--> Mesozoic and Cenozoic Petroleum Systems of Tunisia
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Previous HitMesozoicNext Hit and Cenozoic Petroleum Systems of Tunisia, North Africa

By

 M. Hedi Acheche1, Ramzi Ghenima1, Moncef Saidi1

(1) ETAP, Tunis, Tunisia

 The North Africa and Tunisia are best known for their Paleozoic petroleum systems and yet,the greatest production in Tunisia derives from Previous HitMesozoicNext Hit and Cenozoic petroleum systems. Most of these petroleum systems originate from Albian-Turonian and Eocene widespread Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrocksNext Hit. Previous HitMesozoicNext Hit and Cenozoic prospectivity extends over all the onshore and offshore areas, northern of the Ghadames Basin which represents the Paleozoic province. However, the Gulf of Gabes contributes the vast majority of the oil and gas reserves (e.g:Ashtart field; 1Bb of oil and Miskar field; 2TCFG). Stratigraphically, Previous HitMesozoicNext Hit and Cenozoic reserves are spread over a wide range of Previous HitreservoirsNext Hit, predominantly carbonate, the most productive Previous HitreservoirsNext Hit lie in the Upper Cretaceous-Eocene levels. Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous petroleum systems apparently of limited extension, rely on Mid-Jurassic Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrocksNext Hit and probable Triassic organic rich intervals. Further potential petroleum systems are predicted in the unexplored Northern thrust belt area. Recent geochemical investigations have confirmed the potential of Previous HitconventionalNext Hit Upper Cretaceous-Eocene Previous HitsourceNext Hit beds and have particularly revealed the presence of an overlooked mature Oligocene-Miocene Previous HitsourceNext Hit rock.

Success of exploration within Previous HitMesozoicNext Hit and Cenozoic Previous HitbasinsNext Hit is controlled by several factors including maturity of Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrocksNext Hit, migration pathways, preservation, fracturing of Previous HitreservoirsNext Hit and early trap Previous HitdevelopmentNext Hit. With the exception of the Gulf of Gabes, vast areas of Previous HitMesozoicNext Hit and Cenozoic provinces remained underevaluated and still undrilled or lightly drilled. Moreover, drilling has generally focused on relatively shallow targets. Remaining potential appears to be still significant. Exploration needs to be driven by new technologies, new forms of analysis and new data in the mature areas. In the less mature Previous HitbasinsNext Hit and in frontier exploration areas, application of petroleum system approach would help to reduce exploration risks.