Is the Largest Potential Petroleum Trap of World in the NW Turkey? The Korudag Anticlinorium in the South Thrace Basin

Samil Sen and Selin Yillar
University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

Oil and gas-bearing Thrace Basin (NW Turkey) contains of Late Cretaceous to present sediments, reaching a maximum thickness over 9000 m. The Korudag Anticlinorium in the SW Thrace Basin was defined in the Korudag region. However, its extensions are not studied yet. Our studies based on geological, structural geological and seismic interpretation suggest that the anticlinorium is approximately 300 km long and 40 km wide and extends between the Aegean Sea in the west and the area of the Sea of Marmara to the east. The Korudağ Anticlinorium has asymmetrical geometry represented by several folds along the south flank and one fold in the north flank. The anticlinorium was formed by effects of the Neotethyan subduction-accretion complex during late Lower Miocene time. In addition, it was deformed to its present day structure by the Oldest Splay of the North Anatolian Fault and the Northern Branch of the North Anatolian Fault.

Presently, the Ghawar Anticline located in Saudi Arabia, which is 280 km long and 30 km wide, is considered to be the largest petroleum trap in the world. The Ghawar Anticline is also unified asymmetrical structure, which is steeper on the western flank, becomes more complex at depth where it comprises several en echelon horst blocks. It also comprises reverse faults and minor component of right lateral strike slip. Therefore, the demissions of the Korudag Anticlinorium are larger than that of Ghawar Anticline.

According to organic geochemical, oil and gas to source rock correlation and basin modeling studies, three levels of the basin sediments have oil and gas generation potential and oil and gas have been generated. The basin has also many reservoir potential. Although gas and oil are being produced from the Korudağ Anticlinorium and its sub-parallel anticlines, it has not yet been tested and explored comprehensively.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas