Where were Algeria’s major oil and natural gas fields discovered?

Major oil and natural gas fields in Algeria were primarily discovered in the Sahara during the mid-1950s.1

Major Oil Fields

Oil production is concentrated in three primary areas:1
* Hassi Messaoud: Located in the northeastern part of the Sahara, this major field was discovered in 1956. It is situated within the Grand Erg Oriental and features reservoirs of Paleozoic sandstone.21
* Zarzaïtine-Edjeleh: Situated along the border with Libya.1
* El-Borma: Located along the border with Tunisia.1

Major Natural Gas Fields

• Hassi R’Mel: Discovered in 1956, this is one of the world’s major natural gas fields. It is located in a large anticline in the central basin of Algeria, northwest of Ghardaïa, and contains reservoirs of Triassic sandstone. Since this initial discovery, additional gas fields have been identified throughout the country.341