TRIASSIC – QUATERNARY SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE TARFAYA BASIN (MOROCCAN ATLANTIC): STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION, EUSTASY AND SEDIMENTATION
L. El Jorfi1*, M.P. Süss1, T. Aigner1 and N. Mhammdi2
1 Department of Geosciences, Center of Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Sigwartstr.10, Tübingen, Germany.
2 Scientific Institute, BP 703, Av. Ibn Batouta, Rabat, Morocco.
* Corresponding author, email: leljorfi@yahoo.fr
This paper discusses the seismic and sequence stratigraphy of the Tarfaya Basin passive continental margin in southern Morocco and investigates the implications for the basin’s petroleum geology. Analyses of a new database consisting of SGY 2D seismic lines and wells indicate that the sedimentary succession on the Tarfaya margin can be divided into ten seismic sequences within four major transgressive-regressive cycles separated by regional unconformities. Variations in the stratigraphic architecture of the margin suggest that regional tectonic influences have episodically overprinted global eustatic signals.
A number of clastic reservoirs and source rock intervals have been identified in this margin, but only Jurassic carbonate and Cretaceous clastic plays have been tested on the shelf area. Cretaceous submarine fans and Tertiary turbidite systems in deep-water areas remain untested and may have major hydrocarbon potential.
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