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The hydrocarbon habitat of the Jifarrah Arch, NW Libya

Conference Paper · September 2015

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 N S Burial and unroofing history of the Jifarah Arch.

A1-131

C1-23

C1-61

C1-34
A1-23

A1-61

A1-70
K1-23

J1-23
The base Silurian horizon burial history of the Jifarah Arch is illustrated by profiles

A1-9
QUATERNARY Ma
from three wells (A1-70, C1-23 & A1-09 ) superimposed upon a BasinMod
PLIOCENE
simulation of a Ghadamis basin center well (A1-90) from Sikander (2003) for
NEOGENE

comparison. These were constructed by synthesizing observed thicknesses in

CENOZOIC

10
MIOCENE
20
each well with estimates of eroded intervals extrapolated from nearby wells with
OLIGOCENE 30
more complete sections. The three profiles are non-unique but nevertheless
provide an approximation of the burial and unroofing history of the Arch.
PALEOGENE

Late Pliocene - Recent erosion

?
Me
40
EOCENE

ss
y
onformit

ini
50
unc
ene
ng Mioc

an
n r o ofi Near
bas e

Carboniferous
u

ero
60
and
PALEOCENE

uplift

Cretaceous
sio
70

Devonian
ne

n
ioce

Miocene
Permian

Jurassic
Al Gharibiyah Fm.
M

Triassic

Eocene
y

Silurian
80
Ea r l Mizdah Fm.
CRETACEOUS

UPPER
Qasr Tigrinnah Fm.
90 Nalut Fm.
Sidi as Said Yafrin Member
100 Ain Tobi Member
Kiklah Fm.
MESOZOIC

LOWER 120 ‘Austrian’ unconformity

Kabaw Fm.
140 ? Hiatus ?
UPPER
PERMIAN TRIASSIC JURASSIC

Shakshuk Fm.
160 Khashm az Zarzur Fm.
MIDDLE Abreghs Fm.
180
LOWER Bir Al Ghanam Fm.
200
Abu Shaybah Fm. 1000
UPPER
220 C1-23
2&3 4 Al Aziziyah Fm. 1
MIDDLE 240 Ras Hamia (Kurrush) Fm.
5
Lopingian 260 Bir al Jaja Fm.
Guadalupian
280 Al Watiah Fm.
Cisuralian
Hebilia Fm.
300
)
CARBONIFEROUS

an
Pennsylvanian Dembaba Fm.
m i 2000
320
? Assedjefar Fm. i a n’ Pe r
Mississippian 340
e r cynEarly g
M’rar Fm.
t e ‘H us - ofin
PA L A E O Z O I C

360 La ifero unro Ro

r b on t and .6 %
DEVONIAN

0
UPPER
380
Ca uplif Awaynat Wanin Fm. Fhs 5 - uS
MIDDLE
Early ‘Hercynian’ (La t e 0. hs
400 Tadrat & Ouan Kasa Fm.
LOWER
(Lower Tournaisian) 6 ity
form 12 bS
n 8-11 7
Pridoli
Ludlow 420 uplift and unroofing unc
o 13 uShs 3000 hs
i an’
Ro
AN

Wenlock 100 15 Tanezzuft Fm.

y n 14
RI

Llandovery
‘ He rc 16 22 A1-70
LU

440
bShs 9 %
SI

Djeffarah (Memouniat) Fm.

-0 .
CAMBRIAN ORDOVICIAN

UPPER

0.6
460 17-21 25-27 Haouaz Fm.
24 23
MIDDLE

LOWER 460
A1-09
Ash Shabiyat Fm.
Furongian
Hassaouna Fm.
Ro
500
Series 3
Series 2
5 %
1.3
520
Terreneuvian 4000 -
0.9
Chronostratigraphic architecture, Jifarah Arch. The age of the stratigraphic units and key unconformities are variably constrained,
synthesized from a number of sources including Hammuda (1971), Massa et al. (1974), Burollet et al. (1978), Fatmi et al. (1980), 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Myrs

Early Hercynian

~base Miocene
Massa et al. (1980), Bergstrom & Massa (1991), Stampfli et al. (1991), Belhaj (1996), El Mehdawi (2000), Massa & Bourrouih

unconformity
unconformity

unconformity

unconformity
Hercynian

Austrian
(2000), Hallet (2002), Luning et al. (2003), Luning et al. (2004), Sikander (2003) and Swire & Gashgesh (2003). The samples used
to constrain the petroleum systems analysis are highlighted (black dots) and numbered in their approximate stratigraphic position,
projected from the relevant well locations along strike (Fhs - Frasian-Fammenian ‘hot’ shale ; uShs – Telychian-Sheinwoodian ‘hot’
shale; lShs - Rhuddanian ‘hot’ shale).
N S
D D’
ECHO-4

