Hydrocarbon Prospectivity of the Accretionary Wedge in the Gharb Offshore Basin: A Frontier Play

Summary The Gharb Offshore Basin (GOB), part of the Moroccan Atlantic Margin, presents significant hydrocarbon potential, particularly within its accretionary wedge (AW), an unexplored frontier play. The basin has experienced multiphase tectonic and sedimentary evolution, influenced by Triassic-Jurassic rifting, Mesozoic passive margin development, and Alpine orogeny-related compressional tectonics. Recent advancements in seismic imaging have revealed detailed structural and stratigraphic configurations, highlighting the hydrocarbon potential within the AW. RMS amplitude anomalies have been interpreted as channelized features and sand fairways, as well as thrust-bound traps formed by differential inversion of basement faults. Basement reactivation, salt tectonics, and compressional dynamics has led to the development of imbricate thrust sheets, anticlines, enhancing hydrocarbon entrapment potential. Variations in structural styles, from tightly imbricated thrusts in the west to broader separations in the east, suggest diverse reservoir and trap configurations. This study underscores the accretionary wedge’s role as a frontier play. Furthermore, continued exploration and detailed studies are essential to unlocking the hydrocarbon potential of the Gharb Offshore Basin’s accretionary wedge and establishing its significance within Morocco’s Atlantic Margin.