Abstract Berkine basin is located in the north - eastern part of the Saharan platform of Algeria and extending on an estimated surface of 102 395 km2. Due to the thick sedimentary cover which is over than 6000 m and the intensive structuration of the Berkine basin, that had carry these sediments to hundreds of meters deep; consequently, the source rocks were buried. The study area\'s problem is the maturation of organic matter of source rocks potential levels (the radioactive Silurian and clayey Frasnian), their distribution, origin, expulsion, migration and the origin of detected hydrocarbons in this region. Vertical stratigraphic levels of organic matter show that radioactive Silurian and Frasnian are both more potential source rocks in the Berkine basin. Using the databases of pyrolysis and microscopic observations, we could determine the type of organic matter which is marine for radioactive Silurian and mixed with marine trend for the Frasnian. The geothermal paleogradient is globally important especially in the South of the region, this is explained by the burial history of this region which is situated in the eastern limb of the basin in one hand and the effects of the Hercynian erosion in the other hand. All these factors gave the organic matter a maturation stage, sometimes very advanced (the gas phase genesis). The advanced stage of maturation has affected the southern part of the region, while the north part of the basin is characterized by the generation of oil. In addition, all of these criteria (maturation and type of kerogen), predict a possible discoveries of hydrocarbons accumulations, mainly liquid to the North, and gas towards the center of the basin. Geothermal evolution shows for all surveys that the generation and the expulsion of hydrocarbons for the RF-1 and YAC-1 wells is performed during the Mesozoic age, while for the RM-2 and - DES 4 effected during the Paleozoic. \nHydrocarbons expelled since 330Ma (Paleozoic) where eventually accumulated in traps that formed before the Hercynian unconformity (Cambrian, Ordovician, clayey sandstones Silurian Devonian and Carboniferous), where as the hydrocarbons expelled during the Mesozoic, accumulate in traps formed after the Hercynian orogenesis (TAGI, TAGS, TAC). \nKeywords: Radioactive Silurian. Frasnian. source rocks. characterization. maturation. Berkine basin. Algerian platform

Login to Download PDF

Please login with your Paper ID and password to access the full PDF.

🔑 Login to Download