Unconventional resources in Algeria: appraisal result from the Hamra Quartzite reservoir

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Unconventional resources have been widely discovered within the Ordovician rocks (Hamra Quartzite reservoir) of a number of basins in Algeria, including the giant Hassi Messaoud oil-field. This study aims to provide an appraisal of the major characteristics of the Hamra Quartzite reservoir within the southern peripheral area of the Hassi Messaoud field. Petrographically, quartz grains in this reservoir are considered to be mature quartz arenites characterized by pervasive quartz overgrowth. Reservoir porosity is dominated by secondary intergranular dissolution porosity. The diagenetic sequence of the Hamra Quartzite reservoir occurred in three phases: eodiagenesis (early), mesodiagenesis (mid), and telodiagenesis (late) phases. These phases are directly related to tectonic events that affected the study area, and are controlled mainly by the Hercynian unconformity. The Hamra Quartzite reservoir was highly silicified during the pre-Hercynian phase. Compaction and cementation are the principal factors controlling reservoir degradation. The reservoir is faulted and fractured, and fractures ranging from partially open to closed are observed in cores. Petrophysically, the reservoir displays low porosity and permeability values. However, moderately porous and permeable sandstone is present toward the southeastern part of the studied reservoir.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 Sonatrach, "Well Evaluation Conference (WEC) Algeria 2007. Internal report" 489-, 2007

2 Caineng, Z., "Tight gas sandstone reservoirs in China: characteristic and recognition criteria" 88 : 82-91, 2012

3 Worden, R.H., "Sandstone Diagenesis: The Evolution of Sand to Stone, in Sandstone Diagenesis: Recent and Ancient" Blackwell Publishing Ltd 656-, 2009

4 Pettijohn, F. J., "Sand and Sandstone" Springer-Verlag 1987

5 Morton, R.A., "Regional variation in formation water chemistry, Frio Formation (Oligocene), Texas Gulf Coast" 71 : 191-206, 1987

6 Bjorlykk, K., "Quartz cementation in sedimentary basins" 77 : 1538-1548, 1993

7 Worden, R.H., "Quartz cementation in sandstones" Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2000

8 Benayad, S., "Parameters controlling the quality of the Hamra Quartzite reservoir, southern Hassi Messaoud, Algeria: insights from a petrographic, geochemical and provenance study" 2013

9 Fekirine, B., "Paleozoic lithofacies correlatives and sequence stratigraphy of the Saharan Platform Algeria, In Petroleum Geology of North Africa" Geological Society of London 97-108, 1998

10 Scotese, C. R., "Paleozoic base maps" 87 : 217-277, 1979

11 Boote, D. R. D., "Palaeozoic petroleum systems of North Africa, In Petroleum geology of North Africa" Geological Society 7-68, 1998

12 Tissot, B., "Origin and migration of hydrocarbons in the eastern Sahara (Algeria)" American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 25 : 315-334, 1973

13 Aliev, M., "Geological structures and estimation of oil and gas in the Sahara in Algeria" Altamira-Rotopress 265-, 1971

14 Nelson, R. A., "Geologic analysis of naturally fractured reservoirs" Gulf Publication 320-, 2001

15 Bertrand, J., "Geodynamic evolution of the Pan- African orogenic belt: a new interpretation of the Hoggar Shield" 67 : 357-388, 1978

16 Bennacef, A., "Example of cratonic sedimentation: Lower Paleozoic of Algerian Sahara" 55 : 2225-2245, 1971

17 Boudjema, A., "Evolution structurale du bassin petrolier ‘‘triasique” du Sahara Nord Oriental (Algerie)" University of Paris XI-Orsay 1987

18 Djarnia, M. R., "Etudes des condition de formation d’un eventual anneau a huile dans le gisement de Hassi R’Mel, Algerie" university Louis Pasteur Strasburg 1991

19 Energy Information Administration, "Country Analysis Briefs" United State of America 7-, 2012

20 Makhous, M., "Burial history and thermal evolution of the southern and western Saharan basins: synthesis and comparison with the eastern and northern Saharan basins" 11 : 1799-1822, 2003

21 Rogner, H. H., "An assessment of world hydrocarbon resources" 22 : 217-262, 1996

22 Van de Weerd, A.A., "A review of the East Algerian Sahara oil and gas province (Triassic, Ghadames and Illizi Basins)" 12 : 363-373, 1994

23 Ratcliff, K. T., "A regional chemostratigraphically-defined correlation framework for the late Triassic TAG-1 formation in blocks 402 and 405a, Algeria" 12 : 3-12, 2006