FIE LD E VA LUATION R E POR T

BEMOLANGA FIELD
UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FORMATION RESERVOIR

MORONDAVA BASIN, MADAGASCAR

PUBLISHED: APRIL 2006
MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR
BEMOLANGA FIELD
Upper Triassic Isalo Formation:
Fluvio-Deltaic Sandstones
Executive Summary
The Bemolanga Field in the Morondava Basin of
western Madagascar (Figs. 1 and 2) is one of the
largest tar sand deposits in the world with estimated
in-place bitumen reserves of 2-20 BBO, of which <1
BBO may be recoverable by opencast mining. Oil
seeps in the region were documented in the middle
of the 19th Century but detailed studies into the
potential of Bemolanga did not begin until the
1960s. The field is an exhumed oilfield, which was
originally formed by drape over a basement high or
by wrench faulting to give a transpressional-fold
anticline or flower-structure. The tar sands occupy
an area of >424 km2 and lie beneath up to 50 m of
non-impregnated, lateritic sandstones. The highly
viscous, 11 °API bitumen occurs in the uppermost
Karroo succession in stacked, 150-600 m-thick,
fluvio-deltaic, channel sandstones of the Upper
Triassic Isalo Formation. The sands have average
porosities of 19.5% and average permeabilities of
446 mD. Pay thickness averages ~30 m and the
bitumen content is 2-9 wt.%. Since 1961, a number
of feasibility studies involving a variety of oil
extraction techniques have been undertaken, both
in the laboratory and at a pilot plant, including hot-
water washing, air combustion and low-temperature
solvent extraction. Although these processes can
produce 0.3-0.5 barrels of 22-29 °API oil from a ton
of sand, they are prohibitively expensive and it
remains to be demonstrated that the field can be
economically exploited. As of early 2006, the
Bemolanga Field was undeveloped.
Exploration History
The Bemolanga Tar Sands of Madagascar first
appeared in written records in 1842, which reported
FIELD EVALUATION REPORT
BEMOLANGA 1
that the local inhabitants used the bitumen to seal
their boats. Exploration interest in the oil seeps in
the vicinity of two giant exhumed oil fields at
Bemolanga and Tsimiroro began in the early part of
the 20th Century with the drilling of 23 shallow wells
before 1939. During 1945-65, the location and
distribution of the bitumen was mapped by the
Société des Pétroles de Madagascar (SPM), which
undertook the systematic exploration of
Madagascar by geological surface mapping,
geophysical (gravity and magnetic) surveys, and
the drilling of 39 wells (Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza,
1984; WIN, 2005).
In 1962, SPM opened two quarries and set up a
small pilot processing plant at Bemolanga in an
attempt to find the most suitable recovery process
(Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza et al., 1980). The
methods used in exploitation and processing of the
Canadian Athabasca tar sands were tested without
significant success. In 1965, the French company,
ELF-RE attempted air injection, but with
discouraging results. In 1972-74, two further pilot
projects involving the application of heat (800-1100
°F) without the need for fine crushing of the
bituminous sandstones were each undertaken by
the University of Tananarive and by the Oil Shale
Corporation USA, both with positive results. SPM
ended its involvement in Madagascar in 1974 and
exploitation of the Bemolanga deposit has been
under the supervision of the state-owned Office des
Mines Nationales et des Industries Stratégiques
(OMNIS) since 1976. Since 1977, the Bemolanga
deposit has been appraised by >10,000 shallow
boreholes and several successful oil extraction
feasibility studies in which >5300 extraction
analyses have been undertaken (Andrianasolo-
Ralaimiza, 1984).
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Basin Evolution and Petroleum Systems
The Bemolanga Tar Sands are located in the
northern part of the Morondava Basin, which is one
of three basins that form a passive margin along the
western coast and offshore areas of Madagascar
(Figs. 1 and 2). The stratigraphic succession and
tectonic history of Madagascar are directly related
to the progressive break up of Gondwana and the
subsequent rifting and southward drifting of
Madagascar away from Africa. Continued
subsidence and tilting to the west, in response to
the rifting of India during the Late Cretaceous, has
led to the deposition of thick Mesozoic and
Cenozoic sequences along the passive margin.
Latest Carboniferous to Late Permian rifting
resulted in horst and graben formation and the
deposition of thick sequences of fluvio deltaic, coal
swamp, and terrestrial clastics of the Sakoa and
Lower Sakamena formations of the Karroo
Supergroup. Differential tectonic movement slowed
in Late Permian times, when the only significant
marine incursion in the Karroo sequence resulted in
the deposition of the Middle Sakamena Formation.
