bulletin, v. 51, p. 719-730.Goudarzi, G.H., 1970, Geology and mineral resources of Libya--A reconnaissance: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 660, 104 p., 13 plates.

Gumati, Y.D., and W.H. Kanes, 1985, Early Tertiary subsidence and sedimentary facies--northern Sirte Basin, Libya: AAPG Bulletin, v. 69, p. 39-52.

Gumati, Y.D., W.H. Kanes, and S. Schamel, 1996, An evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential of the sedimentary basins of Libya: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 19, p. 95-112.

Harding, T.P., 1984, Graben hydrocarbon occurrences and structural style: AAPG Bulletin, v. 68, p. 333 - 362.

Horn, M.K. 2003, Giant fields, 1868-2003 (CD-ROM), in M.T. Halbouty, ed., Giant oil and gas fields of the decade 1990-1999: AAPG Memoir 78.

Lewis, C.J., 1990, Sarir Field, in E.A. Beaumont and N.H. Foster, eds., AAPG Treatise of petroleum geology, Atlas of oil and gas fields: Structural traps, v. 2, p. 253-267.

Roberts, R.M., 1970, Amal Field, Libya, in M.T. Halbouty, ed., Geology of giant petroleum fields: AAPG Memoir 14, p. 438-448.

Rusk, D.C., 2001, Libya: Petroleum potential of the underexplored basin centers - A twenty-first-century challenge: AAPG Memoir 74, p. 429-452.

Rusk, D. C., 2002, Libya: Petroleum potential of the underexplored basin centers - A twenty-first-century challenge: Search and Discovery Article #10025 (2002) (www.searchanddiscovery.net).

Sanford, R. M., 1970, Sarir Oil Field, Libya--Desert surprise, in M.T. Halbouty, ed., Geology of giant petroleum fields: AAPG Memoir 14, p. 449-476.

Terry, C.E., and J.J. Williams, 1969, The Idris “A” bioherm and oilfield, Sirte Basin, Libya; Its commercial development, regional Palaeocene geologic setting and stratigraphy, in The exploration for petroleum in Europe and Nortrh Africa: London, Institute Petroleum, p. 31-48.

Williams, J.J., 1972, Augila Field Libya: Depositional environment and diagenesis of sedimentary reservoir and description of igneous reservoir, in Stratigraphic Oil and gas fields--Classification, exploration methods and case histories: AAPG Memoir 16, p. 623-632.

References in Rusk (2001, 2002)

Abdulghader, G.S., 1996, Depositional environment and diagenetic history of the Maragh formation, NE Sirt Basin, Libya, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 263–274.

Anketell, J.M., 1996, Structural history of the Sirt Basin and its relationships to the Sabratah Basin and Cyrenaican platform, northern Libya, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 3, p. 57–88.

Baird, D.W., R.M. Aburawi, and N.J.L. Bailey, 1996, Geohistory and petroleum in the central Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 3, p. 3–56.

Bailey, H.W., G. Dungworth, M. Hardy, D. Scull, and R.D. Vaughan, 1989,A fresh approach to the Metlaoui: Actes de IIeme Journees de Géologie Tunisienne Appliquée à la Recherche des Hydrocarbures: Memoire de Enterprise Tunisienne d’Activités Petrólières 3, p. 281–308.

Baric, G., D. Spanic, and M. Maricic, 1996, Geochemical characterization of source rocks in NC 157 block (Zaltan platform), Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 541–553.

Barr, F.T., and A.A. Weegar, 1972, Stratigraphic nomenclature of the Sirte Basin, Libya: Petroleum Exploration Society of Libya, 179 p.

Belhaj, F., 1996, Paleozoic and Mesozoic stratigraphy of eastern Ghadamis and western Sirt Basins, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 1, p. 57–96.

Bellini, E., and D. Massa, 1980, A stratigraphic contribution to the Palaeozoic of the southern basins of Libya, in M.J. Salem and M.T. Busrewil, eds., Geology of Libya: London, Academic Press, p. 3–56.

