New seismic may put offshore Cyprus hydrocarbon prospects in the spotlight

Montadert, L.; Lie, Øystein; Semb, Per Helge; Kassinis, S.

doi:10.3997/1365-2397.28.4.38726

Cited by 13 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…1. Interpreted faults on a structural analogue to Aphrodite and Tamar formations in the Levantine basin offshore Cyprus (Montadert et al, 2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rest overlying interval since present day consists of Pliocene-Pleistocene siliciclastic sediments deformed by salt movements and regional tectonics (Nader, 2011;Montadert et al, 2014). Figure 1 shows a field example from a seismic section which highlights the interpreted faults on a structural analogue in the Levantine Basin by Montadert et al (2010). This case study analyses the fault stress mechanics for the Aphrodite gas reservoir in offshore Cyprus, which was discovered in December 2011 by Noble Energy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Petroleum geomechanics modelling in the Eastern Mediterranean basin: analysis and application of fault stress mechanics

Markou

Papanastasiou

2018

Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A fault stress analysis of a typical gas field in the Eastern Mediterranean is presented. The objective of this study is to provide estimates of the in situ stresses and pore pressure for populating a regional Mechanical Earth Model and to characterize the stability of faults under current and changing reservoir conditions. The fault stability analysis is based on the Mohr-Coulomb frictional faulting theory. The vertical in situ stress is estimated using seismic and density data and the bounds of the horizontal stresses were determined for different fault regimes. The pore pressure for determining the effective in situ stresses is estimated using the Bowers pore pressure prediction method. Fault stress analysis is performed in a series of calculations and the results are plotted on Mohr diagrams for shear failure. The fault stress analysis is performed on a wide range of alternative azimuth orientations for SHmax in order to capture the uncertainty on the actual orientation. Sensitivity with respect to reservoir pore pressure change suggests that pressure reduction in the reservoir improves the fault stress stability, ignoring in the current analysis any stress arching effects. Pore pressure increase decreases the normal stress on the fault leading to increasing risk of shear failure of the critically stressed faults. The case study examines eight faults on the Aphrodite gas field with the objective to characterize if the faults are active or remain dormant under current stress conditions and how the stability may change in reservoir injection or depletion conditions.

show abstract

“…1. Interpreted faults on a structural analogue to Aphrodite and Tamar formations in the Levantine basin offshore Cyprus (Montadert et al, 2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Petroleum geomechanics modelling in the Eastern Mediterranean basin: analysis and application of fault stress mechanics

Markou

Papanastasiou

2018

Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Impact of Cenozoic strike-slip tectonics on the evolution of the northern Levant Basin (offshore Lebanon)

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sedimentary basins adjacent to plate boundaries contain key tectonic and stratigraphic elements to understand how stress is transmitted through plates. The Levant Basin is a place of choice to study such elements because it flanks the Levant Fracture System and the Africa/Anatolia boundary. This paper uses new high-quality 3-D seismic reflection data to unravel the tectonic evolution of the margin of this basin during the Cenozoic, the period corresponding to the formation of the Levant Fracture System, part of the Africa/Arabia plate boundary. Four major groups of structures are identified in the interpreted Cenozoic units: NW-SE striking normal faults, NNE-SSW striking thrust-faults, ENE-WSW striking dextral strike-slip faults, and NNE trending anticlines. We demonstrate that all structures, apart of the NW-SE striking normal faults, are inherited from Mesozoic faults. Their reactivation and associated folding started during the late Miocene prior to the Messinian salinity crisis due to a NW-SE compressional stress field. No clear evidence of shortening at present-day offshore Lebanon and no large NNE-SSW strike-slip faults parallel to the restraining bend are found indicating that the Levant Fracture System is mainly contained onshore at present day. The intermittent activity of the interpreted structures correlates with the two stages of Levant Fracture System movement during late Miocene and Pliocene. This paper provides a good example of the impact of the evolution of plate boundaries on adjacent basins and indicates that any changes in the stress field, as controlled by the plate boundary, will affect immediately the preexisting structures in adjacent basins.

show abstract

Longitudinal and Temporal Evolution of the Tectonic Style Along the Cyprus Arc System, Assessed Through 2‐D Reflection Seismic Interpretation

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Cyprus Arc system constitutes a major active plate boundary in the eastern Mediterranean region. This structure is directly linked with the northward convergence of the African and Eurasian plates since the Late Cretaceous. Two‐dimensional reflection seismic data were utilized, which image the main plate structures and their lateral evolution south of the island of Cyprus. Interpretation of these data allowed the identification of nine tectono‐sedimentary packages in three different crustal domains south of the Cyprus Arc system: (1) the Levant Basin (attenuated continental crust), (2) the Eratosthenes microcontinent (continental crust), and (3) the Herodotus Basin (oceanic crust). Within these domains, numerous tectonic structures were documented and analyzed in order to understand the mechanism and timing of deformation. In the north, south verging thrusting commenced in early Miocene along the Larnaca and Margat ridges, whereas no activity was identified before middle Miocene along the Latakia Ridge. Thus, the deformation front migrated southward and was accompanied by the development of flexural basins and stratigraphic onlaps as in the Cyprus Basin. The acme of deformation occurred in mid‐late Miocene. A regional unconformity of Pliocene age marks the end of the first deformation sequence. In Plio‐Pleistocene time, the westward escape of the Anatolian microplate resulted in the reactivation of existing structures. The evolution of deformation along the plate boundary is identified from the creation of positive flower structures revealing transpressive movements along the Larnaca and Latakia Ridges (eastern domains), whereas in the Eratosthenes domain a flexural basin highlights a compressive regime.

show abstract

New seismic may put offshore Cyprus hydrocarbon prospects in the spotlight

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Petroleum geomechanics modelling in the Eastern Mediterranean basin: analysis and application of fault stress mechanics

Petroleum geomechanics modelling in the Eastern Mediterranean basin: analysis and application of fault stress mechanics

Impact of Cenozoic strike-slip tectonics on the evolution of the northern Levant Basin (offshore Lebanon)

Longitudinal and Temporal Evolution of the Tectonic Style Along the Cyprus Arc System, Assessed Through 2‐D Reflection Seismic Interpretation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About