Redbeds and lacustrine source rocks in the Upper
Sakamena and Isalo formations continued to be
deposited until Early Jurassic times (Fig. 3), when
NE-SW and N-S Karroo trends were reactivated by
the onset of rifting, as East Gondwana began to
separate from West Gondwana. Following a marine
transgression, localized salt basins developed in
restricted conditions but were succeeded by a
regionally extensive Middle Jurassic (Dogger)
carbonate platform and sandy nearshore
equivalents, which unconformably overlie eroded
Karroo tilted fault-blocks (Fig. 4). Following a major
Late Jurassic transgression, the carbonate platform
was covered by prograding Upper Jurassic-Lower
Cretaceous marine marls and limestones overlain
by sand-shale sequences, reflecting the onset of
post-rift subsidence and the development of the
Majunga Basin passive margin and the Morondava
Basin passive/transform margin, as Madagascar
FIELD EVALUATION REPORT
BEMOLANGA 2
moved southward relative to Africa along the Davie
Fracture Zone (Fig. 1).
Most of the Early Cretaceous was a period of slow
or non-deposition, coincident with the separation of
Seychelles/India from Eastern Madagascar. Post-
rift uplift resulted in the emergence of the cratonic
hinterland and the beginning of a long period of
fluvio-deltaic/marine clastic progradation. During
the Turonian-Coniacian, widespread basaltic
magmatism and renewed uplift and seaward tilting
of Madagascar was probably caused by its
separation from India. This uplift and tilting
continued throughout much of the Tertiary and
resulted in subaerial erosion of the updip margin of
the Cretaceous wedge, to leave Precambrian
basement exposed over much of central and
eastern Madagascar (Figs. 1 and 2). In the offshore
area deposition was dominated by carbonates and
fine clastics, with multiple unconformities,
particularly within the Lower Tertiary section, related
to continuing tectonics. Uplift also caused partial or
complete loss of landward closure on pre-existing
onshore structures and the progressive elevation of
the Bemolanga and Tsimiroro palaeo-oil
accumulations to near surface levels (Jeans and
van Meerbeke, 1993; Stone and LeRoy, 2003).
The exact origin of the Bemolanga oil remains
uncertain because of its advanced biodegraded
state. However, oil and source rock extract analysis
suggests that the oils are derived from Karroo
source rocks, probably the shales of the Lower
Triassic Middle Sakamena Formation, which
contain Type III/II kerogens and generally have
TOCs of 0.2-0.5%, more rarely up to 2%
(Raveloson et al., 1991; Jeans and van Meerbeke,
1993). Oil from the Middle Sakamena Formation
was generated mainly during the Aptian to Eocene,
with migration from west to east, since maturity is
greatest in the west. The Middle Sakamena
Formation is still in the oil window in the northern
Morondova Basin and in the gas window in the
deeper southern part (Raveloson et al., 1991).
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Structure and Trap Definition
The Bemolanga Field is an exhumed oilfield in a
broad, gently dipping dome (Figs. 5 and 6) (Walters,
1974). It is related to a basement structural high
affected by strike-slip faults (Raveloson et al., 1991)
and may be a transpressional-fold anticline or
flower structure formed as Madagascar moved
southward during the Late Jurassic-Early
Cretaceous. Alternatively, it may be a simple
basement drape anticline (Fig. 6). The field
appears to represent one large oil accumulation that
is cut by numerous, multi-directional Cretaceous
(and younger) dolerite dykes and NW-trending
faults (Andrianasolo et al., 1985). The original seal
may have been the marine shales of the Middle
Jurassic Belo Formation, but the tar in the field is no
longer mobile (Fig. 3). The accumulation was
probably exhumed during the Tertiary. It covers an
area of >424 km2 (>105,000 ac) (Rakoto-
Andriantsilavo et al., 1995) and lies beneath non-
impregnated, soft, lateritic shelly sandstones and
weathered sandstones up to 50 m thick
(Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza et al., 1980; Andrianasolo
et al., 1985). The original oil column is represented
by an impregnated (pay) thickness that is 43 m in
some parts of the field (Fig. 7) (Rakoto-
Andriantsilavo et al., 1995), but averages ~30 m
(Raveloson et al., 1991). The bitumen content is
not homogeneous. An upper layer in contact with
the overburden contains 2-7 wt.% bitumen and may
represent a more flushed part of the reservoir. A
rich level in the centre of the accumulation
containing 7-9 wt.% bitumen overlies a poorer level
of 2-5 wt.% bitumen (Fig. 7) (Andrianasolo-
Ralaimiza et al., 1980), which may represent a
transition zone above the original OWC or be a
function of reduced grain size and original oil
saturation.
Stratigraphy and Depositional Facies
The Bemolanga Field contains tar sands in the
upper Karroo succession, in the Upper Triassic