A1-131

C1-23

C1-61

C1-34
A1-23

A1-61
K1-23

J1-23
A1-9

Permian- Lower Mesozoic Sequence, Jifarah Arch

- M idd
er ssic
le
The well correlation (Section D-D’) is based in part on Burollet et al. 1978; Fatmi et al.,1980; Stampfli et al.,
w
200 o
L Jura 200
1991; Hammuda, 2003 and Swire & Gashgesh, 2003. The Triassic Al-Aziziyah and Ouled Chebbi Formations
0m 0m
2
3
Al Aziziyah
1
was sampled at several locations (shown by black dots in their approximate stratigraphic position). Organic
content in the Al-Aziziyah Formation varied from 0.43 to 3.77% TOC locally. Biomarker analysis indicated this
Fm. 4

500 5 500 was dominanted by planktonic and algal material with a large bacterial contribution, particularly in samples from
wells in the north and northwest of the basin, while strong terrestrial signatures appear in samples from wells
.
Fm
sh

in the north. The organic matter is interpreted to have been deposited partly in a saline environment as indicated
rru
Ku

1000 1000
by the presence of C30-gammacerane and β-carotane. Anoxic conditions are inferred from low Pr / Ph ratios and
high homohopane index values.
.
Fm

1500
bi

1500
eb
Ch
led

0 50 km.
Ou

.
Fm

2000 2000
a
aj
lJ
ra

.
Fm
Bi

h
ia
at
AlW
2500 2500
m .
i aF
bil
Ha

3000 3000

NW SE Upper Ordovician-Silurian Sequence, Jifarah Arch.

C C’
C1-34
A1-61
S1-23

Z1-66
ST-1
Lg-3

Tt-1

The well correlation (Section C-C’) is supported by published biostratigraphic information from wells nearby. The
Pridolian
Silurian stages are from Bellini & Massa (1980). The Rhuddanian and Telychian-Sheinwoodian ‘hot’ shale facies
architecture have been extrapolated from central Tunisia to the west (Jaeger et al., 1975), from the south
ion

Acacus Fo
rmation (Luning et al., 2004) and east where Belhaj (1996) attributed a Wenlockian age to the basal Tanezzuft in the
os
er

500 E1-34 well. The carbonate sequence of the Djeffara Formation was recognized as Early Ashgillian by Bergstrom
an

cy
ni

r
& Massa (1991) and Massa & Bourrouilh (2000) passing up into Memouniat periglacial sands and micro-
vi

He
lo

e
d

at
u

8 Tane
L
conglomeritic shales (Echikh, 1998) of Hirnantian age. The Tanezzuft and late Ordovician samples analysed are
L

zzuft
and Form
ation
rly 13 9
Ea Telychian - Wenlockian
12 ‘hot’ shale
7
Wenlockian
highlighted (black dots) and numbered in their approximate stratigraphic position. “Hot shales“ in the lower part
of the Tanezzuft have been identified as the best oil source facies within the study area ranging from 4.2 -8.74%
6 10
? ? Rhuddanian
16
? 11 Middle - Upper Llandoverian ‘hot’ shale
TOC. Marked dominance of n-C17 and the low hopane / sterane ratio indicate the kerogen consists mainly of
15 14
Lower Llandoverian
0m Microconglomeratic 23 0m
Djeffar
marine algal and marine or lacustrine phytoplankton material. Several samples with moderate oil generation
24 Memouniat
17-25
Early Ashgilli an carbonates
22 a Form
25-27 peri-glacial facies ation
potential (locally up 2.55% TOC) were identified in the Ordovician ‘Memouniat’ Formation below. Moderate to
0 50 km.

high hopane / sterane ratios indicate a high bacterial contribution.

