Tectonics of the Lower Paleozoic in the Lublin - Podlasie
Basin at the Western Margin of the East European Craton, SE Poland - Results of
Seismic
Data
Interpretation![Next Hit](/images/arrow_right.gif)
Wróbel, Grzegorz 1; Walker, Peter 2;
Tomaszczyk, Maciej 1; Krzywiec, Piotr 1; Poprawa, Pawel 1
(1) Polish Geological Institute, Warsaw, Poland. (2) ExxonMobil International
Limited, Leatherhead, United Kingdom.
The western margin of the East European Craton (EEC) in northern
and south-eastern Poland has recently became one of the most interesting areas
for shale gas exploration in Europe. The eastern part of the Lublin - Podlasie
Basin (LPB) located on the uplifted slope of the EEC was studied using
relatively dense grid of seismic
profiles calibrated by deep wells. The main
potential reservoir formations in the LPB are the Upper Ordovician and the
Lower Silurian graptolitic shale. Results of
seismic
data
interpretation
revealed distinct differences in structural development between the Podlasie
Basin (PB) and the Lublin Basin (LB). The PB is characterized by regional,
gently dip of the Lower Paleozoic sedimentary cover toward south-west. Normal
fault zones prevailed here without any significant evidences of the Late
Paleozoic or Mesozoic reactivation. In contrast, structural development of the
LB was more complex as a result of the Late Famennian to the Early Visean (the
Bretonian phase of the Variscian orogeny) tectonics. Numerous NE-SW and NW-SE
reverse fault zones were identified in this part of the basin, characterized by
significant strike-slip component. The main fault zones in the LB are
deeply-rooted in the Precambrian basement and were active during the Latest
Devonian to the Early Carboniferous. Some of these fault zones have been also
reactivated in the Late Carboniferous during the final stages of the Variscian
orogeny. Location and history of deformation of identified fault zones directly
influenced shale gas potential of both basins, creating internally relatively
undeformed crustal blocks with higher potential, bordered by deformation zones
of low potential.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90135©2011 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 23-26 October 2011.