Abstract :
The east Mediterranean Levant Basin has been proven to contain a prolific biogenic petroleum system. Its thermogenic petroleum systems, though not yet proven economically viable, are inferred to be promising based on the thickness of the sedimentary column, and the presence of several oil shows along marginal and onshore wells. A proper assessment of the East Mediterranean basin hydrocarbon resources needs to take both biogenic and thermogenic systems into account. In a frontier basin and/or a frontier play this becomes a challenging task which requires a complete and integrated workflow to address.
In this paper, we will delve into describing the complex and diverse Play and petroleum system types in shallow and deep offshore settings of the East Mediterranean Basin. Play and petroleum system types include biogenic sourced pre and post-Messinian siliciclastic deepwater turbidite systems and Cretaceous carbonate build-ups, to structural deep fault-controlled systems charged by Mesozoic mature thermogenic sources.
Our discussion will focus on identifying the primary factors and characteristics that control the biogenic source rock potential, as well as the efficiency of charge and preservation of biogenic gas towards trap reservoirs. Additionally, we will provide an update on our understanding of the marine and terrestrial Mesozoic source rock potential and the structural deep-fault system connecting both biogenic and thermogenic systems.
Furthermore, we will delve into the geodynamic and tectonic settings of the basin and their influence on the geothermal heat flow history. This history is shaped not only by the thermal properties of the crust and the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary but also by factors such as the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of basin-fill sediments and their sedimentation rates. Moreover, we will discuss about the impact of heat flow history and sedimentary heating rates, which play a crucial role in controlling the timing of hydrocarbon generation/expulsion from both biogenic and thermogenic sources.
Finally, we will discuss the hydrodynamic system history of the East Mediterranean Basin and its implications for rock dewatering, fluid flow migration, and, consequently, hydrocarbon migration and charge. In particular, we will delve into the impact of the deposition of the lowpermeability Messinian evaporites and their influence on thermal and fluid flow transfer at a basin scale.