Hydrocarbon Environment, Jifarah Arch. The map summarizes the more important stratigraphic constraints influencing the distribution Triassic

of hydrocarbons on the Jifarah Arch. These include two key migration barriers (Bir Tlacsin / Ashgillian carbonates and periglacial clastics Well #
(sample #)
A1-131 (4) B1-23 (1) D1-34* S1-23* A1-38 (2) B1-8*

& Late Permian / Early Triassic Bir Al Jaja shales) separating Tanezzuft source from Ordovician and Triassic reservoirs. Hydrocarbon Tmax (°C) 423-425* n.d. 422* 433* 435*-440 429*

accumulations located on the northern and southern flanks of the Arch and oil / gas shows encountered in crestal wells are colour coded 0.5 (532 m), 0.52 (1542 m),
VRr (%)
by age. Estimated Lower Tanezzuft / Ordovician maturities are expressed in vitrinite reflectance equivalent values. The tentative (Depth m)
0.75 (2073 m) 0.64 (746 m), n.d. 0.86 (1120 m) 0.62 (2038 m) n.d.

reconstructions of Pre-Hercynian, pre-Austrian and pre-Alpine generative areas (based on Sikander, 2003; Sikander et al. 2003; Dardour 0.72 (1205 m)

et al. 2004; Underdown & Redfern, 2007) are constrained by base Tanezzuft maturity data from the northwest flank of the Jifarah Arch Ts/(Ts+Tm) 0.43 0.24 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.

after Cunningham (1989). General limits of the Lower Jurassic evaporite super-seal (S1-S2-S3 salt units & evaporites) are shown by red C32 S/(S+R)
Moretane /
0.59 0.38 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.

dashed lines. The table summarizes and compares maturity information from Rock-Eval Tmax, vitrinite / zooclast reflectance and maturity hopane
0.12 0.28 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.

from molecular geochemistry. C29 sterane

20S/(20S+20R)
n.d. 0.19 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.

C29 sterane
n.d. 0.19 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
ββ/(ββ +αα)
Silurian
9°E 10°E 11°E 12°E 13°E 14°E 15°E Well #
LEGEND (sample #)
S1-23 (13) B1-23 (15) D1-34 (11) E1-34 (12) A1-8 (7) B1-8 (14)
BG-1 Ezzaouia Lower Tanezzuft
Maturity Upper Ordovician
0.7 / 0.8 Tmax (°C) 436 432 435 427 n.d. 419-426*
El Bibane VRoeq %
TIT-1
Generative pre-Alpine ZRr (%) 0.93 (1640 m), 0.62 (1750 m), 0.67 (1606 m),
Area pre-Austrian 0.69 (1431 m) n.d. n.d.
ECHO-1 (Depth m) 1.03 (1710 m) 0.66 (1856 m) 0.69 (1646 m)
(approximate) pre-Hercynian
Baguel Early Her Ts/(Ts+Tm) 0.39 0.45 0.56 0.39 0.22 0.3
33°N cyn Stratigraphic Distribution
ian Kl-1
un of Hydrocarbons C32 S/(S+R) 0.55 0.6 0.59 0.6 0.53 0.58
co
nfo Field Show
Moretane /
rm
Lim

LG-2 0.16 0.2 0.21 0.2 0.41 0.25

ity LG-1
Upper Jurassic / 33°N hopane
Bi lim A1-9 Mid-Cretaceous
it

LG-3
C29 sterane
r al it 0.3 0.21 0.31 0.37 0.14 0.25
Jaj TRIPOLI
20S/(20S+20R)
aS ST-1,2 A1-131 A1-38 Triassic
ha C29 sterane
le Permian ββ/(ββ +αα)
0.52 0.35 0.45 0.38 0.17 0.22
MER-1 KI-23

0.66 / 0.72 Ordovician

Silurian
0.69 / nd JI-23
Well #
BI-23 E1-34 A1-23* B1-23 (18) D1-34 (24) E1-34 (26) A1-8 (22) B1-8 (23)
Tt-1 Ordovician (sample #)
CI-23 Tmax (°C) n.d. 439 432 441 428 436
F1-23
le

32°N lpin e 1.03 / nd nd / 0.68

sha

pre-A A1-23 0.64 (1158 m), 0.73 (1792 m),

S1-23 ZRr (%) 0.68 (2143 m),
n.d. 0.7 (3146 m) 0.86 (1945 m) 0.72 (1908 m),
ot’

0.69 / 0.73 (Depth m) 0.68 (1340 m) 0.72 (2280 m)

trian 0.73 (2000 m)
Tanezzuft ‘h

pre-Aus A1-42
32°N
ia

B1-8
is

Q1-23 Ts/(Ts+Tm) n.d. 0.36 0.5 0.71 0.36 0.36

a

pre-Hercynian
by
n
Tu

Li

C1-61
nd / 0.86 A1-86
C32 S/(S+R) n.d. 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.5 0.55
A1-61 Evaporite Seal Moretane /
B1-124
A1-8 n.d. 0.29 0.22 0.31 0.32 0.27
B2-34 hopane
S1-2-3 Seal
C1-34 D1-34 C29 sterane
Basal Triassic reservoir n.d. 0.41 0.29 0.55 0.13 0.17
nd / 0.7 20S/(20S+20R)
Fras Seal
nian ‘hot’ shale A1-70 C29 sterane
in
(Bir al Jaja) n.d. 0.37 0.45 0.69 0.15 0.2
c s ββ/(ββ +αα)

l a
n

31°N
r T
te lia

Bi Green = immature (VRr <0.55); yellow = early mature (VRr 0.55-0.65);

