Imaging submarine channels in the western Nile Delta and interpreting their paleohydraulic characteristics from 3-D seismic

Wescott, William A.; Boucher, Paul J.

doi:10.1190/1.1438662

Cited by 24 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…The evidence for the MF deposit has been reported in multichannel seismic reflection profiles in the Western Ionian Sea by Micallef et al (2018). Elsewhere in the Eastern Mediterranean the sedimentary record of the termination of the MSC is characterized in the seismic reflection record by fan-shaped, fluvio-deltaic formations resting on the Messinian salt unit, well imaged in the Sirt Basin (Lago Mare of Bowman, 2012) and in the Levant Basin (Gvirtzman et al, 2017;Madof, Bertoni, & Lofi, 2019;Wescott & Boucher, 2000). Where detectable, a thin seismic unit (Gvirzman et al, 2017) may represent the seismo-stratigraphic expression of the Lago Mare biofacies association, described in samples from outcrop and DSDP wells as the evidence of a brackish water terminal phase of the MSC with biostratigraphic indicators of a Paratethys (Eastern European) origin.…”

Section: In the Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 87%

Seismic markers of the Messinian salinity crisis in the deep Ionian Basin

Camerlenghi¹,

Ben

Hübscher

et al. 2020

Preprint

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We conduct the seismic signal analysis on vintage and recently collected multichannel seismic reflection profiles from the Ionian Basin to characterize the deep basin Messinian evaporites. These evaporites were deposited in deep and marginal Mediterranean sedimentary basins as a consequence of the "salinity crisis" between 5.97 and 5.33 Ma, a basin-wide oceanographic and ecological crisis whose origin remains poorly understood. The seismic markers of the Messinian evaporites in the deep Mediterranean basins can be divided in two end-members, one of which is the typical "trilogy" of gypsum and clastics (Lower Unit -LU), halite (Mobile Unit -MU) and upper anhydrite and marl layers (Upper Unit -UU) traced in the Western Mediterranean Basins. The other end-member is a single MU unit subdivided in seven sub-units by clastic interlayers located in the Levant Basin. The causes of these different seismic expressions of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) appear to be related to a morphological separation between the two basins by the structural regional sill of the Sicily Channel. With the aid of velocity analyses and seismic imaging via prestack migration in time and depth domains, we define for the first time the seismic signature of the Messinian evaporites in the deep Ionian Basin, which differs from the known end-members. In addition, we identify different evaporitic depositional settings suggesting a laterally discontinuous deposition. With the information gathered we quantify the volume of evaporitic deposits in the deep Ionian Basin as 500,000 km 3 ± 10%. This figure allows us to speculate that the total volume of salts in the Mediterranean basin is larger than commonly assumed. Different depositional units in the Ionian Basin suggest that during the MSC it was separated from the Western Mediterranean by physical thresholds, from the Po Plain/Northern Adriatic Basin, and the Levant Basin, likely reflecting different hydrological and climatic conditions. Finally, the evidence of erosional surfaces and V-shaped valleys at the top of the MSC unit, together with sharp evaporites pinch out on evaporite-free pre-Messinian structural highs, suggest an extreme Messinian Stage 3 base level draw 2 | EAGE CAMERLENGHI Et AL. | 5 EAGE CAMERLENGHI Et AL. 6 | EAGE CAMERLENGHI Et AL. 10 | EAGE CAMERLENGHI Et AL. | 21 EAGE CAMERLENGHI Et AL.

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Section: In the Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 87%

Seismic markers of the Messinian salinity crisis in the deep Ionian Basin

Camerlenghi¹,

Ben

Hübscher

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…After an Early Pliocene transgression, the incised valley was filled in by relatively deep‐marine clays. (c) Wescott and Boucher () present channel complexes in the western Nile Delta and suggests that submarine channels incised Messinian‐age lowstand evaporites and served as sediment bypass conduits transporting sediment across the shelf. Furthermore, they argue that evaporites and sands, namely the Rosetta anhydrite and Abu Madi formation, were deposited above the IMTS in lows formed during the downcutting event.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of sea level drawdown at the end of the Messinian salinity crisis and seismic investigation of the Nahr Menashe unit in the northern Levant Basin, offshore Lebanon

2019

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Several important aspects of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) are still subject to controversy and debate after more than 40 years of studies. Recent work from the eastern Mediterranean have provided a renewed stratigraphic framework for the basin that is inconsistent with previous interpretation studies in the area. This study presents a description of the evolution of the depositional environment in the northern Levant Basin in a time interval surrounding the end of the famous event, from Late Messinian to the Pliocene. Through seismic mapping, we have identified a sediment package overlying the intra‐Messinian truncation surface (IMTS). This package is interpreted as an axial fluvial system running along the Levant Margin in stage 3 of the salinity crisis, likely composed of redeposited evaporites and clastic material. The system was fed primarily from a large fan system building out from the basin margin during a time of sea‐level low stand following a major erosional event, and presumably also from similar systems along the Latakia Ridge and Syria. Our interpretation also lends weight to the theory of a subaerial origin for the truncation surface after a catastrophic desiccation event succeeding the deposition of the halite‐dominated Messinian evaporite succession, based on differences in maximum erosional depth throughout the basin. After the deposition of the post‐IMTS package, deep marine settings were restored in the basin, and hemipelagic sediments from the Nile Delta and the Levant Margin have dominated the sediment deposition since.

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“…The acquisition of high-quality 3D seismic data across most of the offshore Nile Delta area in recent years (e.g. Wescott & Boucher 2000;Galbiati et al 2009) has allowed new play concepts to be developed and applied to the deep petroleum systems. Mapping of the distribution of potential reservoirs has, in particular, benefited from the rigorous application of seismic amplitude extraction techniques and has led to the identification of well defined reservoir fairways characterized by sand-prone turbidites and individual meandering deepwater channel systems (Fig.…”

Section: Stratigraphy Tectonic Evolution and Hydrocarbon Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Neoproterozoic to Early Cenozoic: exploring the potential of older and deeper hydrocarbon plays across North Africa and the Middle East

Craig

Grigo

Rebora

et al. 2010

PGC

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As the traditional exploration plays in the main productive basins of North Africa and the Middle East become more 'mature', attention is increasingly focusing on more challenging, older and deeper plays in the main producing basins and on high-risk, but more conventional, plays in under-explored frontier areas. This shift brings with it a range of technical and commercial challenges that must be addressed, if exploration in the region is to remain an attractive proposition.

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Imaging submarine channels in the western Nile Delta and interpreting their paleohydraulic characteristics from 3-D seismic

Cited by 24 publications

References 0 publications

Seismic markers of the Messinian salinity crisis in the deep Ionian Basin

Seismic markers of the Messinian salinity crisis in the deep Ionian Basin

Evidence of sea level drawdown at the end of the Messinian salinity crisis and seismic investigation of the Nahr Menashe unit in the northern Levant Basin, offshore Lebanon

From Neoproterozoic to Early Cenozoic: exploring the potential of older and deeper hydrocarbon plays across North Africa and the Middle East

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