ÇAĞRILI KONUŞMALAR / KEYNOTES Invited Speeches ... - TPJD

New Oil Discoveries in Area 147/3-4, Murzuq Basin, Libya
Ahmet Tandırcıoğlu, Rıza Özgür Temel, Hakan Can, Yusuf Kumru
Turkish Petroleum Corporation, Ankara
Area 147/3-4 is located in northeastern part of the Murzuq Basin, southwest of Libya and covers
an area of 2783 km2. The block is awarded to Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC), a
wholly owned subsidiary of Turkish Petroleum Corporation (Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı,
TPAO), in the Second International Bid Round of Libya in 2005. The Exploration and Production
Sharing Agreement (EPSA) signed between TPOC and National Oil Company of Libya (NOC)
became effective on December 10, 2005. The EPSA for Area 147/3-4 calls for a minimum work
commitment of two exploration wells and 500 km 2D and 300 km2 3D seismic acquisition in
a 5-year exploration period. The exploration period was extended for 1.5 years until June 10,
2012. TPOC initiated a vigorous exploration program in the area starting with the reprocessing of
previously acquired approximately 3400 km 2D seismic data in the TPAO data processing center in
2006. In addition, TPOC acquired 573 km 2D and 352 km2 3D seismic data in 2007 and conducted
detailed G&G studies and determined the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Area. The Paleozoic
section constitutes the main hydrocarbon system. Organic-rich lower Silurian “Hot shales” of
Tanezzuft Formation are the primary source rock as widely recognized and proven in the North
Africa. Silurian Tanezzuft Formation is also the main seal in the Area 147/3-4. The primary
reservoirs are the middle and upper Ordovician glacio-marine and fluvio-deltaic sandstones of
Memouniat and Hawaz formations. Furthermore, Devonian Aouinet Ouinine sandstones were
tested and yielded significant amount of oil. There are several trapping types in the block such
as buried hills, simple anticlines, fault bounded structures. The exploration wells drilled by TPOC
tested different play types and resulted in oil discoveries. TPOC drilled a total of 11 exploration
wells in Area 147/3&4 and 7 of them resulted as new oil discoveries. TPOC will acquire new 2D
and 3D seismic data in 2011 and drill additional exploration wells. Furthermore, following the
completion of the appraisal program, TPOC plans to put these oil discoveries on stream as early
as possible.
Keywords : Libya, Murzuq basin, Area 147/3&4, TPOC
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