Offshore Algeria--A Growing Infant: ABSTRACT

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Exploration of the continental margin of Algeria is a natural result of the search for additional production and reserves by SONATRACH, the national Algerian oil company. The narrow shelf along much of the Algerian coastline discouraged exploration until 1965, but the rapid development of deep-water-drilling and completion techniques during the last 4 years has greatly increased interest in this area. The first offshore studies by SONATRACH, made in 1967, involved a comparison between the costs of exploring the offshore area and those of exploring the Algerian coastline. These studies indicated that the most economical method of exploring the coastline was to conduct offshore exploration first. In this manner, areas of interest suggested by the offshore results could prov de leads to the most attractive areas of the coastline. A reconnaissance marine-seismic survey was completed in 1968. The results of this survey, and the rapid progress in marine drilling and completion techniques, indicate that exploration along the continental margin of Algeria may be much more rewarding than had been supposed. End_of_Article - Last_Page 704------------