Key geological characteristics of the Saida-Tyr Platform along the eastern margin of the Levant Basin, offshore Lebanon:implications for hydrocarbon exploration

More than 60 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas have been recently discovered in the Levant Basin (eastern Mediterranean region) offshore Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, Palestine. Un-explored areas, such as the Lebanese offshore, may yield additional discoveries. This contribution focuses the Saida-Tyr Platform (STP), an offshore geological feature adjacent to the southern Lebanese coastline – part of the eastern margin of the Levant Basin. First, an extensive synthesis of recent published research work, tackling crustal modeling, structural geology and stratigraphy will be presented. Then, a new local crustal model and the interpretation of seismic reflection specifically on the STP are discussed and emplaced in the context of the upcoming petroleum exploration activities in this region. Characteristic structural features form the limits of the STP which is believed to be an extension of the Arabian continent into the Levant Basin. Its westernmost limit consists of the extension of the crustal interface, previously termed “hinge zone”, where major plate-scale deformations are preferentially localized. The northward extension of this “hinge zone” beyond the STP can be mapped by means of major similar deformation structures (i.e. S-N-trending anticlines) and can be associated to the Levant Fracture System (LFS) – the northwestern border of the Arabian plate. The northern limit of the STP (i.e. the Saida Fault) is a typical E-W, presently active, structure that is inherited from an older, deeply rooted regional fault system, extending eastward throughout the Palmyra Basin. The STP is characterized by a variety of potential plays for hydrocarbon exploration. Jurassic and Cretaceous clastics and carbonates are believed to include reservoir plays, which could have been charged by deeper Mesozoic source rocks, and sealed by Upper Cretaceous marly layers. The edge of the Cretaceous carbonate platforms and potential carbonate buildups are well recognizable on seismic reflection profiles. The western and northern anticlinal structures bordering the STP are excellent targets for Oligo-Miocene biogenic gas charging systems. Based on integrating geodynamics, tectono-stratigraphic interpretations and petroleum systems analyses, such plays are well constrained and the exploration risk is therefore lowered

Architecture, évolution géodynamique et remplissage sédimentaire du bassin levant : une approche quantitative 3D basée sur données sismiques.

Sedimentological and biostratigraphic investigations onshore Lebanon coupled with 2D offshore reflection seismic data allowed proposing a new Mesozoic-Present tectono-stratigraphic framework for the northern Levant Margin and Basin. The seismic interpretation supported by in-depth facies analysis permitted to depict the potential depositional environments offshore Lebanon as no well has yet been drilled. The Levant region has been affected by successive geodynamic events that modified the architecture of its margin and basin from a Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic rift into a Late Cretaceous subduction followed by collision and Miocene-Present strike slip motion. The interplay between major geodynamic events as well as sea level fluctuations impacted on the sedimentary infill of the basin. During Jurassic and Cretaceous, the Levant Margin is dominated by the aggradation of a carbonate platform while deepwater mixed-systems prevailed in the basin during the Oligo-Miocene, three major sedimentary pathways are expected to drive important quantities of clastic material into the Levant Basin: (1) canyons along the Levant Margin, (2) the Latakia region (coastlal Syria) and (3) the Nile Deep sea cone. Regional drainage system analysis was performed to estimate the contribution of the different sediment sources to the infill of the basin. A numerical stratigraphic forward model, Dionisos, was used to test the Middle-Late Miocene source-to-sink scenarios permitting to better assess the plausibility of the expected sedimentary volumes for each source through a comparison with actual drainage systemsLes études sédimentologiques et biostratigraphiques menées au Liban couplés avec données sismiques 2D de réflexion en mer ont permis de proposer un nouveau cadre tectono-stratigraphique pour la région Levantine a partir du Mésozoïque. L'interprétation sismique soutenue par une analyse détaillée des faciès à permis de représenter les environnements de dépôt au large du Liban où aucun puits n'a été foré. Le rifting dans le bassin du Levant prend fin au Jurassique moyen. L'initiation de subduction de la plaque Afro-Arabe sous l'Eurasie au Crétacé supérieur est suivie par des mouvements décrochants à partir du Miocène. L'interaction entre ces événements géodynamiques ainsi que les fluctuations du niveau marin affecte le remplissage sédimentaire du bassin. Au cours du Jurassique et du Crétacé, la marge Levantine est dominée par l'évolution de plate-forme carbonatée tandis qu'un système mixte (silicoclastic et carbonaté) en eau profonde ont prévalu dans le bassin au cours de l'Oligo-Miocène. Trois grandes voies sédimentaires sont attendus à conduire d'importantes quantités de matériel clastiques dans le bassin: (1) les canyons incisant la marge, (2) la région de Lattaquié (Syrie) et (3) le fan profond du Nil. L'analyse régionale des systèmes de drainage a été réalisée pour estimer la contribution au remplissage du bassin des différentes sources de sédiments. Un modèle stratigraphique, Dionisos, a été utilisé pour tester les scénarios du remplissage du bassin pendant le Miocène Moyen et Supérieur. Une comparaison avec les systèmes de drainage actuels a permis une meilleure évaluation de la plausibilité des volumes sédimentaires attendus pour chaque source

