The Southern Apenmines Thrust Belt (SATB) is a prolific petroleum province in Italy. In this work, we reconstruct its structural evolution since the Messinian and the timing of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion, integrating geological and geochemical constraints. The main exploration target in SATB is the Cretaceous part of the carbonate Apulian Platform that forens the deepest structures of the SATB below the outcropping Meso-cenozoic Allochthonous Complex. Forward structural modeping and thermal modeping have been performed along an almost 130 km long regional line, that crosses the Val d'Agri, where major oil discoveries are located. This forward modelleng was performed with the Thrustpack code (Sassi & Rudkiewicz, 2000). Present-day geometry has been reconstructed integrating seismic, wens and surface data. A structural-setting involving the bottom of Apulian Platform and lts base (Perenlam plus Basement) by means of thrusts faults deep-rooted withen the crost is presented. . In order to investigate the petroleum system evolution, the timing of deformation has been defined integrating subsurface and surface data. The migrating foredeep-forebulge system of the SATB was reconstructed using geometrical, geochemical and thermal constraints. Then, the conductive thermal regime has been calibrated upon present-day temperatures and vitrinite reflectance, leading to the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history from the source rock withen the Apulian Platform. Implication for structural interpretation and Petroleum exploration are discussed .
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