section of the Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic Isalo
FIELD EVALUATION REPORT
BEMOLANGA 3
Formation (Kamen-Kaye, 1983), which lies
unconformably between Precambrian basement
and non-impregnated, lateritic sandstones of
unassigned age (Fig. 3) (Andrianasolo et al., 1985).
At Bemolanga, the Isalo Formation is 150-600 m
thick and predominantly comprises a continental
sequence of uncemented, arkosic, commonly
cross-bedded, fine- to coarse-grained sandstones,
interbedded with green/red sandy claystones. It is
divided into a lower unit, Isalo I, comprising
homogeneous, poorly sorted, mainly coarse-
grained, fluvio-lacustrine sandstones and red/green
clays, and an upper unit, Isalo II, comprising mainly
fine-grained, sandstones and interbedded green,
pyritic claystones interpreted to have been
deposited as distributary channels on a deltaic
coastal plain (Fig. 7). A black, lignitic shale unit
containing scattered plant and calcareous fossil
sponge remains which separates the two units is
likely to be a lacustrine deposit but may represent a
transgressive marine episode. The tar sands are
especially found in the upper and lower parts of
Isalo II and in the upper part of Isalo I
(Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza et al., 1980; Kamen-Kaye,
1983; Andrianasolo et al., 1985).
Reservoir Architecture and Reservoir Properties
The Bemolanga Tar Sands comprise 58% quartz,
28% feldspar, 9% kaolinite 3% chlorite and 2%
montmorillonite (Andrianasolo et al., 1985).
Interbedded shales comprise ~40% of the
sequence (Figs. 5 and 7). The sands have
porosities of 16-24%, averaging 19.5%, and
permeabilities of 240-900 mD, averaging 446 mD.
Oil saturation is 16-84% (Raveloson et al., 1991),
giving a bitumen content of 2-9 wt.% (Andrianasolo-
Ralaimiza et al., 1980).
Production Engineering Analysis
Estimated in-place reserves of bitumen at the
Bemolanga Field are 2-21 BBO, of which <1 BBO
may be recoverable by opencast mining (Kamen-
Kaye, 1983; Jeans and van Meerbeke, 1993;
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MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR
Shirley, 2003; TGD/NOPEC, 2006). In-place
reserves estimates are wide-ranging because they
are dependent on assumptions regarding
overburden thickness, impregnated thickness and
bitumen content. Variations in these properties
across the field allow it to be subdivided into eleven
areas (I-XI) (Fig. 8) (Rakoto-Andriantsilavo et al.,
1995). In order to estimate full field reserves, an
extensive reserve evaluation was undertaken on
Zone VI where the overburden thickness was
favourable, the impregnated layer was >5 m thick
and the bitumen content was >5.5% (Rakoto-
Andriantsilavo et al., 1995). ‘Proven’ reserves of
15.7 million tons (~100 MMB) of bitumen from 255
million tons of tar sands from an area of 5.6 km2
were estimated through the drilling of 155 wells
(Table 1) (Rakoto-Andriantsilavo et al., 1995). The
bitumen is 11 °API, has a density of 0.982-1.105
g/cm3, and a very high viscosity of 2300 cp at 302
°F. It has sulphur contents of 0.4-1.4 wt.% and is
composed of 27% asphaltenes, 28% resins and
45% oily components (Figs. 9 and 10)
(Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza et al., 1980; Andrianasolo
et al., 1985).
With the intention of setting up a plant to process
50,000 tons of tar sand per day and produce 15,000
BPD of synthetic crude over an exploration period of
FIELD EVALUATION REPORT
BEMOLANGA 4
25 years, SPM and then OMNIS have undertaken
numerous mining and engineering feasibility
studies. Exploitation would involve removal of the
overburden, drilling and blasting of the tar sands,
before crushing and grinding to adequate
granulometry, and extraction of the bitumen from
the ore. Globally accepted extraction processes for
tar sands were piloted at Bemolanga, both in the
laboratory and at a pilot plant, and include hot-water
washing, air combustion and low-temperature
(~150 °F) solvent extraction. An early pilot
undertaken in 1961-62 by SPM, involved crushing,
hot-water washing and secondary fines separation,
and gave a recovery efficiency of 80%, although
major difficulties appeared during the fines
processing which were never resolved
(Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza et al., 1980). Subsequent
thermally based and solvent-based processes have
also been successfully applied, producing 0.3-0.5
barrels of 22-29 °API oil from a ton of sand
(Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza, 1984). However, the
processes are prohibitively expensive, costing
US$28-31 per barrel. Pending the development of
an economic extraction process, the Bemolanga tar
sand may be used locally as a raw material for road
construction (Rakoto-Andriantsilavo et al., 1995).
As of November 2005, the Bemolanga Field had not
been developed (SPE, 2005).
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KEY REFERENCES

Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza, H., 1984, Heavy-oil and bitumen projects in Madagascar, in Meyer, R.F., ed.,
Exploration for heavy crude oil and natural bitumen: Regional Resources, AAPG Studies in Geology, no 25, v.
1, p. 137-141.

Andrianasolo-Ralaimiza, H., Rakoto-Andriantsilavo, M.D., and Raveloson, E., 1980, The bitumen and heavy
oil deposits in Madagascar - feasibility and prospects of the Bemolanga deposit, in Meyer, R.F., Steele, C.T.,
and Olson, J.C., eds., The future of heavy crude oils and tar sands: McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 139-150.

Andrianasolo, H.R., Raveloson, E., Rakotoarison, S., and Lalaharisaina, J.V., 1985, Geology and mining of
Bemolanga tar sands; physico-chemical studies, in Khazoom, A., ed., 3rd International Conference on Heavy
Crude and Tar Sands, Long Beach, v. II, p. 846-857.

Jeans, P.J.F., and van Meerbeke G.L.E., 1993, Geological evolution and hydrocarbon habitat of the Majunga
Basin and Karroo corridor, Madagascar: Shell Internationale Petroleum Maatschappij B.V. The Hague:
http://www.pj-exploration.com/madagascar.htm.

Kamen-Kaye, M., 1982, Mozambique-Madagascar geosyncline, I: deposition and architecture: Journal of

Petroleum Geology, v. 5, p. 3-30.

Kamen-Kaye, M., 1983, Mozambique-Madagascar geosyncline, II: petroleum geology: Journal of Petroleum
Geology, v. 5, p. 287-308.

OMNIS, 2005, Madagascar – Opportunities for hydrocarbon exploration and mineral resources: Office des
Mines Nationales et des Industries Stratégiques promotional brochure, 16 p.

