The Algerian offshore area is located in the western Mediterranean Sea, East of the Alboran basin, and south of the Algero-provencal basin.
Geologically, it covers the area from a narrow continental shelf to the deep basin, water depth ranging from 0-2800m.
Even if the exploration started during the sixties, the data consists mainly of 2D seismic, in addition to gravity and magnetic; this area is under-explored. The exploration activity has increased during the last two decades by acquiring more than 14000km of 2D seismic and 7000km2 of 3D Broadseis data.
The 2D seismic program acquired between 2000 and 2011 is good and becomes poor where the messinian salt layer is structurally complex. The high quality of the 3D broadseis shows a higher resolution and a good improvement for the deep geologic events pre-salt layer, by applying modern processing sequences that focuses on noise and multiples attenuation, especially internal multiples.
The depth imaging has helped to identify potential targets for exploration, including anticlinal structures, faulted and tilted blocks, carbonate build-up and channels. They may have favourable timing to be charged from pre and Miocene source rocks. The stratigraphic study of HBB-1 well identified three reservoirs showing significant sand intervals in the Miocene (Serravallian) and in the Pliocene.
The interpretation of the seismic data has also allowed the identification of three sedimentary areas with distinct sub-basins fill: The Bejaia-Bougaroune basin, the Algiers basin, the Mostaganem- Tenes basin, and Habibas basin into extreme West.
Evaluation of the 2D and 3D seismic data has highlighted several leads and plays that exist at various stratigraphic levels even though a working petroleum system still remains unproven.
The Algerian offshore covers an area of approximately 130000 km2. Exploration activity was first commenced in sixties. The basin is a frontier area of pre-salt exploration, with only one deep well and two core drills drilled on the shelf. This study integrates information from new seismic data to improve the understanding of the petroleum systems.
