Tectonic Evolution Control on Hydrocarbon Accumulation in Fractured Basement: A Case Study from

Melut Basin in South Sudan and Bongor Basin in Chad*

Jie Bai1, Zhongsheng Shi1, Juan Li1, Luo Xue1, and Weiwei He1

Search and Discovery Article #10846 (2016)**

Posted May 16, 2016

*Adapted from oral presentation given at AAPG International Conference & Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, September 13-15, 2015
**Datapages 2016. Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.

1
NWGI, PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Lanzhou, Gansu, China (bj@petrochina.com.cn)

Abstract

The Melut Basin in south Sudan and the Bongor Basin in Chad are two Late Cretaceous to Tertiary rift basins distributed,
respectively, along the south and north side of Central African Shear Zone(CASZ). Hydrocarbons hosted in fractured basement
reservoir have been found in both basins, but the hydrocarbon accumulation models of them are different. The objective of this
study is to discuss the effects of tectonic evolution on hydrocarbon accumulation in fractured basement, which involves
basement lithology, source rock development, hydrocarbon-generation history, caprock distribution, and accumulation. The
analysis of regional tectonic evolution indicates that, from the Late Precambrian to the Carboniferous, the entire Africa plate
experienced a relatively quiet phase, culminating in the collision of Gondwana and Laurentia during the Carboniferous. The
basement adjacent to the rift areas is predominantly Precambrian granitic and metamorphic rocks. The two basins have similar
basement lithology, which can be proved by core, log, and microscopic characteristics. The effect of basin evolution on large-
scale fractures in basement is studied with seismic attributes (Ant-tracking) to indicate the relationship between the change of
stress field and fracture distribution. The comparative study on the impact of structure and tectonic evolution on hydrocarbon
accumulation was/is conducted according to stratigraphic framework, hydrocarbon-generation history, caprock development,
related faults, and structural-framework evolution. The result shows that the two basins have experienced differences in tectonic
evolution. The Bongor Basin experienced a relatively constant rifting-sagging stage during Early Cretaceous, and the whole
basin suffered tectonic inversion in Late Cretaceous as a result of the collision of African plate and Eurasian plate. Whereas, the
Melut basin experienced three phases of the rifting-sagging cycle, which was stronger in Early Cretaceous and Paleogene and
weaker in Late Cretaceous. There tectonic inversion occurred only in local areas. The research on hydrocarbon-generation
history has shown that hydrocarbons accumulated in Early Cretaceous in Bongor Basin and in Late Cretaceous in Melut Basin.
This difference in evolution led to different accumulation conditions for basement reservoirs in terms of caprocks, hydrocarbon
charge and preservation, and accumulation.

Selected References

Dou, L., C. Shrivastava, C. Dai, J. Wang, N. Hammond, C. Anakwe, M. Siddick, and B. Xu, 2014, Deciphering an
unconventional African reservoir: Geological characterization of granitic basement from Bongor Basin, Chad: Search and
Discovery Article #10673 (2014). Website accessed April 25, 2016,
http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/2014/10673hrivastava/ndx_shrivastava.pdf.

Dou, L., C. Shivastava, W. Jingchun, N. Hammond, C. Anoliefo, D. Lei, and M. Siddick, 1914, Understanding the interplay of
fractues, stresses and Facies in unconventional reservoirs - Case study from Chad granites (abstract): EAGE Conference and
Exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Website accessed April 25, 2016,
http://www.slb.com/~/media/Files/technical_papers/eage/eage2014_tu-d201-04.pdf.

Genik, G.J., 1992, Regional framework, structural and petroleum aspects of rift basins in Niger, Chad and the Central African
Republic(C.A.R.): Tectonophysics, v. 213, p. 169185.

PAn, C-H, 1982, Petroleum in basement rocks: AAPG Bulletin, v. 66, p.. 1597-1643.

