Abstract: Paleozoic Petroleum System of the Middle East - A New Potential in Israel

LUSKIN, TOVIA, VLADIMIR SHTEINGOLTS, and ISAAK LEIFMAN

The several hundred wells which have been drilled in Israel so far were targeted at easy to identify "young" Miocene age structures. They practically completely tested the Levant Petroleum System but without substantial success.

By detailed interpretation and mapping of well and seismic data and by reconstruction of the geological history of the region, the authors have been able to identify a new, previously unknown, petroleum system in Israel which is an integral part of the proven Paleozoic hydrocarbon system in the Middle East. This system identifies regional Low Paleozoic (mainly Silurian) source rock which matured in Israel in Jurassic time.

Large inverted "old" structures which, in Early Jurassic time, were formed along the bounding fault of the southwestern extension of the Palmyra rift are the principle components of the petroleum system in which the Silurian oil is trapped.

The first well, Meged-2, drilled to test the "old" structure discovered 40 degrees API oil in the Triassic Mohilla Formation. According to the analysis of biomarkers, this oil is of Silurian origin and similar to oils from oil fields in Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

The presence of the Paleozoic Petroleum System in Israel provides a new potential for major discoveries.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90942©1997 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Vienna, Austria