Tectonic map and geologic evolution of Syria: The role of GIS

Abstract

Project scientists and colleagues at the Syrian Petroleum Company have studied the regional structure and geologic evolution of Syria. We are currently generating new structural maps and tectonic models for the whole country. Information on this region is relatively limited, despite the local importance of hydrocarbon production and abundant surface and subsurface data. Our regional approach involves new interpretations of seismic reflection profiles, well data, remote sensing imagery, and potential-field data, merged with existing interpretations of similar data sets. These interpretations, integrations, analyses, and map preparation are all performed within a GIS platform.As detailed elsewhere in this issue, the importance of GIS as a data storage and interrogation tool for petroleum exploration is well established. This article describes our use of GIS to facilitate regional tectonic mapping in Syria. Although not directly related to the search for hydrocarbons, the maps and models generated have obvious utility for oil exploration. Herein we detail the types of data being used, their integration and interpretation within the GIS, and our preliminary analysis and findings. We will show how a GIS approach eases data archiving and map generation and also provides interpretational possibilities not available with more traditional mapping procedures.Our interpretations show that much tectonic deformation within Syria occurred within repeatedly reactivated "mobile zones." GIS-generated structural maps on various geologic horizons, and tectonic maps at key time points, illustrate the interconnected and contemporaneous nature of the tectonic episodes within the different Syrian mobile zones. Hydrocarbon plays in Syria, such as the Euphrates Fault System, owe their existence to these tectonic episodes; better understanding of the deformation will lead to more informed exploration strategies. Hence, the data stored within the GIS can directly influence exploration strategies and decisions.Study area and GIS coverages. Our research concerns the northern Arabian Platform, specifically Syria and immediately surrounding areas (Figure 1). Past research by Cornell Syria Project scientists concerns the tectonic evolution of the different tectonic zones within Syria, as delineated in Figure 1. The previous studies established the timing and style of structural deformation within each zone. Previous attempts were made to correlate the findings; however, these past syntheses relied on fewer data than currently available, and a full integration of all available data and results was never attempted. In the current work we are taking a truly regional approach, focusing simultaneously on all parts of the country, notwithstanding nonuniform data distribution.To achieve a fully regional and comprehensive tectonic analysis of Syria, we are constructing data "coverages" or "layers" within a GIS. The geographic extent of each coverage is at least all of Syria. There are three types of

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“…The structures of this arc, which Picard (1958) called the 'Palmyraides' (Fig. 12) have been studied intensively during the last two decades, and our description of its structure and evolution is based on that recent work (Chaimov et al 1990;McBride et al 1990;Al-Saad et al 1992;Searle 1994;Brew et al 2001;Sawaf et al 2001) plus Şengör's own earlier study (O'Keefe and Şengör 1988). Figures 2 and 11 show the extent of the Damascene Arc and Figure 14 illustrates three cross-sections across its northeastern (Fig.…”

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