The external Rif of Morocco and its hydrocarbon potential

Conference · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6965307

Jobidon, G ^[1]; Dakki, M ^[2]

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1. Soquip, Rabat (Morocco)
2. Onarep, Rabat (Morocco)

The Rif domain is a structurally complex area consisting of nappes and thrust sheets caused by the collision of the Eurasian and African plates during the Tertiary period. The structural complexity decreases southwardly. Autochthonous members are found only along the southern and southwestern periphery, while the northern units are autochthonous (internal Rif and mesorif). Recently acquired geophysical and geochemical data provide an improved understanding of the area and put the hydrocarbon potential of the prerif (south Rif) and the Rharb basin (southern foreland basin) in a new exploration perspective. The Rharb basin has a Cretaceous-to-Tertiary sedimentary evolution, with its maximum subsidence occurring during the Tortonian-to-Messinian with the emplacement of a thick olistrostrome (prerif nappe). Biogenic gas is found in the neritic postnappe Tortonian sediments, while a prenappe Cretaceous play now appears as a strong hydrocarbon potential. The Prerif Rides, which are separated from the Gharb basin by the northeast-southwest Sidi-Fili fault trend, are the structural consequence of salt tectonics within the Alpine compression system. Oil production occurred in thrusted Jurassic carbonates and fractured metamorphic Paleozoic rocks. The hydrocarbon potential of newly defined prospects in this area are still untapped.

• OSTI ID: 6965307
• Report Number(s): CONF-9310237--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 77:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AFRICA
ARAB COUNTRIES
CARBONATE ROCKS
CENOZOIC ERA
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EXPLORATION
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
HYDROCARBONS
JURASSIC PERIOD
MESOZOIC ERA
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MOROCCO
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIGIN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SALT DEPOSITS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOURCE ROCKS
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD