Abstract: Tectonic Setting and Hydrocarbon Accumulations in Tunisia
A. M'rabet, A. Chine, M. Dridi, P. Burollet, F. Mejri, T. Kochtali
Tectonic styles in Tunisia are of a great diversity. Southern Tunisia includes three basins controlled by Paleozoic NW-SE and EW faults and affected by Cretaceous-Tertiary compressions. Oil accumulations occur within Paleozoic fault blocks and Mesozoic anticlines. Central, eastern and northern Tunisia has a more complex structural architecture influenced by Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic Tethyan rifting and Mid-Cretaceous to Tertiary Alpine compressional/distensional phases. The main structures comprise folded nappes, NE-SW surficial folds associated with local Triassic extrusions and dissected by Tertiary transverse grabens and reactivated old faults trending NS, EW and NW-SE. Oil accumulations occur within early anticlines, flower structures associated with Tertiary strike slip fault and induced fractured reservoirs and composite inverted structures. Other prospects exist in underexplored areas: the transverse grabens in some of which new prospects are recently recognized, pinch outs in east-central Tunisia and sub-thrust structures in the frontal nappes zone. This indicates that the tectonic features are a major key for hydrocarbon exploration in Tunisia where many structural targets of new types still remain to be successfully drilled.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994