Petroleum Potential of the Frontal Zone of the Miocene Thrust Belt of Southeast Turkey

Dogan Perincek, Craig S. Davis

The area of study lies directly south of the main front of the Miocene thrust belt and is crossed by a series of anticlinal structures of Miocene age which trend northwest-southeast. Many of the anticlinal structures are associated with one or two major thrust faults that border the anticlinal structures.

In addition to the compressional features, the western part of the study area shows pre-, syn-, and post-Maastrichtian-Campanian deposition normal faulting. The postcompressional faults are probably relaxation features. Therefore, the structural development of the region has resulted in three superimposed structural trends in the study area. The local stratigraphic sequence ranges from the Paleozoic through the Miocene with some localized Quaternary basalts and alluvial deposits.

The primary petroleum potential of the area and the emphasis of this paper is the Upper Cretaceous Maastrichtian-Campanian sequences, including the Beloka, Kiradag, Garzan, and lower Germav/Sinian formations. Additionally the Mardin formation of Cenomanian-Turonian age is an oil and gas-producing horizon.

This paper presents the regional structural development, gross stratigraphy of the Maastrichtian-Campanian, and a specific 2-D seismic interpretation project in the area, illustrating these aspects of geology as well as citing specific examples of prospective structures.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91032©1988 Mediterranean Basins Conference and Exhibition, Nice, France, 25-28 September 1988.