Bernasconi, A., G. Poliani, and A. Dakshe, 1991, Sedimentology, petrography and diagenesis of Metlaoui Group in the offshore northwest of Tripoli, in M.J. Salem and M.N. Belaid, eds., The Geology of Libya: Third Symposium on the Geology of Libya, held at Tripoli, September 27–30, 1987: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 5, p. 1907–1928.

Bezan, A.M., F. Belhaj, and K. Hammuda, 1996, The Beda formation of the Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 135–152.

Bishop, W.F., 1988, Petroleum geology of east-central Tunisia: AAPG Bulletin, v. 72, p. 1033–1058.

Bonnefous, J., 1972, Geology of the quartzitic “Gargaf Formation” in the Sirte Basin, Libya: Bulletin du Centre de Recherches de Pau, Société Nationale de Petrole Aquitaine, v. 6, p. 256–261.

Boote, D.R.D., D.D. Clark-Lowes, and M.W. Traut, 1998, Palaeozoic petroleum systems of North Africa, in D.S. MacGregor, R.J.T. Moody, and D.D. Clark-Lowes, eds., Petroleum geology of North Africa: Geological Society of London, p. 7–68.

Caron, M., F. Robaszynski, F. Amedro, F. Baudin, J.-F. Deconinck, P. Hochuli, K. von Salis-Perch Nielsen, and N. Tribovillard, 1999, Estimation de la durée de l’événement anoxique global au passage Cenomanien/Turonien: Approche cyclostratigraphique dans la formation Bahloul en Tunisie centrale: Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, v. 170, p. 145–160.

Clifford, H.J., R. Grund, and H. Musrati, 1980, Geology of a stratigraphic giant: Messla oil field, Libya, in M.T. Halbouty, ed., Giant oil and gas fields of the decade 1968–1978: AAPG Memoir 30, p. 507–524.

Echikh, K., 1998, Geology and hydrocarbon occurrences in the Ghadames Basin, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, in D.S. MacGregor, R.J.T. Moody, and D.D. Clark-Lowes, eds., Petroleum geology of North Africa: Geological Society of London, p. 109–130.

El-Alami, M.A., 1996a, Petrography and reservoir quality of the Lower Cretaceous sandstone in the deep Maragh trough, Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 309–322.

El-Alami, M.A., 1996b, Habitat of oil in Abu Attiffel area, Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 337–348.

El-Ghoul, A., 1991, A modified Farwah Group type section and its application to understanding stratigraphy and sedimentation along an E-W section through NC35A, Sabratah Basin, in M.J. Salem and M.N. Belaid, eds., Geology of Libya, p. 1637–1657.

El-Hawat, A.S., A.A. Missallati, A.M. Bezan, and T.M. Taleb, 1996, The Nubian sandstone in Sirt Basin and its correlatives, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 3–30.

Ghori, K.A.R., and R.A. Mohammed, 1996, The application of petroleum generation modelling to the eastern Sirt Basin, Libya, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 529–540.

Gras, R., 1996, Structural style of the southern margin of the Messlah High, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 3, p. 201–210.

Gumati, Y.D., and W.H. Kanes, 1985, Early Tertiary subsidence and sedimentary facies—northern Sirte Basin, Libya: AAPG Bulletin, v. 69, p. 39–52.

Gumati, Y.D., and A.E.M. Nairn, 1991, Tectonic subsidence of the Sirte Basin, Libya: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 14, p. 93–102.

Gumati, Y.D., and S. Schamel, 1988, Thermal maturation history of the Sirte Basin, Libya: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 11, p. 205–218.

Hallett, D., and A. El-Ghoul, 1996, Oil and gas potential of the deep trough areas in the Sirt Basin, Libya, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 455–484.

Hamyouni, E.A., 1991, Petroleum source rock evaluation and timing of hydrocarbon generation, Murzuk Basin, Libya: A case study, in M.J. Salem and M. N. Belaid, eds., Geology of Libya, p. 183–211.

