Aspects of Groundwater Flow and 3D Geologic Models in the Tarfaya Basin, Morroco

摘要

Oil-shale deposits have been identified at ten localities in Morocco, the most important of which are Upper Cretaceous marinites. The two deposits that have been explored most extensively are the Timahdit and the Tarfaya deposits. This presentation explores computer modeling in relation to these environments in the present day state of diagenesis of Kerogen in the basins. Petrologic and geophysical analyses help define a geologic computer model used as the basis for developing a 3-dimensional, multi-layer groundwater flow model of the entire oil shale basin. Key characteristics of preliminary simulated groundwater flow behavior appear to confirm the assumption of low vertical hydraulic conductivity associated with confining oil shale units. This 3D and Groundwater computer(s) model is used to investigate the coupled surface water-groundwater response and spatio-temporal distribution of recharge within the basins.