--> Abstract: Frontal Carpathian Orogenic Wedge and Carpathian Foredeep Basin, South Poland—Structure and Hydrocarbon Plays, by Piotr Krzywiec, Pawel Aleksandrowski, Kazimierz Madej, Radoslaw Florek, and Janusz Siupik; #90039 (2005)

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Frontal Carpathian Orogenic Wedge and Carpathian Foredeep Basin, South Poland—Structure and Hydrocarbon Plays

Piotr Krzywiec1, Pawel Aleksandrowski2, Kazimierz Madej3, Radoslaw Florek4, and Janusz Siupik4
1 Polish Geological Institute, Warsaw, Poland
2 University of Wrocław, Wroclaw, Poland
3 Polish Oil & Gas Company, Jaslo, Poland
4 Polish Oil & Gas Company, Krakow, Poland

The Polish Outer Carpathians comprise several thrust sheets (units) composed mostly of Cretaceous through Paleogene deepwater siliciclastic flysch. The most externally located units in the nappe pile represent Miocene siliciclastic deltaic sediments of the Carpathian foredeep basin. The sub-Carpathian basement is highly inhomogeneous, both regarding its lithostratigraphy and top surface morphology. Seismic and well data from the central and eastern segments of the Polish Carpathians (between Krakow and Przemysl) reveal significant alongstrike variations in the tectonic style of the Carpathian orogenic front. The morphology of the sub-Carpathian basement and distribution of the Miocene foredeep evaporites are two important factors that have influenced the evolution of the Carpathian front. In its eastern segment, the Carpathian orogenic front is defined by flat foreland-verging thrusts overlying undeformed Miocene foredeep deposits. Hydrocarbon accumulations are related to structural-stratigraphic traps developed within the Miocene foredeep infill and sealed by the Carpathian sole thrust. The central part of the Carpathian front is dominated by wedge tectonics induced by combined effect of diverse erosional morphology of the pre-Miocene basement and the extent of the foredeep evaporites. It produced a well-developed triangle zone of the Miocene Zglobice unit. Proven and potential HC accumulations are related to anticlinal bends of horses comprising a passive-roof duplex, and to detachment folds above the roof backthrust. Beneath the floor thrust of the Zgłobice unit, erosional paleovalleys cut into the Meso-Paleozoic basement exist. Their lower Badenian and/or Paleogene siliciclastic infill could be related to the potential stratigraphic traps sealed by the Badenian evaporites.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005