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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1998; v. 132; p. 79-96;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.132.01.04
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Palaeozoic and Sub-Salt Regional Papers

Giant fields, petroleum systems and exploration maturity of Algeria

Duncan S. Macgregor

BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd, Kuningan Plaza, S. Tower, P.O. Box 2749, Jakarta 12940, Indonesia

The giant petroleum fields of eastern Algeria can be divided into six significant petroleum systems. More than 60% of the giant fields and 80% of the reserves within them lie in a specific setting in reservoirs immediately below or above the Hercynian unconformity, and below the Liassic salt seal. The second main reservoirs are Early Devonian sandstones. Timing of generation and preservation potential, as controlled by tectonic history, seal type and source rock burial, are key controls on the distribution of petroleum in these giant fields, particularly for oil. Field size distributions within the six petroleum systems can be related to structural style and to differing levels of exploration maturity within each system. Comparisons can be made between the productive trap types and petroleum systems of Algeria and analogous but more heavily drilled basins elsewhere in the world. Such comparisons suggest that further giant fields lie undiscovered in Algeria, particularly in subtle forms of traps, and in the 250–500 MMBOE (million barrels oil equivalent) reserves range. The Ghadames petroleum system may be the system which carries the highest yet-to-find, as predicted from a range of criteria, including discovery trends, drilling density, field size distribution and source rock supply analysis. The challenge to the oil industry in Algeria is to identify the locations of the missing giant fields suggested by this analysis.





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