Numerical Simulation of the Geologic Evolution, the Thermal History and the Hydrocarbon Generation Potential of the Adana Basin (South Turkey)

M. Namik Yalcin

The formation of the Adana basin was induced by wrench faulting in the early Miocene. The fault activity continued until recent times and controlled deposition within the basin. The Messinian salinity crisis also affected the sedimentological evolution. The sedimentary sequence consists of three sedimentary cycles of Miocene, Pliocene, and Quaternary age. Shaly and sandy lithologies predominate. Reef-type carbonates and evaporites exist at the base and top of the Miocene cycle, respectively.

Three representative wells are used to simulate the geologic evolution numerically. The simulation was carried out with a special software based on an energy and mass balance approach. Thickness, lithology, and porosity of chronostratigraphic units; estimates of paleobathymetry, sediment/water interface temperatures, and heat flow; initial physical and thermal properties of various lithologies; and type of organic matter have been used as input parameters.

The simulation allowed a detailed analysis of the effects of these boundary conditions on the temperature history and resulted in a comprehensive definition of the temperature development in the basin. The thermal history was then used to determine the spatial distribution of oil and gas generation zones utilizing a kinetic approach. Furthermore, the temporal development of the hydrocarbon generation for some potential source rocks has been determined.

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