THE TECTONIC MOSAIC OF THE SOUTHERN LEVANT: IMPLICATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON PROSPECTS

A comprehensive study of the Levant region, using geophysical, well and surface data, has elucidated the tectonic regime which preceded the Late Cretaceous tectonic inversion in the Levant region. A tectonic mosaic existed in the study area during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, and was made up of NE‐trending grabens (e.g. the Pleshet, Judea and Galilee grabens) and their neighbouring horsts, and a number of NW‐trending blocks. These tectonic elements were bounded by regional faults. The grabens were formed in three known phases: pre‐Upper Permian: Early to Middle Triassic; and Early to Middle Jurassic. Formation of each graben resulted in a depositional sag basin centered above the graben and extending beyond its boundaries. Two types of inversion were active—inversion of regional tilts, and inversion of vertical tectonic movements. Examples of regional tilts are the SE landward Middle Triassic Anisian sedimentary wedge. and the NW basinward wedge of the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian to middle Aptian) sequence. A vertical inversion occurred in the Late Cretaceous. The Paleozoic‐Mesozoic grabens became raised blocks, whereas the horsts turned into depressed areas, in which synclinal sediments, rich in organic matter, accumulated in asymmetrical fault‐fold sag basins. These events occurred as a result of intraplate stresses, and are related to major global orogenies. The grabens, the sag basins, and also the argillaceous parts of the basinward sedimentary wedges, are considered to be sites of hydrocarbon generation. Commercial and sub‐commercial production, as well as abundant oil and gas shows, confirm the presence of source rocks. Traps of various forms are widely available; in the horsts, in the grabens, in the sedimentary wedges, and in the sedimentary sag basins.