Hydrocarbon Plays and Prospectivity of the Mediterranean Ridge

Abstract

The Mediterranean Ridge, the largest physiographic feature in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, is thought to be an accretionary complex, resulting from the convergence of the African and Eurasian plates. The presence of a salt layer in the upper deforming sequence (Late Miocene evaporites) and the unusually great thickness of the incoming sediment column differentiate the Mediterranean Ridge from most other accretionary complexes. Mud volcanoes are present in this region while various lithotypes from Carboniferous to Pleistocene can act as potential source, reservoir, and seal rocks resulting to the recognition of several potential hydrocarbon plays.

Keywords:

• accretionary wedge
• hydrocarbon
• Mediterranean Ridge
• mud volcanoes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank both anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that improved the study.