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Petroleum system evaluation: A case study of well A1-NC151 in the Atshan Field,
Murzuq Basin, SW Libya

Conference Paper · September 2019

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ICBAS 2019 222

PETROLEUM SYSTEM EVALUATION: A CASE STUDY OF WELL A1-NC151 IN

THE ATSHAN FIELD, MURZUQ BASIN, SW LIBYA
Osama R. Shaltami1, Fares F. Fares1, Farag M. EL Oshebi1, Hwedi Errishi2 and Ilas Bustany3
1
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Benghazi University, Libya
2
Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, Benghazi University, Libya
3
Institute of Geosciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract
Assessing the petroleum system of well A1-NC151 in the Atshan Field is the goal of this work. The Hot Shale Member of
the Tanezzuft Formation represents the source rock, the sandstone of the Hawaz Formation represents the reservoir and
the shale of the Melaz Suqran Formation represents the cap rock. The Hot Shale Member has poor quality (TOC<0.5%),
and it contains mature organic matter (type-III kerogen). The hydrocarbons moved from the bottom of the Hot Shale
Member to the Mamuniyat Formation, which forms the transport layer to the Hawaz Reservoir. The trap is classified as a
pinchout trap. The average porosity value (5.03%) suggests that the Hawaz Reservoir is of poor type.

Keywords: Petroleum System, Hawaz Formation, Melaz Suqran Formation, Mamuniyat Formation, Tanezzuft Formation, Atshan Field,
Murzuq Basin, Libya.

1. Introduction Formation (Late Carboniferous, Shaltami et al., 2019).

Murzuq Basin is located in southwestern Libya (Fig. On the other hand, the proved source rock in the basin is
1); it is one of the basins that contain a large reserve of represented by the Hot Shale Member of the Tanezzuft
oil and gas (e.g., Hallett, 2002; Shalbak, 2015). The Formation (Early Silurian, Hallett, 2002), whereas the
reserves of the basin represent about 7.4% of the possible source rocks include Melaz Suqran Formation
Libya’s reserves. The last oil in place estimation for the (Late Ordovician, Shalbak, 2015), Bir Tlacsin Formation
basin is about 7.3 BBB of oil and about 1.0 TCM of gas (Late Ordovician, Shalbak, 2015), Awainat Wanin
(Shalbak, 2015). The Murzuq Basin supplies about the Formation (Middele-Late Devonian, Shalbak, 2015),
30% of the Libya’s current oil production. Marar Formation (Early Carboniferous, Shalbak, 2015),
Assedjefar Formation (Early Carboniferous, Shaltami et
There are two proved reservoirs in the Murzuq Basin, al., 2019) and Zarzaitine Formation (Triassic, Shaltami et
namely Hawaz Formation (Early-Middle Ordovician) and al., 2019). In addition, the proved seals include the
Mamuniyat Formation (Late Ordovician, Hallett and Melaz Suqran, Bir Tlacsin and Tanezzuft formations,
Clark-Lowes, 2016), while the possible reservoirs while the Wan Kasa (Early Devonian), Awainat Wanin,
include Hasawnah Formation (Late Cambrian, Shaltami Marar and Tiguentounine (Late Carboniferous)
et al., 2019) Achabiyat Formation (Early Ordovician, formations are possible seals (Shalbak, 2015).
Shaltami et al., 2018), Akakus Formation (Late Silurian,
Shalbak, 2015), Tadrart Formation (Early Devonian, The present study aims to evaluate the petroleum
Shalbak, 2015), Awainat Wanin Formation (Middele-Late system of well A1-NC151 in the Atshan Field (Fig. 1).
Devonian, Shalbak, 2015), Assedjefar Formation (Early The data used in this work was obtained from the Sirte
Carboniferous, Shaltami et al., 2019) and Dembaba Oil Company (SOC), Libya. The Atshan Field is one of
ICBAS 2019 223

8 26

N 34
Tunisia Mediterranean Sea

Ghadamis Cyrenaica

Algeria
Basin Basin

Sirte
Studied well Basin

A1-NC151

Egypt
Murzuq
Basin

Niger
Kufra
Basin
Chad
0 400 km
20

Fig. 1: Location map of well A1-NC151.

