Research and exploration work on the basin of South East of Constantine is started during the year 1950. The first discovery of gas, Djebel Foua was obtained by the exploration well Fo-1 carried out in 1957 based on the mapping of surface. The limits of this basin covering the Wilayas of Tébessa, Khenchela and Oum El Bouaghi have several accumulations of oil, Djebel Onk put into production in 1960, Guerguit El Kihal and Hassi El Kerma discovered in 1986 and 2001 and gas in Djebel Foua and Djebel Darmoun recently. Production of gas recorded from the Cretaceous of the DDNS-1 well reservoirs is doubly important, on the one hand because it confirms a gas potential in the region in addition to the already proven oil and on the other hand It has to redirect the exploration approach throughout the South East of Constantine basin.
This result, added to the primarily discoveries in oil, encourages the intensification of the work on this area for the development of oil and gas projects.
The geological context of the basin is marked by the presence of:
Several anticlines structures emerging surface
Several reservoirs carbonate aged Cretaceous (Aptian, Cenomanian-Turonian and Coniacian).
All anticlines that supported traps correspond to rugged topography. Seismic coverage is limited only to accessible areas. The Djebel Onk oil accumulation has been explored and operated only on the basis of surface geology.
On the basis of the experience of Djebel Onk and taking account the geological data, the approach is to test by drilling the most favorable prospects identified by seismic 2D and those corresponding to the large structures not covered by the seismic for reasons of accessibility, mapped by the interpretation of satellite photographs and confirmed by surface geology. After the completion of drilling and the results, this approach will be complemented by acquisitions seismic technology 2D and 3D Wireless (without cable) adapted to the rugged topography.
Hydrocarbon resources expected on the basis of the assumption that the area north of the basin would be gas from the latitude of Djebels Foua - Darmoun, are estimated at: The average probability of success is in the order of 22%.
The key uncertainties are related with:
the extension and characteristics of reservoirs
the nature of the fluids (oil or gas) linked to the complex evolution of this area,