Hamyouni, E.A., I.A. Amr, M.A. Riani, A.B. El-Ghull, and S.A. Rahoma, 1984, Source and habitat of oil in Libyan basins: Presented at seminar on source and habitat of petroleum in the Arab countries, Kuwait, p. 125–178.

Ibrahim, M.W., 1991, Petroleum geology of the Sirt Group sandstones, eastern Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, M.T. Busrewil, and A.M. Ben Ashour, eds., The Geology of Libya: Third Symposium on the Geology of Libya, held at Tripoli, September 27–30, 1987: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 7, p. 2757–2779.

Johnson, B.A., and D.A. Nicoud, 1996, Integrated exploration for Beda Formation reservoirs in the southern Zallah trough (West Sirt Basin, Libya), in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 211–222.

Klitzsch, E., 1971, The structural development of parts of North Africa since Cambrian time, in C. Gray, ed., Symposium on the geology of Libya: Tripoli, Faculty of Science of the University of Libya, p. 253–262.

Koscec, B.G., and Y.S. Gherryo, 1996, Geology and reservoir performance of Messlah oil field, Libya, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 365–390.

Loucks, R.G., R.T.J. Moody, J.K. Bellis, and A.A. Brown, 1998, Regional depositional setting and pore network systems of the El Garia Formation (Metlaoui group) lower Eocene, offshore Tunisia, in D.S. MacGregor, R.J.T. Moody, and D.D.. Clark-Lowes, eds., Petroleum geology of North Africa: Geological Society of London, p. 355–374.

Mansour, A.T., and I.A. Magairhy, 1996, Petroleum geology and stratigraphy of the southeastern part of the Sirt Basin, Libya, in Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 485–528.

Masera Corporation, 1992, Exploration geology and geophysics of Libya: Tulsa, Oklahoma, Masera Corporation, 205 p.

Meister, E.M., E.F. Ortiz, E.S.T. Pierobon, A.A. Arruda, and M.A.M. Oliveira, 1991, The origin and migration fairways of petroleum in the Murzuq Basin, Libya: An alternative exploration model, in M.J. Salem, M. T. Busrewil, and A.M. Ben Ashour, eds., The Geology of Libya: Third Symposium on the Geology of Libya, held at Tripoli, September 27–30, 1987: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 7, p. 2725–2742.

Parsons, M.G., A.M. Zagaar, and J.J. Curry, 1980, Hydrocarbon occurrence in the Sirte Basin, Libya, in A. D. Maill, ed., Facts and principles of world petroleum occurrence: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology Memoir 6, p. 723–732.

Roohi, M., 1996a, A geological view of source-reservoir relationships in the western Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 323–336.

Roohi, M., 1996b, Geological history and hydrocarbon migration pattern of the central Az Zahrah–Al Hufrah platform, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 435–454.

Said, F.M., 1974, Sedimentary history of the Paleozoic rocks of the Ghadames Basin in Libyan Arab Republic: Master’s thesis, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 39 p.

Sbeta, A.M., 1990, Stratigraphy and lithofacies of Farwah Group and its equivalent: offshore—NW Libya: Petroleum Research Journal, v. 2, p. 42–56.

Schroter, T., 1996, Tectonic and sedimentary development of the central Zallah trough (West Sirt Basin, Libya), in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 3, p. 123–136.

Sinha, R.N., and I.Y. Mriheel, 1996, Evolution of subsurface Palaeocene sequence and shoal carbonates, south-central Sirt Basin, in M.J. Salem, A.S. El-Hawat, and A.M. Sbeta, eds., Geology of the Sirt Basin: Amsterdam, Elsevier, v. 2, p. 153–196.

Spring, D., and O.P. Hansen, 1998, The influence of platform morphology and sea level on the development of a carbonate sequence: The Harash Formation, eastern Sirt Basin, Libya, in D.S. MacGregor, R.J.T. Moody, and D.D.. Clark-Lowes, eds., Petroleum geology of North Africa: Geological Society of London, p. 335–354.

Van Houten, B.F., 1980, Latest Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous regressive facies, northeast African craton: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, p. 857–867.