Fig. 2: Sketch not to scale showing the detected formations in well A1-NC151 (HA = Hasawnah Formation, AC =
Achabiyat Formation, HW = Hawaz Formation, MS = Melaz Suqran Formation, MN = Mamuniyat Formation, HS = Hot
Shale Member, TZ = Tanezzuft Formation, AW = Awainat Wanin Formation, MA = Marar Formation, AJ = Assedjefar
Formation, DB = Dembaba Formation, TG = Tiguentounine Formation) (after Shalbak, 2015).
ICBAS 2019 224

the gas fields in the Murzuq Basin. The studied well hydrocarbons. Table (2) and Fig (3) show that the Hot
contains gas in an uneconomical quantity, thus it has not Shale Member in the studied well is considered a poor
entered the production stage. The detected formations in source rock (TOC<0.5%). The kerogen in the shale
the well are shown in Fig (2). Shaltami et al., (2019) samples is classified as type III, but a small contribution
conducted a surface geochemical exploration of sand of type IV is also observed (Fig. 4). Moreover, the
methane in the Atshan Field. They found that the NW organic matter is thermally mature (Fig. 5). In addition,
part of the field has the highest concentrations of indigenous hydrocarbons are prevalent in the samples
methane, thus this area may be suitable for drilling new (Fig. 6).
wells.
Shaltami et al., (2018) evaluated the sandstones of
2. Methodology the Hawaz Formation in the Dur Al Qussah area using
Fifteen core samples were taken from the Hot Shale petroleum inclusions. They found the following: 1) The
Member of the Tanezzuft Formation. The first sample petroleum inclusions of the reservoir show different
was taken at a depth of 3680ft, and then taken a sample fluorescence and biomarker data indicative of different
every 30ft. Rock-Eval pyrolysis was performed for the gross composition, 2) The inclusions display closer
shale samples. Moreover, fourteen core samples were biomarker signature to the mixed oils, 3) Oil
collected from the sandstone of the Hawaz Formation. accumulation were derived from different source rocks
The first sample was taken at a depth of 4975ft. The (possibly the Melaz Suqran, Bir Tlacsin and Tanezzuft
other samples were taken every 30ft. Drill stem test shales), and 4) At least three episodes of oil charging
(DST) was done for the sandstone samples. DST is a occurred in the reservoir.
procedure for isolating and testing the pressure,
permeability and productive capacity of a geological The hydrocarbons moved from the bottom of the Hot
formation during the drilling of a well. Shale Member of the Tanezzuft Formation to the
Mamuniyat Formation, which forms the transport layer to
3. Results and Discussion the Hawaz Formation. The trap in the studied well is
3.1. Petroleum System classified as a stratigraphic trap (pinchout trap, Fig. 7).
The Sirte Oil Company data for well A1-NC151 show The Hawaz Reservoir properties in well A1-NC151 are
that the Hot Shale Member of the Tanezzuft Formation as follows: 1) Average porosity = 5.03%, 2) Permeability
represents the source rock, the sandstone of the Hawaz = 0.07MD, and 3) Average conductivity = 0.02MD.
Formation represents the reservoir and the shale of the Generally, these values are good for gas reservoirs.
Melaz Suqran Formation represents the cap rock. The However, the average porosity value indicates that the
depth of the formations mentioned above is shown in Hawaz Reservoir has poor quality. According to Aziz
Table (1). (2000) the reservoir quality of the Hawaz Formation
varies from poor to good.
Shaltami et al., (2017) studied the Tanezzuft
Formation in five surface sections in the Murzuq Basin. Conclusions
The most important conclusions of this study are as The conclusions of this work can be summarized as
follows: 1) The samples have good quality (TOC>1%), 2) follows:
Type-II kerogen is dominant in the samples, and 3) The 1) In well A1-NC151, the Hot Shale Member of the
samples contain nonindigenous and indigenous Tanezzuft Formation is a poor source rock.
ICBAS 2019 225

Table 1: The detected formations in well A1-NC151

Formation Depth (ft) Sea Level (ft) Thickness (ft)

Tanezzuft 3680 -2000 990
Mamuniyat 4670 -2990 34
Melaz Suqran 4707 -3024 271
Hawaz 4975 -3295 558