Wang, X., L. Dou, Y. Zhao, D. Mao, Q. Zhang, and X. Wei, 2015, Fractured granite basement reservoir discoveries in the
Bongor Basin of Chad (abstract): Search and Discovery Article #90216 (2015). Website accessed April 25, 2016,
http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/abstracts/html/2015/90216ace/abstracts/2090846.html.
 RIPED-Northwest, PetroChina

Tectonic Evolution Control on Hydrocarbon Accumulation in

Fractured Basement: A Case Study from Melut Basin in
South Sudan and Bongor Basin in Chad

Jie Bai, Zhongsheng Shi, Juan Li, Luo Xue, Weiwei He

NWGI, PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development
 Outline

1 Basement Reservoir Exploration in Africa

2 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and Melut

3 Basins

Control of Structure and Tectonic Evolution on Hydrocarbon Accumulation

4 in Fractured Basement

5 Conclusions
 Basement Reservoir Exploration in Africa
Basement Reservoir widely developed in Africa, but essentially non-commercial to date
Simplified Map of Africa
Mesozoic-Tertiary Rift Systems of CASZ
AlgeriaCambro-Ordovician quartzitic sandstones
Hassi Mesaoud Oil FieldSaharan Area
EgyptPrecambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks
Hurghada Oil FieldZeit Bay Oil Field
North
Africa LibyaPrecambrian igneous
Nafoura-Augila Oil Field
MoroccoPrecambrian granite and Paleozoic metasediments
9 Oil FieldsProduced more than 3.75 million barrels of oil since discovery in
1947 (PAn, 1982)
South
Namibia:(Kudu Oil Field)
Africa
East
KenyaClastic volcanic rocks (Turkana Depression)
Africa
West
Angola: (Onshore Cabinda, about 600,000 barrels)
Africa
Melut BasinPrecambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks
(very few wells with oil in fractured basement)
CASZ
Bongor BasinPrecambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks
(5 Buried-hill structures with oil flows)
Basement Reservoir Distribution in Africa
 Basement Reservoir Exploration in Bongor Basin
Exploration Situation in Bongor Basin
Oil potential of naturally fractured basement reservoirs in Bongor basin is manifested by the discovery of Lanea-1 in early 2013.
Eight buried hill belts have been recognized on the north slope, aligned along the sub-parallel NW-SE trends; and five of them have
been targeted as hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs by drilling.

Libya Egypt
Algeria

Mali Sudan
Niger Chad Eritrea

Nigeria
Ghana

South Ethiopia
C.A.R Sudan

Cameroon
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Uganda
Kenya
Dem. R. Congo

Tanzania
Basins CASZ National
Boundary

Location of Bongor Basin Structure of Bongor Basin

 Basement Reservoir Exploration in Melut Basin
Exploration Situation in Melut Basin
About 40 wells have penetrated basement in Melut Basin.
The hydrocarbon shows in basement are mainly distributed in Ruman Uplift,
but only 2 wells with oil flows.

Algeria Libya Egypt

Mali Sudan
Niger Chad Eritrea

Nigeria
Ghana

South Sudan Ethiopia

C.A.R

ATLANTIC Cameroon
OCEAN
Uganda Kenya
Dem. R. Congo

Tanzania
Basins CASZ National
Boundary

Relationship of Melut Basin with Central Africa Wells That Penetrated Basement in Melut Basin
 Outline

1 Basement Reservoir Exploration in Africa

2 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and Melut

3 Basins

Control of Structure and Tectonic Evolution on Hydrocarbon Accumulation in

4 Fractured Basement

5 Conclusions
 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin
1. Oil Source Rock P and M Fms. are the major source rocks in Bongor basin.
P and M Formations have high TOC values with an average of 3.5%. The organic matter is mainly of I-type kerogen and in mature stage.
Several sub-basins are developed which provide good oil source for buried hills.

Fm.

R Depth/m

Geochemical Profile of Mimosa-2, Bongor BasinDou Lirong2011

 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

2.Reservoir The lithology of granite and granitic gneiss basement is favorable for formation of fractures.
The lithology of basement is mainly composed of granite and granitic gneiss with minor occurrences of other igneous rocks and gneiss.

