New insights into Upper Cretaceous hydrocarbon traps of platform-basin flanks in the Sahel Eastern Tunisian petroleum province: Inferred optimal hydrocarbon reserves accumulations

The eastern Tunisian margin is considered an Upper Cretaceous and Eocene petroleum province. It has been affected by Mesozoic rifting and Cenozoic compression. Several oil and gas shows and accumulations have been discovered in Upper Cretaceous carbonates within structural anticlinal closures. These anticlinal highs represent inherited rift platform horsts with hiatuses, unconformities and sediment erosion. Seismic sequence stratigraphy and seismic tectonic analyses of Mesozoic and Cenozoic horizons, delineate the control of deep-rooted transtensional and transpressional Flower structure fault corridors, intruded by Upper Triassic salt. Petroleum system modelling and time events chart reconstruction of real and pseudo-wells, indicate that Cretaceous source rocks maturation and hydrocarbon generation began during Late Cretaceous with expulsion occurring from Eocene to Pliocene times. Hence, Upper Cretaceous petroleum system dynamics is intimately linked to basin geodynamics; where hydrocarbon migration pathways could follow the migration, rotation and tilting of platform and basin blocks. The volume of Lower Fahden and Bahloul source rocks expelled hydrocarbons from the basin kitchens, is much greater than that found in the drilled anticlinal axis. These hydrocarbons could have been trapped along the platform-basin border flanks and may not have reached the highest position on the anticlinal crest closure. Such pathways explain the unaccounted-for hydrocarbon volumes. These volumes could be trapped along the faults seal branches, unconformities, pinchouts as well as in the evidenced progradational and reefal system tracts sequences in the flank borders of the platforms. These traps could represent new exploration targets as potential structural and stratigraphic plays.

Automated summary

The eastern Tunisian margin is an important petroleum province with oil and gas shows and accumulations in Upper Cretaceous carbonates. The basin's geodynamics and the migration of hydrocarbons are closely related to the platform and basin blocks. The volume of expelled hydrocarbons from the source rocks is much greater than that found in the drilled anticlinal axis, indicating the presence of unaccounted-for hydrocarbon volumes trapped along fault branches, unconformities, pinchouts, and progradational and reefal system tracts sequences.