The tectonic evolution of the eastern Mediterranean basin and its control on hydrocarbon distribution

Recent discoveries of giant, deep-water gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin (EMB) have revealed abundant hydrocarbon resources and significant exploration potential in turbidite and reef reservoirs (e.g., in the Tamar and Levantine fields, and the Zohr and Calypso fields, respectively). However, further exploration is currently constrained by the lack of detailed knowledge on the development of the basin. This paper presents a systematic model of the tectonic evolution of the EMB based on an analysis of new 2D seismic data and relevant published literature, assesses the main petroleum systems operating in the basin, and identifies prospective zones for future exploration. The modeling of a sequence of 12 prototype basins, restored from the seismic data, enable the tectonic evolution of the EMB to be divided into three stages: a rift stage, a ‘drift’ stage (including post-rift thermal subsidence), and a ‘convergence and transformation’ stage. This latest stage can be divided into four chronologically and geographically distinct sub-stages.