Frasnian ‘hot’ shale source
s and

al
n ag i l

3S
e
31°N orange = early mature - peak oil (VRr 0.55-0.85) ; red = peak oil (VRr 0.65
al

-2- D1A-30

-0.85); ZRr (%) = zooclast reflectance (from Abohajar et al., 2009); VRr (%)
Se

S1 si
bo h

Acacus
ar s
Algeri

s
rit

Reservoir
= vitranite reflectance (from Abohajar et al., 2009); Ts = C 27 18αβ(H)-
Z1-66
ria
C r A
o

tT
ap

Trisnorneohopane ; Tm = C27 17-α (H) - Trisnorhopane; C32S / (S+R) =

a

Tanezzuft ‘hot’ shale source

Limi
Ev

e
w

0 50miles
HH1-66 Bir Tlacsin
‘Memouniat’ carbonate C 32αβ22(H)-homopane 22S / (22S+22R); moretane/hopane = C 30βα -
Lo

0 100km.
Ordovician reservoir moretane / C30αβ-hopane; n.d. = not determined; * = from Abohajar et al.,
9°E 10°E 11°E 12°E 13°E 14°E 15°E
2009.

CONCLUSION: Stratigraphic controls of hydrocarbon distribution

Burial history analysis of the Jifarah Arch suggests it experienced several periods of uplift, unroofing and reburial during the late Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The maturities observed there represent maximum paleo
-burial depths achieved at various times in the past and do not reflect present depths. It has not been possible to reconstruct this complex maturation history with any confidence. Earlier interpretations have suggested the
western part of the Arch may have reached high maturities (>1.0% VRo) prior to Hercynian and Alpine exhumation but this is not supported by the present study which indicate generally lower maturities of 0.55% - 0.65%
VRo locally increasing to 0.65% - 0.85% VRo. These do not appear sufficiently high to support the presence of a prolific paleo-generative area, suggesting any significant charge would have to come from the flanking basins.
Athough adequate reservoirs are widely developed across the Arch, entrapment and preservation was probably limited both by stratigraphic migration barriers and by unroofing/ exhumation encouraging leakage and dispersal
of pre-uplift paleo-accumulations.
Several laterally extensive rock units may have acted as permeability barriers restricting migration between source and potential reservoirs. Echikh and Sola (2000) suggested the shale dominant Bir Tlacsin or ‘Argiles
microconglomeritic’ facies prevented downward migration from Tanezzuft source into Ordovician reservoirs in both the Ghadamis and Murzuq basins. This facies extends across the western part of the Jifarah Arch and
flanking region in an area where Ordovician hydrocarbon occurrences are limited to one small cross-fault charged accumulation (Bir Ben Tartar Field / Tt-1). Further east a low permeability Ashgillian carbonate and periglacial
(Memouniant equivalent) clastic sequence could similarly have discouraged cross-formational migration. In contrast the weak Ordovician shows in the A1-23 and F1-23 wells may represent intra-formational charge or limited
short distance lateral migration from Tanezzuft ‘hot’ shales in a crestal position on the Arch where both stratigraphic barriers are absent by erosion.
The Permian Bir Al Jaja Shale also appears to have acted as a barrier locally restricting migration between Palaeozoic source rocks and porous Triassic reservoirs. A number of Triassic fields have been discovered across
south central Tunisia where this barrier is absent. However Triassic hydrocarbon occurrences are limited to scattered shows across the central part of the Arch, where it is more thickly developed and significant oil accumulations
are confined to Acacus reservoirs in fault and subcrop traps. The Bir Al Jaja wedge thins and disappears to the east where good shows were encountered at B1-124 in Ras Hamia and Ouled Chebbi sandstones directly
overlying truncated Palaeozoic. These shows may represent the remnants of a Triassic paleo-accumulation dispersed during periods of later uplift and unroofing. Triassic shows were also observed in the A1-38, A1-131 and
A1-23. Their location points to northern source of so far unknown affinities.

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