--> Abstract: Hydrocarbon Exploration and Perspectives of the Prerif, Northern Morocco, by M. Dakki, M. El Alji, M. Hssain, A. Demnati, A. Yahyaoui, and M. Zaidi; #90937 (1998)

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Abstract: Hydrocarbon Exploration and Perspectives of the Prerif, Northern Morocco.

DAKKI, M., M. EL ALJI, M. HSSAIN, A. DEMNATI, A. YAHYAOUI and M. ZAIDI

The Prerif area in northern Morocco corresponds to the southernmost extent of the Rif thrust belt domain which is structurally the westernmost portion of the southern Alpine chain. This domain consists of an essentially thrusted Mesozoic to Tertiary carbonates and clastics overlain by folded and faulted Upper Miocene clastics. The Upper Miocene sediments are essentially developped within the forland basins to the southern edge of this domain.

Petroleum Exploration was concentrared in the western part of this domain, arround the Prerif Rides and the the foreland Rharb basin where seismic data is generally good to very good providing good understanding of the geological evolution of the region. In these zones several oil and gas fields were discovered and being produced.

Although the Prerif domain and its forlands have been producing oil and gas for a long time, the problem still facing Eploration is the seismic resolution and processing. Recent studies based on new seismic acquisition lines in the western part of the Prerif ( Rharb basin and Prerif Rides) have permitted to assess the structural evolution of these areas and define new prospective zones.

The eastern part of the Prerif, the Mesorif and central Rif received little attention partly because of the lack of regional coverage through the complex structural geology but available aeromagnetic and gravity data in the Rif domain has given a better understanding of structural features. In the southern part of the Prerif, the tectonic evolution seems to be controlled by Hercynian north-east deeping fault system reactivated into wrenching trends. One of these north-east Hercynian faults (Sidi Fili trend field) represented an important target forhydrocarbon production. The regional Bouguer gravity map shows an elongated negative anomaly in an east-weat trend related to a thick accumulation of low density sediments.

Geochemical analyses carried out in the Rif domain, have shown the existance of rich and mature source-rocks. Oil and gas are interpreted to be sourced from Paleozoic, Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks and trapped within Paleozoic, Lower and Upper Jurassic reservoirs.

Combination of structural assessment with geochemical results has permitted to reevaluate the Hydrocarbon potential of the Prerif area and its forelands and define new prospective zones.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90937©1998 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah