Petro System of Salt

Petroleum Systems Modeling of the Salt Province and Outer Margin Offshore Essaouira (Atlantic
Margin of Morocco)*
Martin Neumaier1,2, Ralf Littke2, Stefan Back3, Peter Kukla3, Adrian Kleine4, Michael Schnabel5, and Christian
Reichert5
Search and Discovery Article #30386 (2014)**
Posted December 8, 2014
*Adapted from oral presentation given at AAPG International Conference & Exhibition, Istanbul, Turkey, September 14-17, 2014
**Datapages 2014 Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.
1
Schlumberger, Aachen, Germany (mneumaier@slb.com)

Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
3
Geological Institute, Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
4
Schlumberger, Aachen, Germany
5
Marine Resource Exploration (B1.4), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover, Germany
2
Abstract
The Atlantic margin offshore Morocco can be characterized as a frontier area where hydrocarbon exploration is very immature.
While the onshore Essaouira Basin hosts some small fields, offshore exploration resulted in sub-commercial discoveries only.
Recent deepwater wells failed to find viable reservoirs so far, however, numerous hydrocarbon shows have been encountered,
and a variety of different potential traps are related to salt tectonics. In addition, the relative success of the conjugate Atlantic
margin of Nova Scotia is encouraging. The Atlantic margin offshore Morocco recently gained the interest of international oil
companies again, and an aggressive drilling program is planned for 2014. In the presented work, we used a crustal-scale model
based on recently acquired 2D seismic reflection data (MIRROR experiment, 2011) for regional thermal modeling to investigate
the temporal evolution of temperature and thermal maturity at potential source rock levels. The modeling took into account the
geodynamic evolution from Early Mesozoic rifting and continental break-up to major Cenozoic events, such as the Canary
Island hot spot and the Atlas orogeny. In a further analysis of the salt basin, we performed structural restoration, describing the
diapiric salt rise and extrusion, and integrating the process of salt withdrawal and associated sediment deformation. Based on the
obtained model, we carried out petroleum systems modeling to predict potential scenarios of source rock maturation,
hydrocarbon expulsion, migration, and accumulations in the context of the salt deformation through geologic time. The elements
(source, reservoir, and seal rocks) and dynamic processes (trap formation, charge, and preservation) of different potential
petroleum systems are discussed, and promising salt-related and other play types will be presented.
References Cited
Sweeney, J.J., and A.K. Burnham, 1990, Evaluation of a simple model of vitrinite reflectance based on chemical kinetics:
American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 74, p. 1559-1570.
Tari, G., and H. Jabour, 2008, Salt Tectonics in the Atlantic Margin of Morocco: Search and Discovery Article #30061. Web
Accessed November 29, 2014 http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/2008/08192tari/index.htm.
Tari, G., and H. Jabour, 2011, Structural Analogy between the Inverted Structures of the Moroccan Atlas System and the Syrian
Arc Structures of the Eastern Mediterranean: Search and Discovery Article #30189. Web Accessed November 29, 2014,
http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/2011/30189tari/ndx_tari.pdf.
Tari, G., and H. Jabour, 2013, Salt tectonics along the Atlantic margin of Morocco in W.U. Mohriak, A. Danforth, P.J. Post,
D.E. Brown, G.C. Tari, M. Nemcok, and S.T. Sinha (eds.), Conjugate Divergent Margins: Geological Society of London,
Special Publications 369. dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP369.23.
Wygrala, B.P., 1989, Integrated study of an oil field in the southern Po basin, northern Italy: Ph.D. dissertation, Kln University,
Jlich, Research Centre Jlich, Jul-Rep. 2313, ISSN 0366-0885, 217 p.
Petroleum Systems Modeling of the

Salt Province and Outer Margin
Offshore Essaouira (Atlantic Margin of Morocco)
Martin Neumaier, Ralf Littke, Stefan Back, Peter Kukla,
Adrian Kleine, Michael Schnabel, Christian Reichert
Introduction
Passive Margin
Atlas Mountain Belt
modified from Tari & Jabour

(2008, 2011 and 2013)
Introduction
Measured Heat Flow (mW/m2)

> 90
http://www.heatflow.und.edu
80-90
70-80
Passive Margin
60-70
Atlas Mountain Belt
Canary Islands
44
42
50-60
65
50
89
< 50
73
54
56
65
65
65
107
79
55
63
93
78
87
46
modified from Tari & Jabour

(2008, 2011 and 2013)
61
62
68
Introduction
Outer Margin
Deep-water folds
modified from Tari & Jabour (2008 and 2011)
BTU
Introduction
Outer Margin
Deep-water folds
Salt Province
BTU
Introduction
Outer Margin
Deep-water folds
Salt Province
10 km
1 sec TWT
1 sec TWT
BTU
10 km
Workflow Summary
Seismic Interpretation and Geodynamic Analysis
Regional Thermal Modeling
Structural Restoration
Petroleum Systems Modeling
Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis
Regional Basin Model

Outer Margin
Salt Basin

Basal heat flow with Late Triassic rift peak
Surface temperature according to Wygrala (1989)
Additional heat sources
Radiogenic heat (continental basement)
Volcanic surface flows
Volcanic intrusions
Mantle heat (hotspot)
Basal heat flow

Surface heat flow

Volcanic intrusions
Basal heat flow

Surface heat flow

Volcanic intrusions
Basal heat flow
Regional thermal maturity

Based on vitrinite reflectance kinetics
(Sweeney and Burnham,1990)
No source rock kinetics!
DSDP 416 (projec ted)
WNW
2
.t:!
~
Q.
"
"
50 km
14
Maturity [% Ro)
Immatur e [< 0.55]
Early oil [0.550 .7]
Wet ga, [1.3 - 2J
0'Yga ,[2-4J
Main oil (O.7 - I)

Overmature (> 4)
Late 011 [1 - 1.3J

Lower and Middle Jurassic

Mostly in gas window in salt basin
Mostly in oil window in outer margin

Upper Jurassic
Both in oil and gas window in salt basin
Early oil window in outer margin

Upper Jurassic
Cretaceous
Lower Cretaceous in oil window in salt basin
Mostly immature in outer margin

Cenozoic
Immature

Upper Jurassic
Cretaceous

Outer Margin
Deep-water folds
Cenozoic
Immature
Upper Jurassic
Cretaceous

Salt Basin
'
.. -.
~-
.:~. ~
_~r.i~~~r
.
10 km
o
2
BGRl1-202
WNW
50 km
BGRl1-208
4
Salt Basin
- -;
.:;}$j
;,i.t~~<
10 km
50 km
BGRl1-202
WNW
BGRll-208
I-
;:
lV
il:
8
..5.
Salt Basin
BTU
fC
(4
--
BTU ....,'"
..............
zj
,..,
- /
3:
-/
- ;./
~
U
CD
10 km
III
P'4
Salt Basin
Middle Jurassic to
Early Cretaceous
Continuous burial
Cenomanian to
Coniacian (?)
Late Cretaceous
Sedimentation hiatus
Submarine salt extrusion

Diapiric salt rise
Massive dissolution and cap rock building
Cenozoic
Minor burial
Limited remobilization
Salt Basin
Structural restoration
Middle Jurassic to
Early Cretaceous
Continuous burial
Cenomanian to
Coniacian (?)
Late Cretaceous

Diapiric salt rise
Cenozoic
Minor burial
Salt Basin
PetroMod* TecLink
Structural restoration
Basin and petroleum systems modeling
Middle Jurassic to
Early Cretaceous
Continuous burial
Cenomanian to
Coniacian (?)
Late Cretaceous

Diapiric salt rise
Cenozoic
Minor burial
2000 m
Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model
Jurassic
Deposition of Toarcian and Oxfordian source
rocks in basinal lows
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
2000 m
Early Cretaceous
First oil generating and expelling from
Toarcian source rocks (eastern salt basin)
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
2000 m
Mid Cretaceous
Widespread deposition of Albian source rocks
Toarcian source rocks (central and western salt
basin)
Oxfordian source rocks (eastern salt basin)
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
Accumulation in Lower Cretaceous

deltaic sandstones, in traps formed by salt
withdrawal deformation and traps located above
rising diapirs
Focused surface leakage
2000 m
Cenomanian to Coniacian
Oxfordian source rocks (central salt basin)
Toarcian source rock partly overmature
(eastern salt basin)
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
Accumulation in Lower Cretaceous

deltaic sandstones, in traps formed by salt
withdrawal deformation and traps located above
rising diapirs
Focused surface leakage
2000 m
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
Late Cretaceous (1)

Salt extrusion and associated sediment
collapse (bathymetric change)
Destruction of traps and existing
accumulations
Important remigration of HC to basin flanks;
accelerated surface leakage
Cenomanian sub-salt accumulations

a
25
50
IIIIIIIIIDIC,
75
100
2000 m
Transformation ratio [% )
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
Late Cretaceous (2)

Erosion/dissolution of allochthonuous salt
Sediment collapse into space previously
occupied by diapirs
2000 m
Early Cenozoic
Burial of the canopies
Deposition of Eocene source rocks
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
2000 m
Present day
Toarcian source rock mostly spent (except
outer margin)
Oxfordian source rocks mature only in eastern
and central salt basin
Albian and Eocene source rocks immature
PetroMod* TecLink
10 km
Most accumulations in the Lower Cretaceous (oil)

Subsalt accumulations (oil)
Accumulations in deep Jurassic turbidites (gas)
Overall accumulations primarly sourced by Toarcian
Salt Basin Uncertainty Analysis

