Mesozoic Petroleum
Systems in the
Southeastern Mediterranean Continental Margin
By
Michael A. Gardosh1, Akiva Flexer2, Paul Weimer3
(1) The Geophysical Institute of Israel, Lod, Israel (2) Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (3) University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO
Commercial accumulations of oil and gas and various hydrocarbon shows were
found in the Mesozoic strata at the southeastern Mediterranean area. A
subsurface, sequence stratigraphic study and thermal maturity modeling allow the
description of several petroleum
systems.
The southeastern Mediterranean continental margin evolved from an Early
Mesozoic rift system
that developed on the edge of the Arabian platform, near
the present-day coastline of Israel. The post-rift, shelf to basin profile is
composed of six, second-order Jurassic and Cretaceous composite depositional
sequences. Highstand systems tracts are various types of aggrading and
backstepping carbonate platforms. Lowstand systems tracts are siliciclastic and
carbonate deepwater turbidite complexes. Mesozoic source rocks are found in both
depositional settings.
Oil production from the onshore, Helez and Ashdod fields is associated with a
Middle Jurassic petroleum
system
. Thermally mature, organic-rich facies is
identified in wells at the distal part of Middle Jurassic, backstepping
carbonate platforms, near the present-day coastline.
Hydrocarbon shows in several near-offshore wells are associated with two
potential petroleum
systems: over-mature Triassic source rocks, estimated to be
found within Early Mesozoic grabens; and mature, Middle-Upper Jurassic source
rocks identified in wells within deepwater turbidite complexes. Thermally mature
Senonian, deepwater carbonate strata may compose a third
petroleum
system
in the
far offshore. The offshore, Mesozoic
petroleum
systems are not sufficiently
tested by drilling.