Vertical Movements and Petroleum System Modelling in the Southern Chotts Basin, Central Tunisia

Abstract

The southern Chotts basin (SCB), Central Tunisia, has shown hydrocarbon potential since the end of the 1980s. This basin records a complex structural history which appears decoupled at the Hercynian or Variscan unconformity. The Paleozoic series is deformed by short to medium wavelength folds (kilometres-multi kilometres scale) and by steep normal faults. The Mesozoic series is largely less deformed. The evolution of the basin through time is still a matter of debate as the preserved Paleozoic series is fragmented (e.g. affected by erosions). In this paper, we proposed a reconstruction of the vertical movements affecting the basin and an evaluation of their magnitude. Using basin modelling techniques, we provided new insights on the possible thermal evolution of the basin that might be used in the future exploration phases. This study was completed by structural restorations allowing the reconstruction of the paleogeography of the basin at the time of deposition of principal reservoir formations.