--> New Petroleum Systems Related to the Structuring of Meso-Cenozoic Basins in North African Plate Tunisian Margin

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New Petroleum Systems Related to the Structuring of Meso-Cenozoic Basins in North African Plate Tunisian Margin

Abstract

Atlassic Meso-Cenozoic Petroleum proven systems of carbonate and siliciclastic deposits in the North African plate Tunisian margin, are distributed to a platform and basin mosaic that is studied here for more petroleum systems structuring understanding and discoveries for new objectives. Modern integrated studies had been undertaken to highlight the tectono-sequence deposits structuring and the relationship between platform to basin potential zones. Subsurface studies were based on petroleum wells, wire line loggin, seismic reflection and gravimetric data and seismic stratigraphy of system tract distribution calibrated to surface structural, sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy for carbonate and siliciclastic characterization and basin modelling. Sedimentary cover basin structuring is controlled by deep-seated E-W and N-S strike slip flower Master faults connected to NE-SW and NW-SE Reidels. These faults guided a Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous carbonate deposits in a pull a part rift platform and basins induced by a regional N-S to NE-SW extensional strains accompanied by Upper Triassic salt pillow to Diapirs bodies and basic magmatic intrusions along faults since the Jurassic period exhibiting rim synclines, prograding deposits, turbidites, Reefs and pinch outs. These rift sealed basins constitutes new targets with complete petroleum systems ingredients. Upper Cretaceous to Eocene Pyrrenean and Miocene to Quaternary Alpine and Atlassic NW-SE compressional strains reactivated platform-basin borders deep-seated new ramified transpressional faults inducing basin inversions, salt intrusions, folding, thrusting and foreland basins. Carbonate and siliciclastic source rocks and reservoirs of respectively Cretaceous and Tertiary deposits exhibit prograding system tracts, Reefs, delatic to deepsea fan channels and turbidites. These reservoirrs represent a new petroleum exploration targets. Both rift and compressional superposed basins present structural and stratigraphic hydrocarbon traps and prospects along faulted transition borders with stratigraphic unconformities, pinch outs, Flower faults and fold flanks closures. Basin modelling and timing events suggest a maturation, expulsion, migration and trapping of hydrocarbons towards platform-basin borders