Rakoto-Andriantsilavo, M.D., Lalaharisaina, J.V., and Spariharijaona, A., 1995, New perspective for the
development of Bemolanga tar sand project, Proceedings 6th UNITAR International Conference on Heavy
Crude and Tar Sands, Houston, v. 1, p. 47-51.

Ramanampisoa, L., and Radke, M., 1992, Thermal maturity and hydrocarbon generation in rocks from the
sedimentary basins of Madagascar: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 15, p. 379-396.

Raveloson, E.A., Rouviere, F., Ruiz, J.M., and Lena, L., 1988, Bemolonga bitumen and Tsimiroro heavy oil
study: Proceedings 4th UNITAR/UNDP Conference on Heavy Crude and Tar Sands, Edmonton, Paper no. 83,
p. 1-14.

Raveloson, E., Rakotoarison, S., Ramorofidy, J., Raharijaona, R., Andrianmanantena, J., and Ramanampisoa,
L., 1989, Contribution of geochemical studies undertaken on Bemolanga tar sand deposit and Tsimiroro heavy
oil field for hydrocarbon exploration in Madagascar: Proceedings 4th UNITAR/UNDP Conference on Heavy
Crude and Tar Sands, Edmonton, Paper no. 84, p. 1-15.

Raveloson, E., Ranasy, J., Spariharijaona, A., and Ramanampisoa, L., 1991, Bemolanga and Tsimiroro source
rocks and hydrocarbon generation: Proceedings 5th UNITAR/UNDP Conference on Heavy Crude and Tar
Sands, Caracas, v. 1, p. 357-367.

FIELD EVALUATION REPORT AFRICA

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MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR BEMOLANGA 6

KEY REFERENCES
(continued)

Shirley, K., 2003, Big East Africa structures enticing: http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2003/07jul/eastafrica.cfm.

SPE, 2005, Madagascar bid round will attract E&P interest: SPE Review, November, p. 4-5: http://www.spe-
uk.org/images/speuk/articles/52/SPE_Review_1105.pdf.

Stampfli, G.M. and Borel, G.D., 2002, A plate tectonic model for the Paleozoic and Mesozoic constrained by
dynamic plate boundaries and restored synthetic oceanic isochrons: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, no.
196, p. 17-33:
http://www-sst.unil.ch/research/plate_tecto/alp_tet_main.htm.

Stone, R.A., and LeRoy, S.D., 2003, Madagascar deepwater, Part I: Deepwater basin confirmed far off western
Madagascar: Oil & Gas Journal, March: http://ogj.articles.printthis.clickability.com.

TGS/NOPEC, 2006, Petroleum geology and geophysics of the Mozambique Channel: promotional brochure:
http://www.petromarex.com/projects/moz/Mozambique_Brochure.pdf.

Walters, E.J., 1974, Review of the world's major oil sands deposits, in Hills, L.V., ed., Oil sands fuel of the
future: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir, no. 3, p. 240-263.

WIN, 2005, World Investment News: Madagascar: http://www.winne.com/madagascar/to06.html.

FIELD EVALUATION REPORT AFRICA

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MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR BEMOLANGA 7

FIELD EVALUATION REPORT AFRICA

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 FIELD EVALUATION REPORT

MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR

Tar sand Bitumen
Average Bitumen Well
Reserve Area in km2 reserve in reserve in Number
thickness content density
category (ac) million tons million tons of wells
(m) (wt%) (well/km2)
(MMB) (MMB)

Proven 5.6 (1384) 21.80 255 (1633) 6.10 16 (100) 20 155

Probable 7.2 (1779) 22.50 340 (2179) 5.70 19 (124) 7-10 53

Possible 7.6 (1878) 12.90 206 (1320) 5.60 11 (72) 3-4 25

© C & C Reservoirs. All Rights Reserved.

Table 1 - Estimated reserves of Bemolanga Zone VI and its extension (Andrianasolo et al., 1985).

BEMOLANGA
AFRICA

8
MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR BEMOLANGA 9

AFRICA

6 km 6 km

ZONE
MOZAMBIQUE
BASEMENT
FRACTURE

m
6k BEMOLANGA
TAR SANDS

TSIMIRORO
D AV I E

H E AV Y O I L
m
6k

BASEMENT

PA N D E - T E M A N E
GAS FIELD

Fault

6 km Sediment thickness

Volcanics

Oceanic crust

0 300 km Extrusive igneous

Figure 1 - Sediment thickness in the Mozambique Channel showing the general structural trends in western
Madagascar and the location of the Bemolanga Field (TGS/NOPEC, 2006).

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MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR BEMOLANGA 10

ANTSIRANANA

AMBILOBE
AFRICA BASIN

AM
PA
SIN
DO
MAJUNGA

VA
BASIN

FA
UL
Mahajanga

16°S

Ma
haja
Mananara

mb
a
EAST
Bets
COAST
BASIN
ibok

BEMOLANGA Lake
a

Alaotra
Iko

TSIMIRORO
pa

Maintirano
Toamasina

MORONDAVA
BASIN
20°S Mahanoro
Mania
Morondava

INDIAN
T
UL
FA
BY

Ma
ng
OCEAN
OM

oky
IAK

RA
NO
TS
LT

AR
FAU

AF
VA

AU

Cretaceous and Tertiary

ILO

LT

Farafangana Jurassic

Onilahy Riv
er
Tropic of Capricorn Isalo II

Betioky Isalo I Karroo

24°S SAKOA
ANDRANDRIANA
- BEFA

Sakamena Fm.
FAULT

NOPAS

Precambrian
DA

basement
VI ZO
E

Y
FR NE

Volcanics
AC

Fort Dauphin
TU
RE

CAPE 0 100 200 km

STE MARIE
BASIN

Figure 2 - Simplified geological map of Madagascar, showing the location of the Bemolanga Field near the
boundary between the Morondava Basin and the Majunga Basin (Ramanampisoa and Radke, 1992).

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MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR BEMOLANGA 11

200 m
A Majunga

L
E
N
Bebao
N

BEMOLANGA
A

Tsimiroro
Antsalova
H

200 m
C

Morondava
E
U

Mandabe Shows of hydrocarbons

at surface
Q

Post-Karroo

Karroo
I

Basement
B

200 m Bathymetry
M

Onilahy
A

N
Z

20
O

0m

0 200 km
M

B BEMOLANGA

S N
Onilahy Mandabe Antsalova Bebao

CALL.
JURASSIC
MIDDLE

BELO
BATH. ISALO

BAJO.
LOWER

LIAS ISALO

TRIASSIC ? ? ?
SAKAMENA SAKOA
PERMIAN
SAK. BASEMENT
CARB. U
Marine facies
Continental facies of Karroo interval

Marine horizon
"Lagoonal" (estuarine ?) horizon

Figure 3 - Surface hydrocarbon occurrences in the Karroo sediments of western Madagascar, with simplified
S-N section showing the Karroo stratigraphy in the Morondava Basin (Kamen-Kaye, 1982).

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MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR BEMOLANGA 12

HYDROCARBONS
SOURCE ROCK
PRESENT DAY
AGE DEEP WATER COAST INTERIOR LOCATIONS TECTONICS

Ng

INDIA DRIFT
TT
Pg MARIARANO-1

MAEVARANO-1
UPPER

MAROVOAY

RIFT
CRETACEOUS

MARAVOAY-1
TULERIE-1

?
W.NANAMBOLO-1
LOWER

SOFIA-1

MADAGASCAR DRIFT
?

? ?
UPPER
MIDDLE

DOGGER ISALO TUILERIE-1

JURASSIC

III
IHOPY-1

CAP ST.ANDRE RIFT

LOWER

ISALO II
SAG
UPPER
TRIASSIC

LIGNITIC SH
TSIMORORO
L. MIDDLE

ISALO I BEMOLANGA

U FAILED
RIFT
SAKAMENA
MANANDAZA-1
UPPER

L
CONTINENTAL BASIN
PERMIAN

?
SAKOA
PC
LOWER
CARB.
UPPER

Figure 4 - Stratigraphy of Madagascar, showing the main hydrocarbon occurrences (OMNIS, 2005).

