Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of LibyaandTunisia,2010 Printed on recycled paper Introduction The U.S.

Geological Survey (USGS) assessed the potential logic provinces of North AfricaSirte Basin in Libya and Pela gian Basin in Tunisia and western Libyaas part of the USGSWorld Petroleum Resources Project 1). The Sirte Basinoriginated as a Cretaceous rift that evolved into a post-rift basindominated by -grained clastic deposition introughs (Ahlbrandt, 2001; Hallett, 2002). The Pelagian Basin wasdominated by Mesozoic and Cenozoic subsidence related to tecto nism along the northern margin of the African plate (Klett, 2001).One total petroleum system (TPS) PelagianBasin Province. The SirteRachmat Composite TPS in the SirteBasin Province contains the post-rift ConiacianCampanianSirteRachmat organic-rich shale/marl, which was deposited introughs across the Sirte Basin during the early phase of thermalsubsidence (Ahlbrandt, 2001; Hallett, 2002). Major reservoirs inthe Sirte Basin Province include syn-rift continental sandstonesand post-rift shallowmarine carbonates, with shales and evapo rites acting as seals for hydrocarbon reservoirs (Ahlbrandt, 2001;Hallett, 2002). Two assessment units withinthe SirteRachmat Composite TPS: the Onshore Sirte Carbon Klett(2001) were retained for this assessment. The JurassicCretaceousComposite TPS consists of -marine shales that migrated into JurassicCretaceous shal low marine limestones and Upper Cretaceous fractured deep-water chalks. Seals include Jurassic and this TPS, the JurassicCre taceous Structural/Stratigraphic AU, based on Klett (2001). TheBou Dabbous Cenozoic TPS contains the Eocene Bou Dabbousorganic-rich shale, with hydrocarbons that migrated into lower and middle Eocene shallow-water limestones that are sealed by Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S.Geological Survey estimated means of 3.97 billion barrels of undiscovered oil, 38.5 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas, and 1.47 billion barrels of undiscovered natural gas liquids in two provinces of North Africa. Figure 1. Locations of the Sirteand Pelagian Basin Provinces,North Africa. AU, assessment unit.

Assess ment of Undisc overed

Oil and Gas Resour ces of Libyaa

nd Tunisia , 2010
Printed on recycled paper

Introduction
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

assessed the potential for undiscovered conventional oil and two geo logic provinces of North AfricaSirte Basin in Libya and Pela -

gian Basin in Tunisia and western Libyaas part of the USGSWorld Petroleum Resources Project 1). The Sirte Basinoriginated as a Cretaceous rift that evolved into a postrift basindominated by thermal

subsidence; it is characterized by carbonatedeposition on high blocks and -grained clastic deposition introughs (Ahlbrandt, 2001; Hallett, 2002). The Pelagian Basin wasdominated by Mesozoic and Cenozoic

subsidence related to tecto nism along the northern margin of the African plate (Klett, 2001).One total petroleum system (TPS) was the SirteBasin Province, and two TPSs were

the PelagianBasin Province. The SirteRachmat Composite TPS in the SirteBasin Province contains the post-rift ConiacianCampan ianSirteRachmat organic-rich shale/marl, which

was deposited introughs across the Sirte Basin during the early phase of thermalsubsidence (Ahlbrandt, 2001; Hallett, 2002). Major reservoirs inthe Sirte Basin Province include syn-rift continental sandstonesand post-

rift shallow-marine carbonates, with shales and evapo rites acting as seals for hydrocarbon reservoirs (Ahlbrandt, 2001;Hallett, 2002). Two assessment units (AU) were withinthe

SirteRachmat Composite TPS: the Onshore Sirte Carbon ateClastic AU and the Offshore Sirte Basin AU.Within the Pelagian Basin, two TPSs as Klett(2001) were

retained for this assessment. The JurassicCretaceous Composite TPS from Jurassic and Cretaceousdeepmarine shales that migrated into JurassicCretac eous shal -

low marine limestones and Upper Cretaceous fractured deepwater chalks. Seals include Jurassic and Cretaceous shales andevaporites. One for this TPS, the JurassicCre -

taceous Structural/Stratigrap hic AU, based on Klett (2001). TheBou Dabbous Cenozoic TPS contains the Eocene Bou Dabbousorganicrich shale, with hydrocarbons that migrated into

lower and middle Eocene shallowwater limestones that are sealed by Using a geologybased assessment methodology, the U.S.Geological Survey estimated means of 3.97 billion barrels

of undiscovered oil, 38.5 trillion cubic fe