1700m

25
Plagioclase

Epidote

Biotite

Hornblende

Well-1 Well-2
 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

2. Reservoir The basement reservoirs are well developed.

Two reservoir space types: pore-type and fracture-type

Characteristics of pores within basement buried-hill reservoirsDou Lirong2015 Core photos and FMI of two types of granitic
buried-hill reservoirDou Lirong2015
 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

3. Caprocks P and M Formations are both oil source rocks and caprocks for basement.

Cenozoic
1000

R+B
2000

K
3000

4000

5000

P+M
6000 Basement
7000
Source Rock
8000

9000
 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

4. Structure Intensive structural inversion resulted

in regional basinal uplift.
The Lower Cretaceous is directly overlain by Cenozoic;
Mesozoic erosion ranged from 600 to1600m.
The deeply buried basement was uplifted in Late Cretaceous.
The drilling depth of basement is mostly about 2000m.

Restoration of Erosion Using Ro and Acoustic Logging Data (Xiao Kunye, 2015) Estimate of Mesozoic Erosion in Bongor Basin (Yu Zhaohua, 2013)
 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

5. History of Hydrocarbon Generation Hydrocarbon accumulated in late Early Cretaceous

Oil from basement is about 25-33API.

Basement

One Dimensional Basin Modeling of Bongor Basin

 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

Key Geological Features of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

Oil Source: the development of several sub-basins provides good oil source rock for buried hills in Bongor basin.
Caprock: the overlying source rocks of basement provide good caprock
Reservoir: the lithology of granite basement is favorable for fracture formation; the basement reservoirs are well developed in Bongor basin.
Structural Inversion: the deeply buried basement, underlying the source rock, was uplifted to a shallow position.
Oil that accumulated in basement in late Early Cretaceous was not affected by the regional uplift in Late Cretaceous.
 Outline

1 Basement Reservoir Exploration in Africa

2 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and Melut

3 Basins

Control of Structure and Tectonic Evolution on Hydrocarbon Accumulation in

4 Fractured Basement

5 Conclusions
 Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and
Melut Basins
1. Oil Source Rock Renk Fm. (Lower Cretaceous) is the major source rock of Melut Basin

1000

800

1
IH(mg/g) 600

2
400
Source Rock
200

380 400 420 440 460 480 500

Tmax(oC)

Wells That Penetrated Basement in Melut Basin

 Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and
Melut Basins
2.Reservoir Similar lithology of granite and granite gneiss basement

The lithology of basement in Melut basin is different from North to South.

The mineral of basement in North is mainly composed of feldspar, mica, and

quartz, with minor hornblende and pyroxene.
ARuman N-2910m

910m 901.2m 901.2m

3 3 2 5
4 2 13 3 14
3 15 1

19 / / /
18 20
/ / /
/ / /

47 50 48

A910m B901.2m C889m

XPL
BRuman N-2901.2m CRuman N-2889m

plagioclase

plagioclase

biotite

quartz

XPL

Residual Magnetic Anomaly Map of Melut Basin

 Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and .AAPC-SEG
c~""''''''''
" ,. . 21m
Melut Basins P!SJ!, ~

2. Reservoir The basement reservoirs are also well developed.

" \

" \

,

t
.'
., '
,t
\
. '. ~
1853.12
 Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and
Melut Basins

2. Reservoir The basement reservoirs are also well developed.

Continuous Conductive Discontinuous Continuous Resistance Dissolution-Enhanced

Fractures Inductive Fractures
Fractures Conductive Fractures Fractures
 Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and
Melut Basins
3. Caprocks The overlying Gayger Fm. of basement is composed of sandstones in higher positions.
Alre Fal-1Yabus Well-1

" l"
,, " y.:.,; ,l
nk

'.' '
'\
GR(API) LLS(.m) RHOZ

"';
;;~:
0 170 0.5 1000 1.5 3
Depth yx

SP(mV) (m) LLD(.m) DT(s/m)

, . q
70 -100 0.5 1000 200


50

2200

> "
, \t::fJi"
~

. ,-
!.. , -'
\ } ' f. '
(r-

- " to(-
2250

' , -,
'\\
, I

'

'v;S
2300

:",''\<.

,
,, -
.\ '
Source Rock

,
2350

,
2400

S roor-1 F al -1 Asse l-2

0
2450

10 00

Alga
yger
2 00 0
2500

30 00
2550

Depth ( m)

40 00

5 00 0
2600

6 00 0


2650

Base 70 00
ment


8 00 0
 Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and
Melut Basins
4. Structure The buried hill of Melut basin is an inherited uplift.