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MADAGASCAR - UPPER TRIASSIC ISALO FM RESERVOIR BEMOLANGA 13

A 45° 46°
Majunga
45°

Cap
San André

R
BEMOLANGA
TAR SANDS BEMOLANGA

A
18° BAP-5

C
CDB-1

BAP-11

S
BAP-13

A
Mozambique

G
Channel

18°
Cretaceous basalt
20°
A

Mainly heavy oil

D

Morandava ?
A

Mainly tar (bitumen)

M

Tsimiroro Basement
0 200 km

Maraboaly
0 30 km

CDB-1
B BAP-13
300 300

BAP-5
y

?
cla

Elevation (m AMSL)
275 ? green clay 275
n
ee

? BAP-11
gr

?
s
nd
r sa
pe
up

?
Elevation (m AMSL)

250 ? ? 250
?
? ?
lo

?
w

ds
er

? an
sa

225 rs 225
nd

e
s ? low
s

and
ers ? ?
low ? ? ?

200 200
lay

lay
al c
lc

bas
ba

sa
sa

ba
lcla

Clay
y

0 5 km
Sandstone

Tar (bitumen)

Figure 5 - (A) Location and generalized domal shape of the Bemolanga Field. (B) Simplified N-S correlation of
the Isalo II reservoir unit through the Bemolanga Field (Kamen-Kaye, 1983).

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NW CROPPING-OUT BITUMINOUS HORIZONS SE

BEMOLANGA
Surface
0
Isalo ll
Isalo ll
Isalo l
Depth (m BGL)

Isalo l

500 Amphibole Gneiss

Sakamena G r a n i t e
Gabbro
Basement
1000

~20 km

Figure 6 - Schematic NW-SE cross-section through the Bemolanga Field (Andrianasolo et al., 1985).

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THICK-
BITUMEN
AGE GROUP FM LITHOLOGY NESS LITHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION CONTENT
(m)

RECENT 0-50 Non-impregnated lateritic and weathered sandstone 0%

25 Upper tar sand 2-7%

I I

10 Intermediate clay

12 Intermediate tar sand with thin clay layer

I S A L O

2-7%
20 Lower intermediate clay

Impregnated tar sand

43 (with some thin clay layers)
7-9%
T R I A S S I C

K A R R O O

25 Basal clay

2-5%
U P P E R

400 Sandstone
I S A L O

PRECAMBRIAN

Figure 7 - Stratigraphy of the Bemolanga Field (Kamen-Kaye, 1983; Andrianasolo et al., 1985).

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Limit of recognised tar sand deposits

Exploitable tar sand deposits by surface mining N

Limit of different areas OUTER LIMIT
OF PROBABLE
BITUMEN
IMPREGNATION

Ran
obe
Rive
r

250 260 270

940 940

Mits
iotka
Rive
r
I
III II
930 930
II bis IV

VI
VII VIII
920 920

River IX
anambaho
M XI

250 260 270

0 5 10 km

Figure 8 - Probable extent of the tar sands in the Bemolanga region and the subdivision of the Bemolanga
Field into eleven main reserve areas (Rakoto-Andriantsilavo et al., 1995). The reserve areas are defined by
differences in overburden thickness, tar sand thickness and bitumen content.

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AROMATICS

80 20

60 40

40 60

20 80

NITROGEN-
SATURATES OXYGEN-SULPHUR
80 60 40 20 COMPOUNDS

Bemolanga

Figure 9 - Ternary diagram showing the composition of the Bemolanga bitumen (Raveloson et al., 1989).

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C30

C20
C24

C20

C24

A
C30

Figure 10 - Gas chromatograms of the saturate fraction of: (A) Bemolanga bitumen; compared to
(B) conventional light crude (Raveloson et al., 1988). The Bemolanga bitumen has a profile typical of a
biodegraded hydrocarbon.

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