Key geological characteristics of the Saida-Tyr Platform along the eastern margin of the Levant Basin, offshore Lebanon: implications for hydrocarbon exploration

More than 60 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas have been recently discovered in the Levant Basin (eastern Mediterranean region) offshore Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, Palestine. Un-explored areas, such as the Lebanese offshore, may yield additional discoveries. This contribution focuses the Saida-Tyr Platform (STP), an offshore geological feature adjacent to the southern Lebanese coastline – part of the eastern margin of the Levant Basin. First, an extensive synthesis of recent published research work, tackling crustal modeling, structural geology and stratigraphy will be presented. Then, a new local crustal model and the interpretation of seismic reflection specifically on the STP are discussed and emplaced in the context of the upcoming petroleum exploration activities in this region. Characteristic structural features form the limits of the STP which is believed to be an extension of the Arabian continent into the Levant Basin. Its westernmost limit consists of the extension of the crustal interface, previously termed “hinge zone”, where major plate-scale deformations are preferentially localized. The northward extension of this “hinge zone” beyond the STP can be mapped by means of major similar deformation structures (i.e. S-N-trending anticlines) and can be associated to the Levant Fracture System (LFS) – the northwestern border of the Arabian plate. The northern limit of the STP (i.e. the Saida Fault) is a typical E-W, presently active, structure that is inherited from an older, deeply rooted regional fault system, extending eastward throughout the Palmyra Basin. The STP is characterized by a variety of potential plays for hydrocarbon exploration. Jurassic and Cretaceous clastics and carbonates are believed to include reservoir plays, which could have been charged by deeper Mesozoic source rocks, and sealed by Upper Cretaceous marly layers. The edge of the Cretaceous carbonate platforms and potential carbonate buildups are well recognizable on seismic reflection profiles. The western and northern anticlinal structures bordering the STP are excellent targets for Oligo-Miocene biogenic gas charging systems. Based on integrating geodynamics, tectono-stratigraphic interpretations and petroleum systems analyses, such plays are well constrained and the exploration risk is therefore lowered

Erratum to: 3D thermal history and maturity modelling of the Levant Basin and its eastern margin, offshore–onshore Lebanon

International audienceThe original version of this article, unfortunately, containederrors.The images of Figures 8 and 9 found in the online PDF did notmatch with the HTML version. In the PDF, continued imagesof Figs. 8 and 9 were duplication of panel "b" of each figure.The correct images are presented in this article.In addition, "Upper Triassic," which is found in the caption ofFigure 8 was corrected to "Lower Triassic" and is nowreflected in this paper.Lastly, the name Samer Bou Daher, though appearing correctlyin the published version, appears as S. B. Daher in indexingsites instead of S. Bou Daher. The metadata was updated todisplay the name correctly in indexing sites.The original version of this paper was updated to reflect thechanges stated on this erratum.The online version of the original article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2455-1

Integrated 3D forward stratigraphic and petroleum system modeling of the Levant Basin, Eastern Mediterranean

International audienceThe Eastern Mediterranean Levant Basin is a proven hydrocarbon province with recent major gas discoveries. To date, no exploration wells targeted its northern part, in particular the Lebanese offshore. The present study assesses the tectono‐stratigraphic evolution and related petroleum systems of the northern Levant Basin via an integrated approach that combines stratigraphic forward modeling and petroleum systems/basin modeling based on the previous published work. Stratigraphic modeling results provide a best‐fit realisation of the basin‐scale sedimentary filling, from the post‐rift Upper Jurassic until the Pliocene. Simulation results suggest dominant eastern marginal and Arabian Plate sources for Cenozoic siliciclastic sediments and a significant contribution from the southern Nilotic source mostly from Lower Oligocene to Lower Miocene. Basin modeling results suggest the presence of a working thermogenic petroleum system with mature source rocks localised in the deeper offshore. The generated hydrocarbons migrated through the deep basin within Jurassic and Cretaceous permeable layers towards the Latakia Ridge in the north and the Levant margin and offshore topographic highs. Furthermore, the basin model indicates a possibly significant influence of salt deposition during Messinian salinity crisis on formation fluids. Ultimately, the proposed integrated workflow provides a powerful tool for the assessment of petroleum systems in underexplored areas