Cenozoic

Late
Cretaceous

Early
Cretaceous

Melut Basin
1000 Cenozoic
2000
R+B
3000
K
4000

Source Rock 5000

Late
Source Rock 6000
P+M
Basement
Cretaceous

7000

8000

9000

Bongor Basin Melut Basin Bongor Basin

 Comparison of Geology of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and
Melut Basins
5. Hydrocarbon Generation and Expulsion
Melut Basin HC generated in Eocene to Oligocene.

The low geothermal gradient (2.94) caused the source rocks to mature late.

Bongor Basin HC generated in late Early Cretaceous

The HC generation ceased in Late Cretaceous.

The geothermal gradient ranges from 2.9-4.9.

Hydrocarbon Generation History of Melut Basin

Oil Expulsion

Gas
Generation

Oil Generation

Gas Expulsion

Burial History of Well in Melut Basin Hydrocarbon Generation and Expulsion History of
Hydrocarbon Generation History of Bongor Basin
Renk Fm.
 Outline

1 Basement Reservoir Exploration in Africa

2 Geological Setting of Basement Reservoir in Bongor Basin

Comparison of Geology of of Basement Reservoir between Bongor and

3 Melut Basins

Control of Structure and Tectonic Evolution on Hydrocarbon Accumulation in

4 Fractured Basement

5 Conclusions
 Control of Structure and Tectonic Evolution on Hydrocarbon
Accumulation in Fractured Basement
Tectonic Evolution of CASZ
Three stages since Pan-Africa movement
550Ma130Ma. The entire Africa plate experienced a relatively quiet tectonic phase.
130Ma~20Ma. Gondwana breakup and South Atlantic Ocean opening; the CASZ formed.
After 30Ma. The activity of CASZ ceased; the Arabian began to rift away from the African to form the Red Sea.

African
African
South
American African

105Ma 85Ma 30Ma

 Control of Structure and Tectonic Evolution on Hydrocarbon
Accumulation in Fractured Basement

Arabia Arabia Arabia

Atlantic

Africa Africa Atlantic Africa

South
America South
South
America
America

Arabia N
Arabia N

Red
Sea

Indian Ocean
Africa Atlantic Africa
Atlantic
South Indian
Ocean
(a) Early Cretaceous (b) Late Cretaceous

(Modified after J. G. Genik1992)

Control of Structure and Tectonic Evolution on Hydrocarbon
Accumulation in Fractured Basement
Neocene quaternary

Present

Subsidence
Subsidence
+

Present

After Jimidi

Subsidence in Paleocene

Inversion
After Lau
Rifting Stage III
Late Paleocene

Intensive Inversion in Late Cretaceous

After Adar

Early Paleocene Late Cretaceous

After Yabus
Rifting Stage II

After B Fm.

After Samma

Rifting
After R Fm.
After Melut

After Galhak After K Fm.

Early Cretaceous

Rifting Stage I

After Renk
After M Fm.

After Gayger
After P Fm.

Profile of Tectonic Evolution of Melut Basin Profile of Structural Evolution of Bongor Basin
 Conclusions

Both of these two basins have good oil source rocks for basement reservoir.
The P&M formations are both oil source rock and caprock for basement in Bongor Basin. The
Gayger Fm. overlying basement in Melut basin includes sandstone in higher positions. The
favorable caprock for basement is everywhere at deeply buried depths.
These two basins have similar basement lithology of granite and granitic gneiss, which is
favorable for fracture formation; core data, FMI data, and microscopic examination also
proved reservoir development.
The different evolution history led to different accumulation conditions for basement
reservoirs in terms of caprocks, hydrocarbon charge, and preservation. The Bongor Basin
experienced a relatively constant rifting-sagging stage during Early Cretaceous, and the whole
basin suffered a tectonic inversion in Late Cretaceous. Melut basin experienced three phases of
the rifting-sagging cycle, which was stronger in Early Cretaceous and Paleogene and weaker in
Late Cretaceous. Tectonic inversion occurred only locally.
RIPED-Northwest, PetroChina

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