Table 2: Chemical analysis data of the Hot Shale Member of the Tanezzuft Formation in well A1-NC151
TOC S1 S2 S3 Tmax HI OI
Sample No. Depth (ft)
(%) (mg HC/g Rock) (mg HC/g Rock) (mg CO2/g Rock) (oC) (mg HC/g TOC) (mg CO2/g TOC)
1 3680 0.32 0.20 0.31 2.72 434 97 87
2 3710 0.40 0.23 0.32 1.75 433 80 70
3 3740 0.41 0.16 0.27 1.17 435 66 48
4 3770 0.40 0.17 0.30 2.25 429 75 90
5 3800 0.24 0.10 0.09 4.50 441 38 108
6 3830 0.16 0.11 0.07 13.69 442 44 219
7 3860 0.30 0.17 0.17 4.90 436 57 147
8 3890 0.35 0.19 0.26 1.54 438 74 54
9 3920 0.29 0.17 0.16 2.38 441 55 69
10 3950 0.40 0.18 0.18 1.13 442 45 45
11 3980 0.37 0.19 0.19 1.03 437 51 38
12 4010 0.43 0.19 0.16 0.93 440 37 40
13 4040 0.43 0.10 0.15 1.09 440 35 47
14 4070 0.04 0.03 0.02 6.63 550 50 27
15 4100 0.42 0.06 0.22 0.44 461 52 18

2) Type-III kerogen is prevalent in the Hot Shale Murzuq Basin, SW Libya. In: M.A. Sola and D. Worsley
Member. (eds) Geological Exploration in Murzuq Basin. Elsevier,
3) The organic matter in the Hot Shale Member is Amsterdam; 349-368.
thermally mature.
4) The Hawaz Reservoir has poor quality. Dembicki, H.J. (2009): Three common source rock
5) The trap is of pinchout type. evaluation errors made by geologists during prospect or
play appraisals. AAPG Bulletin; 93(3): 341-356.
Acknowledgment
We would like to thank the Sirte Oil Company for Hall, L.S., Boreham, C.J., Edwards, D.S., Palu, T.J.,
granting the data that contributed to the completion of Buckler, T., Hill, A.J. and Troup, A. (2016): Cooper Basin
this work. source rock geochemistry: Regional hydrocarbon
prospectivity of the Cooper Basin. Geoscience Australia,
References Part2; 62p.
Aziz, A. (2000): Stratigraphy and hydrocarbon potential
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ICBAS 2019 226

100.00

Excellent
S2 (mg HC/g Rock) 10.00
Good
Fair

1.00 Poor

0.10

Poor Fair Good Excellent Coal

0.01
0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 100.00
TOC %

Fig. 3: Plot of TOC vs. S2 showing the hydrocarbon potentialities for the Hot Shale Member of the Tanezzuft Formation in
well A1-NC151 (fields after Dembicki, 2009).

1000

900

800 Type I
HI (mg HC/g TOC)

700

600

500
Type II

400

300
Type II/III
200
Type III
100
Type IV
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240

OI (mg CO2/g TOC)

Fig. 4: Plot of OI vs. HI showing the kerogen type for the Hot Shale Member of the Tanezzuft Formation in well A1-NC151
(fields after Van Krevelen, 1961).
ICBAS 2019 227

1000
Immature Oil + Gas Gas
900

Ro % = 0.6
800 Type I

700

HI (mg HC/g TOC) 600

Type II

Ro % = 0.9
500

400
Oil
300
Ro % = 1.4 Oil + Gas
200
Gas + Oil
100
Gas
Type III
0
380 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540
o
Tm ax C

Fig. 5: Plot of Tmax vs. HI showing the thermal maturity for the Hot Shale Member of the Tanezzuft Formation in well A1-
NC151 (fields after Hall et al., 2016).

100.00

10.00
S1 (mg HC/g Rock)

Nonindigenous
1.00
Indigenous

0.10

0.01
0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 100.00
TOC %

Fig. 6: Plot of TOC vs. S1 showing the status of hydrocarbons for the Hot Shale Member of the Tanezzuft Formation in
well A1-NC151 (fields after Hunt, 1996).
ICBAS 2019 228

Fig. 7: Sketch not to scale of the pinchout trap in well A1-NC151 (after Shalbak, 2015).

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