--> Abstract: The Offshore Lebanon Geological Framework from 2D Seismic Surveys Interpretation, by Jamyl Brahami, Ingrid Dupin, Yves Gou, and Lucien Montadert; #90161 (2013)

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The Offshore Lebanon Geological Framework from 2D Seismic Surveys Interpretation

Jamyl Brahami, Ingrid Dupin, Yves Gou, and Lucien Montadert

To assess the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Offshore Lebanon, the Ministry of Energy and Water of the Republic of Lebanon realized an integrated interpretation of the 2D speculative seismic surveys available. It allowed defining the main tectonic and sedimentary domains and the associated plays for hydrocarbons exploration. The Continental Margin. It resulted from rifting since the Triassic to the Middle Jurassic, spreading and subsidence. Three separated domains can be distinguished resulting from the intersection of the Palmyre Graben System with the Levant Rift.

The deep North Levantine Basin. As much as 14 km thick, it comprises sediments of Upper Jurassic to Present in age, deposited in a deep water environment on a very thin crust. Several continuous horizons pinch- out on the slope of the continental margin on a Senonian (post-Turonian) unconformity. In the Basin, the corresponding horizon rests almost directly on Lower Cretaceous clastics with, in between, a much reduced distal equivalent of the Cretaceous Carbonate Platforms developed on the margin. Important structural features are: 1- A dense NW-SE oriented fault system of Miocene age with a strike-slip component; it does not cross the Messinian and the Plio-Quaternary and mostly stops below the Oligocene indicating a layer of detachment at this level in the Basin. 2- A SSW-NNE oriented strike-slip faults system mostly developed near by the continental margin, active since the Lower Miocene until Present time. It is part of the Levant Transform Fault sheared zone. 3- A large dome westward, implying the deeper pre-Oligocene sediments which suggests draping on a deep basement High. 4- Typical fan-shaped reflectors to the North resulting from the subduction below the Cyprus Arc.

The Cyprus Arc. This south-vergent thrust belt including ophiolites, was initially emplaced during the Upper Cretaceous. During the Cenozoic, subduction continued on front of the Arc with accretion, uplift and strike slip faulting along the Latakia Ridge, part of the South Anatolian Fault System.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90161©2013 AAPG European Regional Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 8-10 April 2013