Structural elements and petroleum exploration on the Apulian platform, Hellenic Fold and Thrust Belt, Zakynthos Island (western Greece)

Abstract

The Fold and Thrust Belt in the western part of the Hellenic foreland, has been examined with respect to its geotectonic evolution and source rock potential. The upper Miocene to Pliocene clastic sedimentary sequence provides a great opportunity to reconstruct the regional Fold and Thrust development and to estimate its oil and gas generation potential. The occurrence of a late Oligocene in age, slumped interval suggests intense slope instability. This interval was initially accumulated in a deep water depositional environment, as evidenced by the common occurrence of both complete and incomplete Bouma sequences and is most likely related to the Ionian thrust activity. It is thus envisaged that the Ionian thrust should be positioned further westwards of the Zakynthos Island. The former Ionian thrust should most likely correspond to a younger, smaller scale and of local influence tectonic event. A total number of twenty seven mudstone samples were analyzed using Rock-Eval pyrolysis method. Organic geochemical data indicate that the containing organic matter is present in sufficient abundance and with good enough quality to be regarded as potential source rocks. The present Rock-Eval pyrolytic yields and calculated values of hydrogen and oxygen indexes imply that the recent organic matter is of types II and III kerogen. The observed kerogen types suggest both gas and oil generation potential. The thermal maturity assessed from Tmax suggests an immature stage of the organic material along with the occurrence of layers having reached the very early mature stage.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90192 © 2014 European Regional Conference and Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain, May 13-15, 2014