Group
Parameter
Low
High
Distribution type
Thermal scenario
Basal heat flow

Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
+ 10 mW/m
(P90)
+5 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
10% (P90)
+5 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
7.5% (P90)
+2 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
8% (P90)
Gaussian
Albian source rocks
-10 mW/m
(P10)
-10 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
4% (P10)
-5 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
1.5% (P10)
-10 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
2% (P10)
Oxfordian source rocks
Toarcian source rocks
Uniform
Gaussian
Uniform
Gaussian
Uniform
Gaussian
PetroMod*
PetroRisk

Group
Parameter
Low
High
Distribution type
Thermal scenario
Basal heat flow

Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
+ 10 mW/m
(P90)
+5 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
10% (P90)
+5 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
7.5% (P90)
+2 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
8% (P90)
Gaussian
Albian source rocks
-10 mW/m
(P10)
-10 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
4% (P10)
-5 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
1.5% (P10)
-10 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
2% (P10)
Uniform
Gaussian
Uniform
Gaussian
Uniform
Gaussian
Transformation ratio [%]
Activation energy shift [kcal/mol]
Basal heat flow shift [mW/m]
PetroMod*
PetroRisk
Potential Toarcian source rocks in outer margin

(Deep water folds)
Relatively immature (TR=20%) in Master model
Possible increase in basal heat flow (+10 mW/m2)
would result in higher TR (50%)
Possible shift in suorce rock kinetic activation energy
(-3 kcal/mol) would result in higher TR (60%)
=> Toarcian source rock could be much more mature
in outer margin!!

Group
Parameter
Low
High
Distribution type
Thermal scenario
Basal heat flow

Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
Kinetic
(Activation energy)
TOC
+ 10 mW/m
(P90)
+5 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
10% (P90)
+5 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
7.5% (P90)
+2 kcal/mol
(Maximum)
8% (P90)
Gaussian
Albian source rocks
-10 mW/m
(P10)
-10 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
4% (P10)
-5 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
1.5% (P10)
-10 kcal/mol
(Minimum)
2% (P10)
PetroMod*
PetroRisk
Uniform
Gaussian
Uniform
Gaussian
Uniform
Gaussian
Potential Toarcian source rocks in salt basin

(Subsalt traps involving Lower Cretaceous reservoir)
The lower the basal heat flow, the higher the HC saturation!!
=> Potential (expulsion versus trap/seal) timing issues!!
Workflow Summary
Seismic Interpretation and Geodynamic Analysis
Regional Thermal Modeling
Structural Restoration
Petroleum Systems Modeling
Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis
Conclusions for Exploration
Salt Basin Offshore Essaouira
Best potential seen in Lower Cretaceous

Good salt traps and seals
Charged by speculative Jurassic Source Rocks?
Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic less prospective
Increasing potential for Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic

towards the South
Speculative Albian Source Rocks
Outer Margin
High dependency on speculative Toarcian Source Rocks
Acknowledgement
Haddou Jabour and Salim Lahsini (ONHYM Rabat,

Morocco) for the permission to use seismic data
(block E)

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Petroleum Systems Modeling of the Salt Province and Outer Margin Offshore Essaouira (Atlantic

Schlumberger, Aachen, Germany (mneumaier@slb.com)

Petroleum Systems Modeling of the

Atlas Mountain Belt

modified from Tari & Jabour

Measured Heat Flow (mW/m2)

Atlas Mountain Belt

modified from Tari & Jabour

modified from Tari & Jabour (2008 and 2011)

Seismic Interpretation and Geodynamic Analysis

Regional Thermal Modeling

Petroleum Systems Modeling

Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis

Regional Basin Model

Regional Basin Model

Basal heat flow

Regional Basin Model

Surface heat flow

Surface temperature according to Wygrala (1989)

Basal heat flow

Regional Basin Model

Surface heat flow

Surface temperature according to Wygrala (1989)

Basal heat flow

Regional thermal maturity

Regional Basin Model

DSDP 416 (projec ted)

Immatur e [< 0.55]

Early oil [0.550 .7]

Wet ga, [1.3 - 2J

Main oil (O.7 - I)

Late 011 [1 - 1.3J

Regional Basin Model

Regional thermal maturity

Lower and Middle Jurassic

Regional Basin Model

Regional thermal maturity

Regional Basin Model

Regional thermal maturity

Lower and Middle Jurassic

Regional Basin Model

Regional thermal maturity

Lower and Middle Jurassic

Regional Basin Model

Lower and Middle Jurassic

Submarine salt extrusion

Massive dissolution and cap rock building

Submarine salt extrusion

Massive dissolution and cap rock building

Basin and petroleum systems modeling

Submarine salt extrusion

Massive dissolution and cap rock building

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model

Accumulation in Lower Cretaceous

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model

Accumulation in Lower Cretaceous

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model

Late Cretaceous (1)

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model

Late Cretaceous (2)

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model

Salt Basin Petroleum Systems Model