Prerif-Rharb area of Morocco may be new hydrocarbon province
- Pratsch (Johann-Christian), Houston, TX (United States)
Of the 12 or more sedimentary basins in Morocco, only three contain or have contained oil and gas production: the onshore Essaouira, Rharb, and Prerif basins. Large quantities of heavy oil and some light oil in place were also found in the Atlantic Tarfaya basin off Southwest Morocco, but these have been classified as noncommercial. Oil production has been established on the south flank of the Prerif foreland basin east of the Rharb basin; this production is now shut-in, as is gas and oil production in the Essaouria basin. As a result, no oil production exists today in Morocco, and only minor gas production and reserves in Neogene reservoirs exist in the Rharb basin. This situation is somewhat puzzling because thick, attractive sediments containing potential oil source beds, reservoirs, and traps are present in many of the basins, and oil and gas shows were present in many exploration wells across the country. The authors summarize here the known petroleum-geological parameters of the Prerif basin with the hope of raising some general exploration interest in this attractive new play region.
- OSTI ID:
- 136990
- Journal Information:
- Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 93, Issue 49; Other Information: PBD: 4 Dec 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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