Undiscovered Oil Resource Assessment of Libya: The Sirte and Murzuq Basin

Otto, Simon¹, Tom Wilson², Mark Cowgill³, Fugro Robertson³ (1) Robertson Research International Limited, Llandudno, North Wales, United Kingdom (2) Fugro-Robertson, Llandudno, United Kingdom (3) Robertson Research International, North Wales, United Kingdom

The method and results reported here are based on a detailed examination of the petroleum systems in the study area. This approach used is based on the analysis and mapping of the various constituent elements of each play fairway within each basin, based on a sound understanding of the global context of the basin and the factors that create a successful hydrocarbon accumulation.

The key to the prediction of prospective resources and reserves is the establishment of a database of petroleum system components and an appreciation of controls on the development of the system through time. The tectonostratigraphic evolution of a basin influences its burial history and hence diagenesis, kerogen maturation, lithification, overpressuring and fluid expulsion. At the level of the individual play, the distribution and quality variations of reservoir facies, source rock kitchen areas and seal efficiency have been mapped. Geologically feasible migration distances from source rock kitchen(s) to the reservoir are also considered, to enable definition of an “active play area”.