Hydrocarbon prospectivity in Apulian platform and Ionian zone, in relation to Strike-slip fault zones, Foreland and Back-Thrust basins of Ionian Thrust in Greece

Avraam Zelilidis, Aggelos Maravelis, and Panagiotis Konstantopoulos

The Greek part of the FTB in the Balkan Peninsula was taken into consideration regarding its hydrocarbon potential since it exhibits, in broad terms, similar geological history to the prolific Albanian oil and gas provinces. Likewise, the hydrocarbon potential of Italy’s Apulian Platform, adjoining in the westerly offshore, may serve as an analogue. Regional analysis indicates a Mid- Mesozoic hydrocarbon system as the main system in Western Greece that compares well with that of Albania. Moreover, the so far speculative Mid-to-Late-Tertiary hydrocarbon system (equal to that of Albania) also occurs. The source rocks in the Tertiary system are mainly attributed to organic carbon- rich mudstones within the Late-Oligocene to Early/Middle-Miocene turbidites. Sand-rich deposits within the submarine fan system may serve as potential reservoirs while additionally the post Alpine clastic succession (Neogene) and the Triassic evaporites appear to constitute cap rocks and seals. The resulting plays are similar in both countries yet not identical. The opportunities presented herewith are: 1) the Ionian thrusts’ foreland basin, 2) the Ionian thrusts’ back-arc (piggy-back) basin, 3) the basin north of the Borsh-Khardhiqit strike-slip fault and 4) the Preveza basin, north of the Cephalonia transfer fault. Fundamentally, the four basins suggested for further scrutiny all have in common that they represent sedimentary (sub-)basins of substantial thicknesses which are, in one way or another, correlated with tectonic movements, i. e. the evolution of the Hellenide FTB. Based on regional seismic lines, and on regional oil-geological considerations, locally particular opportunity areas (“scenes”) have been identified. Given the limited availability of well and seismic data in Western Greece, additional activities that would be helpful in avoiding negative results in exploring those basins are needed.

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